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Cristaldi Scores

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Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

2020

Adega Vinho

Estate Tempranillo

The 2020 Adega Vinho Estate Bilger Family Vineyards Tempranillo from Texas Hill Country is a medium-bodied red that opens with vibrant blue fruit and violet aromas, complemented by wonderful sweet spices and espresso bean notes. The fine-grained tannins provide good structure, leading to a long finish marked by savory herbs and mineral richness.

2020

Anthony Road Wine Company

MBS (Martini-Becraft Selection) Vignoles Berry Selection

100% Dry Berry Selection TBA from handpicked fruit at Martini Family Vineyards. Intensely aromatic with lifted apricot, prickly pear, golden raisins, and lush dates, unfolding into layers of candied orange peel and dried apricot. The palate is rich yet remarkably bright, carried by a fine thread of acidity that balances the sweetness beautifully. A long, slightly salty finish underscores the wine’s tension and elegance.

2020

Becker Vineyards

Barbera

The 2020 Becker Vineyards Barbera is a beautifully crafted, rich, and unctuous wine. It opens with aromas of crunchy red-toned fruit, spice, and rose petals, complemented by dusty minerals and toasty cedarwood notes interwoven with subtle hints of charcuterie. Full-bodied on the palate, it reveals mocha accents and silky, plump, well-integrated tannins, leading to a long and satisfying finish. The 2019 vintage earned the prestigious Texas Wine of the Year award from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Rodeo Uncorked International competition, and this 2020 vintage continues that tradition of excellence.

2020

Becker Vineyards

Chardonnay Reserve

Becker’s Reserve Chardonnay is crafted from grapes sourced from Canada Family Vineyards in Plains, Texas, near the New Mexico border, and Drew Tallent of Tallent Vineyards in Mason, within the Texas Hill Country AVA. Aged for 20 months in 30% new French oak, it displays both richness and freshness. The oak imparts a subtle sweetness, with hints of caramel and toffee spices seamlessly woven into the aromas of rich citrus and orchard fruits. Full-bodied on the palate, it offers flavors reminiscent of apple pie and warm baking spices. Its lush texture is counterbalanced by a vibrant spine of juicy acidity, creating a wine that is both indulgent and refreshing.

2020

Becker Vineyards

Malbec Reserve

The Becker Vineyards 2020 Texas Hill Country Malbec Reserve, sourced from Tallent Vineyard, opens with a hint of funkiness, adding a touch of earthy underbrush and charcuterie, complemented by stewed plum character. Medium-bodied, the wine features grippy tannins that build throughout the palate, culminating in a drying finish. Pair this bold and flavorful Malbec with a nicely salted Ribeye, and you’ll be off to the races.

2020

Becker Vineyards

Petire Sirah

The Becker Vineyards Petite Sirah from the Texas Hill Country is an expressive, currant-rich red, with dark black fruits emerging on the medium- to full-bodied palate. Sappy tannins frame this power-packed wine, providing structure and depth. The finish is remarkably floral, with fine notes of rose petal, espresso bean, and crushed thyme.

2020

Becker Vineyards

Ranger Hays

This blend of 78% Malbec, 10% Petit Verdot, 8% Tannat, and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon was aged for 36 months in 22% new American oak, resulting in a wine with impressive power and intensity. It features a savory mineral character and subtle nuances of pressed dried florals, which complement the rich barrel spices. The nose is further enriched with red berry fruits, mulberry, and a touch of molasses, likely influenced by the American oak. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, it concludes with a long ironstone mineral finish, with hints of charcuterie adding complexity.

2020

Belle Fiore

Signature Series Cabernet Franc

This Signature Series Cabernet Franc is sourced from Fort Miller Vineyard and was fermented as whole berries in a 5-ton open-top fermenter, then aged for 22 months in 30% new French oak. It’s a beautifully expressive wine with aromas of rose petal and rose stem, complemented by vibrant cherry and raspberry fruit. Medium- to full-bodied, it offers layered notes of tobacco leaf, allspice, and sage, all supported by powerful, grippy tannins that give it structure and age-worthy depth.

2020

Belle Fiore

Signature Series Montepulciano

Fermented in stainless steel and aged in 30% new French oak, this wine opens with bright red cherry and raspberry aromatics layered with rose petal nuances. Medium-bodied on the palate, it features robust, chunky tannins, graphite, and expressive cedarwood, finishing long with crushed stone minerality. Bold, structured, and finely detailed.

2020

Belle Fiore

Syrah

Fermented in open-top bins and aged for 24 months in roughly 30% new French oak, this wine delivers classic tar and rose petal notes alongside black truffle, charcuterie, and a distinctive black sea salt character. Earthy and layered with underbrush, it’s medium-bodied with sinewy tannins, crunchy red fruit, and a touch of allspice on the lengthy, savory finish.

2020

Belle Fiore

Teroldego (Artist Series)

The 2020 Teroldego is a bold, supple, and juicy wine with notes of dark chocolate, black cherry, and blackberry, complemented by wet slate nuances and saline-acid tension on the medium-bodied palate. A total crowd-pleaser, it’s the perfect pairing for a juicy, medium-rare burger.

2020

Bending Branch Winery

Camp Lucy Vineyard Lucy's Reserve Red Wine

While the 2021 is a bold, savory red, the 2020 shows a softer, gentler, more elegant profile. It’s more fruit-driven, with fresher flavors and brighter baking-spice notes—white pepper, candied violets, and cherry fruit. Medium- to full-bodied, it carries gentle tannins that support a juicy, vibrant core framed by earthy redwood spice and limestone-driven mineral intensity. A lovely counterpoint to the more overtly savory vintages of this wine.

2020

Bending Branch Winery

Camp Lucy Vineyard Malbec

Whatever you think you know about Malbec, check it at the door with this Texas rendition from Camp Lucy Vineyard and the 2020 vintage. It’s a delicate, pretty wine—much like the world’s greatest Malbecs—driven by red cherry fruit and spice but softer in tannin, less muscular, and more elegant. White pepper and rose-stem nuances weave through the palate, carried by limestone mineral tension and a lift of tangerine oil on the finish.

2020

Bending Branch Winery

Camp Lucy Vineyard, Petit Verdot

This Camp Lucy Vineyard Petit Verdot from the Texas Hill Country comes from a north-facing 5-acre site west of Dripping Springs. The wine offers an attractive nose, with red-toned fruits mingling with lilac and prairie herbs. These aromas build with nice intensity through the medium-bodied palate, supported by well-integrated, soft, and velvety tannins.

2020

Bending Branch Winery

Lost Pirogue Vineyard, Estate Souzao

The Lost Pirogue Vineyard, located in the Texas Hill Country at 1,605 feet of elevation on limestone rubble soils, is the source of this exceptional Souzão. Hand-harvested and whole berry macerated, the wine was fermented in half-ton open-top containers and aged for just over 24 months in oak. Souzão truly shines in the Texas Hill Country, and this expression is a full-bodied, satiny-soft version of the variety. With perfectly integrated tannins, the wine reveals layers of dark currant and black cherry fruits, complemented by a nice inlay of ironstone minerality. The finish is long and expressive, marked by vibrant dried florals and lilacs. Totally inviting and delightfully expressive.

2020

Bending Branch Winery

Lost Pirogue Vineyard, Estate Tannat

The Lost Pirogue Vineyard, located in the Texas Hill Country at 1,605 feet of elevation on limestone rubble soils, is the source of this Tannat wine from Bending Branch. Hand-harvested and whole berry macerated, the wine was fermented in half-ton open-top containers and aged for just over 24 months in oak. A more MB, softer expression of Tannat, with crunchy red berry fruit character, elegant minerality, and a litany of herbs and Indian spices.

2020

Bingham Family Vineyards

Mourvèdre Estate Reserve

The Bingham Family Vineyards Mourvèdre Estate Reserve is a bold and intense red, packed with green tobacco, red currant, and fig fruits. The tannins are strong, offering a substantial structure, while the limestone minerality is particularly pronounced, with a distinctive, earthy character. This wine has a definite place at the table, but demands rich, creamy cheeses or smoky/hearty meats to balance its herbal and tannic intensity.

2020

Blackmon Wines

Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2020 Blackmon Cabernet Sauvignon from the Texas Hill Country offers classic Cabernet character with notes of black pepper and sage, complemented by a subtle hint of Texas prairie grass. Black currant and fig fruits mingle with spiced plums, creating a rich and layered profile. Framed by robust tannins, the wine builds with dark cocoa and wet slate, leading to a full-bodied finish that’s both deep and complex. A well-structured and expressive Texas Cabernet. The winemaker is Anthony Offhill.

2020

BoaVentura Winery de Caires Winery

Venture Red Wine - Iberian Blend

Made primarily from estate-grown Iberian varieties, this blend includes Tinto Cão, Tinta Amarela, Sousão, Touriga Nacional, and Cabernet Sauvignon. It opens with a bright mix of red and black fruit on the nose, accented by orange zest and walnut husk, lending a high-toned, refreshing aromatic lift. On the palate, it’s soft and supple, framed by gentle tannins with an Earl Grey tea quality. Blackberry and black cherry fruit layer in beautifully, finishing with loamy earth and wet river stone minerality. A very intriguing and distinctive red.

2020

Bonaccorsi Wine Company

Larner Vineyard Syrah

This is a bright, red-fruited, tangy Syrah from Larner Vineyard—an expression that veers from the site’s typical profile but charms nonetheless. It offers up crunchy cherry and pomegranate fruit, layered with blood orange and a hint of tangerine zest. Featherweight tannins and subtle brown spice notes carry through the medium-length finish.

2020

Calais Winery

La Cuvée du Chěne Petit Verdot

Sourced from Narra Vineyards in the Texas High Plains, this wine was aged for 32 months in 30% new French oak. “It’s a variety we love,” says Ben Calais, “and we have a lot of wine nerds that love it. Sure, it’s a touch greener than the rest of the wines we make—we could have let it hang longer and get riper, but we don’t want to make all the same wines.” He’s absolutely right. The wine shows captivating black and green tea notes, smoked paprika, and charcuterie on the palate. Medium- to full-bodied with maple-cured tannins and impressive length, it’s the kind of wine you could imagine sipping in a Japanese tea garden.

2020

Calais Winery

TX RG Red Wine

“RD” stands for Rive Droite, while Calais’ “RG” bottling refers to Rive Gauche—Ben Calais’ nod to the Right Bank and Left Bank of Bordeaux. Very refined, with lovely purity of cassis fruit and bright spearmint notes, layered with rich cocoa character and hints of blood orange. Ripe, supple tannins are framed by juicy blood orange acidity, all building toward a full-bodied finish. At just 12.9% alcohol, this is a remarkable effort, showing excellent Texas density balanced by vibrant tension and a long, spice-laden finish.

2020

Channing Daughters Winery

Lagrein

This Lagrein opens with a rich cocoa powder nose, alongside cassis, rose petals, and loamy earth—all of which carry through seamlessly to the palate. Grippy tannins frame a saline, mineral-driven finish. Dark, brooding, and expressive, it shows impressive depth and breadth, with well-balanced tension. Spicy and intense, yet remarkably light on its feet.

2020

Chateau LaFayette Reneau

Chateau LaFayette Reneau Cabernet Franc

Harvested from 40-year-old vines grown on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes, this wine was fermented on the skins, then pressed and aged in a combination of new and used French oak barrels. Dark-fruited and structured, it delivers robust tannins and juicy acid tension that drive a spicy, medium-bodied finish.

2020

Chenoweth

Home Ranch Pinot Noir

On other labels, you’ll see Home Ranch listed as Chenoweth Ranch. This wine is pretty generous, sourced from vines planted on Goldridge soils with classic Pinot Noir clonal selections. It shows rich red fruit, a touch of mulberry, and Christmas-spice warmth, with plenty of Russian River Valley plushness. Dried violets, fig notes, and baked-cherry tones carry through on the finish, supported by firm tannins that build as the wine closes. CIRQ and CHEV also source fruit from this site.

2020

Chenoweth

Pinot Noir

This is the winery’s flagship wine from the Green Valley of the Russian River Valley. Sourced from Home Ranch, Treehouse, and Bootlegger’s, it’s a fragrant Pinot that opens with dark-berry fruit, fig paste, brown baking spices, and a touch of underbrush. Crisp tannins support a juicy core, with plenty of warm spice character, a bit of black pepper, and perfumed rose petals that carry through the lengthy finish.

2020

Chenoweth

Treehouse Vineyard Pinot Noir

That’s quite a wine. It’s a robust, richly styled Pinot Noir with super-dark fruit, loamy earth, and an intense underbrush and deep-forest character, all threaded with an elegant sea-spray minerality. The wine is also incredibly floral, showing rose-petal lift alongside black-tea tannins and a distinct red-rock minerality that likely reflects the unique red soils of this site. I really love where this wine is in its life cycle — it has just the right balance of ripe fruit and savory nuance.

2020

Concannon Vineyard

Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc

A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon from Estate Block 7 and 24% Cabernet Franc from Estate Block 15, aged for 19 months in 50% new French oak and 50% neutral barrels. This seductive red opens with a meaty, juicy, and spicy nose, accented by a hint of earthy funk. The rich mouthfeel is unapologetically bold, delivering sultry, tangy black and blue plum flavors. A perfect match for roast turkey or any richly flavored dish that welcomes a little attitude in the glass. -JR

2020

Concannon Vineyard

Reserve Petite Sirah, Nina's Cuvée

Fermented in stainless steel and aged for 19 months in puncheons, including 20% new French oak, this is a strikingly complex, mineral-driven red. Fragrant aromas of black fruit and violets are layered with black olive, leather, and a touch of incense. The palate is dense and structured, with powerful, fine-grained tannins and succulent, juicy blue fruit. A thread of wet slate minerality runs through the wine, lending tension and lift to its generous, deeply concentrated core.

2020

Concannon Vineyard

Reserve Zinfandel

Sourced from estate fruit and aged for 20 months in 60% neutral oak, this is a vibrant take on classic California Zinfandel. It delivers all the hallmarks—juicy, meaty, jammy, and peppery—while also offering a refreshing line of acidity that keeps it lifted. The medium- to fullbodied palate shines with bright red fruit. -JR

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Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

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2019

Producer

Name

If the 2020 Camp Lucy Malbec showed the delicate, lifted side of the variety, the 2019 reveals its deeper register. This vintage is more dark-fruited, with a richer, more concentrated core and noticeably greater mid-palate weight. You still get the signature cherry character, but it trends darker—black cherry and black plum—supported by firmer, more assertive tannins. The finish echoes the 2020 in its white-pepper lift and limestone-driven mineral notes, but here they play against a denser, more brooding fruit profile. A compelling, more structured counterpoint to the elegance of the 2020.

2019

Producer

Name

This Tannat from Bending Branch was finished in bourbon barrels, with flash detente and cryo-maceration, and fermented in half-ton open-top fermenters. Sourced from two vineyards, it offers intriguing aromas of brandied morello cherry fruit and leather spices, mingling with sappy tannins on the medium-bodied palate. Softer and fleshy in the mouth, the wine reveals nice baking spice character, with layers of toffee, espresso bean, and a hint of molasses on the finish.

2019

Producer

Name

This super savory, medium-bodied Merlot opens with crunchy cherry and dark berry fruits, complemented by underbrush and pastille notes. As the wine develops, it reveals layers of blue fruit jam and a touch of tobacco leaf. The finish is long and satisfying.

2019

Producer

Name

Bingham Family Vineyards’ Texas High Plains 2019 Petit Verdot is a rich and meaty wine, offering vibrant red currant fruits, spicy charcuterie, and strawberry balsamic notes. These flavors build on the soft, medium-bodied palate, framed by velvety, fine tannins.

2019

Producer

Name

Ferments are done in barrel, followed by ageing for up to 15 months in 20% new French oak. Attractive red and black berry fruit leads, with nuances of graphite, tobacco, elegant cedarwood aromatics, and rose petal florals. Medium-bodied on the palate, with firm, structured tannins and notes of espresso bean, all lifted by blood orange acid tension. The lengthy finish carries a touch of mesquite smoke. Grapes are sourced entirely from the 7-acre Blackmon Ranch Vineyard in the Texas Hill Country AVA.

2019

Producer

Name

The 2019 Blackmon Cabernet Sauvignon from the Texas Hill Country is a fantastic wine that beautifully showcases classic Cabernet character. It offers satiny, slightly sappy tannins that are beautifully integrated, complemented by a melange of dried herb notes and delectable black currant and spiced plum fruits. Rich and enticing, it delivers fantastic structure and length, highlighting the potential of the Texas Hill Country. Aged 15 months in roughly 30% new French oak, this dynamic Cabernet is a standout expression of the region. The winemaker is Anthony Offhill.

2019

Producer

Name

The Buffalo Roam Reserve is a savory red wine that combines 65% Syrah, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petite Sirah, and 6% Cabernet Franc. It offers very attractive green olive tapenade notes that mingle with red currants, dried herbs, and spices. Medium-bodied, it is framed by black tea tannins and complemented by tobacco, sage, and a hint of dried spearmint on its complex finish.

2019

Producer

Name

The Brennan Vineyards Tribute Red, created in honor of late winery founder Dr. J. Patrick Brennan, is an elegant and savory wine that offers a rich profile of currant fruits, tobacco spices, cedarwood, and tanned leather. The wine is further enhanced by delicate notes of dried rose petals and violets. Medium-bodied with expressive tannins, it shows layers of fig jam and currant jelly, intertwined with sagebrush, thyme, and black truffle nuances. A beautifully complex wine, it has both depth and refinement, making it a memorable tribute to its namesake.

2019

Producer

Name

This Reserve Petite Sirah from the Texas High Plains is a full-throttle, meaty red with ripe currant fruit, charcuterie, and dried strawberry, complemented by dried herb nuances of prairie grass and sage. Medium-bodied, it boasts black tea-scented tannins, along with layers of black truffle, loamy earth, and delicate pressed violets and hydrangea notes.

2019

Producer

Name

This is a wonderfully rich and meaty red with impressive depth of fruit, yet it never veers into cloying or overt sweetness. It doesn’t possess the sheer intensity of a Napa Petit Verdot, but instead offers brightness and vividness underscored by firm acidity. There’s real personality here, with wild, sauvage notes ranging from dried sage and bay leaf to rose stem. The finish is bold, dry, and tannic, chased by mouthwatering acidity.

2019

Producer

Name

After fermentation in open-top bins with daily punchdowns, this Malbec was aged for 19 months in American oak (21% new). Winemaker Larry Dino favors Pennsylvania oak for this wine, noting its signature bacon-like, meaty character—which is unmistakably present here. That savory quality mingles seamlessly with dark berry and blueberry fruit, supported by a streak of savory spice. The tannins are gritty and granular, adding texture and structure, yet the wine remains fresh and vibrant. A robust, distinctive Malbec that will soften with time in bottle.

2019

Producer

Name

The 2019 Brut—a méthode champenoise sparkler made from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier—is sourced from multiple vineyard sites along the east side of Seneca Lake. Each lot was vinified separately in stainless steel and aged sur lie for three months before tirage. Disgorged in 2025 after five years en tirage, this wine offers a complex and richly textured profile. Baked apple, pear, and apricot lead the aromatic charge, followed by confected notes of apple tart and apricot pastry, with buttery, nutty undertones adding depth on the mid-palate. An assertive mousse softens into a gentle froth, while the long, saline-acid finish brings lift, freshness, and tension to this more opulent style of sparkling. My kind of bubbly!

2019

Producer

Name

Flat Creek Estate’s “Super Texan” is a fragrant, meaty red wine with a red-toned character. It offers a medium- to full-bodied palate, enriched with savory notes of truffle, underbrush, and green tobacco, finishing with a long, persistent limestone mineral thread.

2019

Producer

Name

Focused and linear, this estate-grown sparkling wine leads with bright apple and lime zest notes, followed by subtler hints of French pastry. The gentle mousse gives way to a brisk, acid-driven finish. Hand-picked and whole-cluster pressed from certified sustainable estate vineyards, the wine was partially barrel fermented to build texture.

2019

Producer

Name

Aged 53 months en tirage, this estate-grown méthode traditionnelle blend of 65% Chardonnay and 35% Pinot Noir hails from the Standing Stone Timeline and Magdalena vineyards. It opens with aromas of just-picked orchard fruit warmed in the sun, underpinned by subtle French pastry notes. The palate is driven by crystalline acidity and bracing tension, finishing with a vivid streak of wet slate minerality.

2019

Producer

Name

Produced in the Méthode Champenoise style, this Oregon sparkling wine is exceptionally limited—just 70 cases, or roughly 1.5 barrels. Aged en tirage for 37 months, it opens with a bold nose of lavish French pastry and lemon pot de crème. The concentrated, hearty mousse reveals layers of cherry fruit, white plum, and saline-acid minerality, all carried by building tension. Juicy, focused, and impressively long on the finish.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Rating

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2023

2023 3 Steves Winery Chardonnay Reserve

Still Wine

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2023

2023 3 Steves Winery Sangiovese

Still Wine

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2023

2023 3 Steves Winery Three Cabs Rosé Wine

Still Wine

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2023

2023 Aaaaa The Hilt Estate Chardonnay

Still Wine

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2023

2023 Adega Vinho, Dell Valley Vineyards, Sauvignon Blanc

Still Wine

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2023

2023 Adirondack Winery Story Teller

Still Wine

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2023

2023 Airy Acres Vineyard Glide Rosé

Sparkling Wine

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2023

2023 Almost Famous Wine Loyal to the Soil

Still Wine

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2023

2023 Almost Famous Wine Strong Silent Type Cabernet Franc

Still Wine

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2023

2023 Anthony Road Wine Company Barrel Ferment Gewürztraminer

Still Wine

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2023

2023 Anthony Road Wine Company Pinot Gris

Still Wine

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2023

2023 Aperture Bordeaux Red Blend

Still Wine

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2023

2023 Aperture Cabernet Sauvignon

Still Wine

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2023

2023 Aperture Del Rio Cabernet Sauvignon

Still Wine

$$$$

2023

2023 Aperture Estate 1912 Red Wine

Still Wine

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2023

2023 Aperture Estate Sauvignon Blanc

Still Wine

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