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Cristaldi Scores

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Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

2019

Becker Vineyards

Canada Family Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Grapes for this red are sourced from Canada Family Vineyard, located in the Texas High Plains, atop primarily limestone-based soils. Compared to the Wilmeth Vineyard, this wine exhibits a more structured profile with greater grip and intensity on the mid-palate. It bursts with red and blackberry fruit, cassis, and is supported by fashionable, polished tannins that build gracefully into a lengthy, mineral-driven finish. A truly complete and harmonious wine.

2019

Becker Vineyards

Lahey Vineyards, Semillon

This blend of 90% Sémillon, 7% Chardonnay, and 3% Viognier was aged for an impressive 48 months in French oak, representing a bold experiment for the winery. The result is a wine that surprises consumers with its smooth, glossy texture and remarkable food-friendliness. It offers a rich array of aromas, including fragrant toasted nuttiness, lemon-drop, and butterscotch. Full-bodied and spicy on the palate, it delivers a wealth of toasted nut flavors and a luxurious finish. While thoroughly enjoyable now, this wine promises to evolve beautifully over the next decade, gaining even more richness, toasty complexity, and caramel-like depth.

2019

Becker Vineyards

Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2019 Becker Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, sourced from the Wilmeth Vineyard (also known as Diamante Doble) in the Texas High Plains, is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 1.6% Petit Verdot, and 1.4% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 30 months in a combination of 70% American oak (35% new) and 30% French oak (20% new), this wine is juicy, approachable, and easy to drink. It features satiny, silky tannins and rich dark berry flavors, accented by ample brown baking spices. The palate carries a welcome lean elegance, leading to a long finish with fantastic slate and iron minerality and a touch of wild herbs. During the tasting, I also sampled a 2016 vintage, which showed remarkable evolution—fuller, richer, and with more intense tannins. Its truffle notes and loamy earth character were reminiscent of aged California Cabernet or Bordeaux Supérieur. Both vintages exemplify the vineyard’s exceptional potential and craftsmanship.

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.

2022

Becker Vineyards

Six Hearts Vineyards, Viognier Reserve

Sourced from the Six Harts Vineyard, owned by Jeter Wilmeth near Tokio and Brownfield in the Texas High Plains, this Reserve Viognier represents a barrel selection of exceptional craftsmanship. The wine bursts with aromas of stone fruit, apricots, and delicate white flowers, all beautifully highlighted by notes of honeysuckle.On the palate, it offers a granular texture, enhanced by a distinctive thread of salty minerality and a chalky character that extends seamlessly through the long, elegant finish. Aged for 16 months in mostly neutral French oak, this Viognier achieves a perfect balance of complexity and approachability. Crafted with precision by Jon Leahy, it is both refined and utterly delicious.

2023

Becker Vineyards

Jolie Rose

The “Jolie” Rosé from Becker Vineyards is a vibrant wine that feels like a fruit salad in the glass with notes of strawberry, watermelon, white peach, and a touch of spring flowers. Medium-bodied with lasting richness and tension, this rosé is both approachable and layered. The surprise comes on the finish, where subtle hints of white pepper and coriander cream await.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

2019

Producer

Name

Grapes for this red are sourced from Canada Family Vineyard, located in the Texas High Plains, atop primarily limestone-based soils. Compared to the Wilmeth Vineyard, this wine exhibits a more structured profile with greater grip and intensity on the mid-palate. It bursts with red and blackberry fruit, cassis, and is supported by fashionable, polished tannins that build gracefully into a lengthy, mineral-driven finish. A truly complete and harmonious wine.

2019

Producer

Name

This blend of 90% Sémillon, 7% Chardonnay, and 3% Viognier was aged for an impressive 48 months in French oak, representing a bold experiment for the winery. The result is a wine that surprises consumers with its smooth, glossy texture and remarkable food-friendliness. It offers a rich array of aromas, including fragrant toasted nuttiness, lemon-drop, and butterscotch. Full-bodied and spicy on the palate, it delivers a wealth of toasted nut flavors and a luxurious finish. While thoroughly enjoyable now, this wine promises to evolve beautifully over the next decade, gaining even more richness, toasty complexity, and caramel-like depth.

2019

Producer

Name

The 2019 Becker Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, sourced from the Wilmeth Vineyard (also known as Diamante Doble) in the Texas High Plains, is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 1.6% Petit Verdot, and 1.4% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 30 months in a combination of 70% American oak (35% new) and 30% French oak (20% new), this wine is juicy, approachable, and easy to drink. It features satiny, silky tannins and rich dark berry flavors, accented by ample brown baking spices. The palate carries a welcome lean elegance, leading to a long finish with fantastic slate and iron minerality and a touch of wild herbs. During the tasting, I also sampled a 2016 vintage, which showed remarkable evolution—fuller, richer, and with more intense tannins. Its truffle notes and loamy earth character were reminiscent of aged California Cabernet or Bordeaux Supérieur. Both vintages exemplify the vineyard’s exceptional potential and craftsmanship.

2020

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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.

2022

Producer

Name

Sourced from the Six Harts Vineyard, owned by Jeter Wilmeth near Tokio and Brownfield in the Texas High Plains, this Reserve Viognier represents a barrel selection of exceptional craftsmanship. The wine bursts with aromas of stone fruit, apricots, and delicate white flowers, all beautifully highlighted by notes of honeysuckle.On the palate, it offers a granular texture, enhanced by a distinctive thread of salty minerality and a chalky character that extends seamlessly through the long, elegant finish. Aged for 16 months in mostly neutral French oak, this Viognier achieves a perfect balance of complexity and approachability. Crafted with precision by Jon Leahy, it is both refined and utterly delicious.

2023

Producer

Name

The “Jolie” Rosé from Becker Vineyards is a vibrant wine that feels like a fruit salad in the glass with notes of strawberry, watermelon, white peach, and a touch of spring flowers. Medium-bodied with lasting richness and tension, this rosé is both approachable and layered. The surprise comes on the finish, where subtle hints of white pepper and coriander cream await.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Rating

$

2019

2019 Becker Vineyards Canada Family Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Still

$$

2019

2019 Becker Vineyards Lahey Vineyards, Semillon

Still

N/A

2019

2019 Becker Vineyards Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon

Still

N/A

2020

2020 Becker Vineyards Barbera

Still

N/A

2020

2020 Becker Vineyards Chardonnay Reserve

Still

$

2020

2020 Becker Vineyards Malbec Reserve

Still

$

2020

2020 Becker Vineyards Petire Sirah

Still

$

2020

2020 Becker Vineyards Ranger Hays

Still

N/A

2022

2022 Becker Vineyards Six Hearts Vineyards, Viognier Reserve

Still

N/A

2023

2023 Becker Vineyards Jolie Rose

Still

$

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