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Cristaldi Scores

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Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

2018

Kalasi Cellars

Kanchi Red Wine

This Bordeaux blend features Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 685, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Carménère, aged for an impressive 48 months in neutral French oak. Named “Kanchi,” after a village in South India renowned for its wedding saris, the name evokes a sense of rich history and elegance—qualities reflected in the wine itself. The wine is both elegant and intense, offering high-toned red berry fruit and warm spices. Full-bodied, it boasts plump, velvety tannins with layers of mocha, brown spices like cardamom and coriander, and intriguing notes of grapefruit zest and orange peel. The finish is long and deeply satisfying, marking this wine as a standout.

2021

Kalasi Cellars

Narra Vineyards, Malbec

Originally planted in 2014 at Kalasi’s 140-acre Narra Vineyards estate in the Texas High Plains, this 100% Malbec showcases the region’s potential. Typically ripening around Labor Day, the fruit delivers a wine aged for 24 months in neutral French oak. Bright red berry fruit forms the core of its profile, accented by striking red and purple floral notes. These flavors mingle harmoniously with toasty cedarwood, a hint of molasses, fruit leather, and sweet spices. The palate is structured by firm, fine-grained tannins, leading to a long, sweetly spiced finish.

2021

Kalasi Cellars

Narra Vineyards, Red Wine

The “Raj Collection,” named after the family’s son, is a special label produced only in the best vintages. This vintage is a blend where Petite Verdot adds richness and depth to Merlot, which can be lighter in this region. Aged for 24 months in neutral French oak, the wine is both structured and elegant. It features ample red and black currant character, with fig, blood orange, and high-toned notes of dried wild herbs, tobacco, leather, and a hint of white pepper. The palate is balanced by firm, taut, fine-grained tannins, leading to a long, mineral-driven finish. This is an excellent effort!

2021

Kalasi Cellars

Narra Vineyards, Tannat Entav Clone

In 2015, Nikhila Narra planted UC Davis-certified Entav Tannat clones on her Narra Vineyards estate in the Texas High Plains, complementing the Tablas Creek clones already grown there. Aged for 24 months in neutral French oak, this wine stands out as one of the finest I tasted in Texas. Full-bodied and richly layered, it showcases a complex profile of red and black fruits, including currants and fig, intertwined with mocha spices and toasty cedarwood. These flavors build gracefully to a satisfying, harmonious, and balanced finish, with its exceptional depth and elegance.

2022

Kalasi Cellars

Narra Vineyards, Red Wine, Raj Collection (Green Label)

Kalasi’s 2022 RAJ Collection (Green Label) delivers on the promise of the standout 2021 release, offering a fragrant bouquet of brown spices layered with red and black currant, cherry, and plum. Hints of white pepper, cinnamon, and a trace of curry powder add complexity and lift. Medium-bodied on the palate, with soft, supple tannins and impressive mid-palate concentration. The finish is long, pleasing, and well-balanced. The “RAJ Collection,” named after the family’s son, is a special label crafted only in exceptional vintages. Aged for 24 months in neutral French oak.

2022

Kalasi Cellars

Narra Vineyards, Sagrantino

This Sagrantino, the first optically-sorted example of the variety in Texas, is a standout wine. Grown near the Malvasia Bianca blocks on the historic 140-acre Narra Vineyards site in the Texas High Plains, this low-yielding variety thrives in its unique terroir. A true powerhouse,it boasts hefty, muscular, broad-shouldered tannins, complemented by rich red berry fruits, Indian spices, and a touch of cinnamon. The clean, dry finish underscores its structure and aging potential. This is a wine built for the cellar—lay it down to see its full complexity unfold. A remarkable achievement for Texas viticulture.

2022

Kalasi Cellars

Narra Vineyards, Teroldego

I had the pleasure of tasting three vintages of this wine: the inaugural 2017, the 2018, and the 2022, which introduced new French oak and optical sorting (production was limited in 2019, with none made in 2020 and 2021). There’s no question that the 2022 vintage is the most polished and refined of them all. These reds are rich, showcasing black currant and red berry fruits, leather, and layered with pressed flowers and floral elegance. Aged for 24 months in 25% new French oak, the 2022 vintage takes this profile to the next level, adding a richer blue fruit and violet character, complemented by polished tannins and a plump, rounded texture. Crisp, vibrant structure supports the wine’s overall framework, making it both complex and approachable.

2023

Kalasi Cellars

Malvasia Bianca, Narra Vineyards

This Malvasia Bianca is a testament to freshness and vibrancy. Grapes were pressed directly in the vineyard using a bladder press, with the juice cold-settled before fermentation and then aged for six months in stainless steel prior to bottling. Sourced entirely from Kalasi’s Narra Vineyards estate in the Texas High Plains—located five hours from the winery—refrigerated transport is essential to preserving the quality of the fruit. This light, low-alcohol white is ideal for summer sipping or pairing with spicy, rich dishes. Highly floral and delicate, it features enchanting aromas of jasmine and honeysuckle. On the palate, it delivers impressive phenolic grip and a vinous character, underpinned by a chalky mineral baseline and bright acid tension. Lean, focused, and utterly refreshing, this white shows both charm and precision.

2023

Kalasi Cellars

Narra Vineyards, Sangiovese Rosé

Made from early-picked grapes, with larger berries and lighter skins, this rosé undergoes pressing directly at the vineyard before being transported to the winery. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel, followed by six months of aging in tank before bottling. With a modest 12% alcohol and a light orange hue from brief skin contact, this wine is vibrant and refreshing. It offers bright red berry and high-toned melon fruit notes, layered with savory herbal undertones. The palate is defined by a tart, racy acid backbone that leads to a dry, crisp finish. Sourced entirely from Kalasi’s Narra Vineyards estate in the Texas High Plains, this wine is a delightful, a versatile and engaging expression of its unique terroir.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

2018

Producer

Name

This Bordeaux blend features Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 685, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Carménère, aged for an impressive 48 months in neutral French oak. Named “Kanchi,” after a village in South India renowned for its wedding saris, the name evokes a sense of rich history and elegance—qualities reflected in the wine itself. The wine is both elegant and intense, offering high-toned red berry fruit and warm spices. Full-bodied, it boasts plump, velvety tannins with layers of mocha, brown spices like cardamom and coriander, and intriguing notes of grapefruit zest and orange peel. The finish is long and deeply satisfying, marking this wine as a standout.

2021

Producer

Name

Originally planted in 2014 at Kalasi’s 140-acre Narra Vineyards estate in the Texas High Plains, this 100% Malbec showcases the region’s potential. Typically ripening around Labor Day, the fruit delivers a wine aged for 24 months in neutral French oak. Bright red berry fruit forms the core of its profile, accented by striking red and purple floral notes. These flavors mingle harmoniously with toasty cedarwood, a hint of molasses, fruit leather, and sweet spices. The palate is structured by firm, fine-grained tannins, leading to a long, sweetly spiced finish.

2021

Producer

Name

The “Raj Collection,” named after the family’s son, is a special label produced only in the best vintages. This vintage is a blend where Petite Verdot adds richness and depth to Merlot, which can be lighter in this region. Aged for 24 months in neutral French oak, the wine is both structured and elegant. It features ample red and black currant character, with fig, blood orange, and high-toned notes of dried wild herbs, tobacco, leather, and a hint of white pepper. The palate is balanced by firm, taut, fine-grained tannins, leading to a long, mineral-driven finish. This is an excellent effort!

2021

Producer

Name

In 2015, Nikhila Narra planted UC Davis-certified Entav Tannat clones on her Narra Vineyards estate in the Texas High Plains, complementing the Tablas Creek clones already grown there. Aged for 24 months in neutral French oak, this wine stands out as one of the finest I tasted in Texas. Full-bodied and richly layered, it showcases a complex profile of red and black fruits, including currants and fig, intertwined with mocha spices and toasty cedarwood. These flavors build gracefully to a satisfying, harmonious, and balanced finish, with its exceptional depth and elegance.

2022

Producer

Name

Kalasi’s 2022 RAJ Collection (Green Label) delivers on the promise of the standout 2021 release, offering a fragrant bouquet of brown spices layered with red and black currant, cherry, and plum. Hints of white pepper, cinnamon, and a trace of curry powder add complexity and lift. Medium-bodied on the palate, with soft, supple tannins and impressive mid-palate concentration. The finish is long, pleasing, and well-balanced. The “RAJ Collection,” named after the family’s son, is a special label crafted only in exceptional vintages. Aged for 24 months in neutral French oak.

2022

Producer

Name

This Sagrantino, the first optically-sorted example of the variety in Texas, is a standout wine. Grown near the Malvasia Bianca blocks on the historic 140-acre Narra Vineyards site in the Texas High Plains, this low-yielding variety thrives in its unique terroir. A true powerhouse,it boasts hefty, muscular, broad-shouldered tannins, complemented by rich red berry fruits, Indian spices, and a touch of cinnamon. The clean, dry finish underscores its structure and aging potential. This is a wine built for the cellar—lay it down to see its full complexity unfold. A remarkable achievement for Texas viticulture.

2022

Producer

Name

I had the pleasure of tasting three vintages of this wine: the inaugural 2017, the 2018, and the 2022, which introduced new French oak and optical sorting (production was limited in 2019, with none made in 2020 and 2021). There’s no question that the 2022 vintage is the most polished and refined of them all. These reds are rich, showcasing black currant and red berry fruits, leather, and layered with pressed flowers and floral elegance. Aged for 24 months in 25% new French oak, the 2022 vintage takes this profile to the next level, adding a richer blue fruit and violet character, complemented by polished tannins and a plump, rounded texture. Crisp, vibrant structure supports the wine’s overall framework, making it both complex and approachable.

2023

Producer

Name

This Malvasia Bianca is a testament to freshness and vibrancy. Grapes were pressed directly in the vineyard using a bladder press, with the juice cold-settled before fermentation and then aged for six months in stainless steel prior to bottling. Sourced entirely from Kalasi’s Narra Vineyards estate in the Texas High Plains—located five hours from the winery—refrigerated transport is essential to preserving the quality of the fruit. This light, low-alcohol white is ideal for summer sipping or pairing with spicy, rich dishes. Highly floral and delicate, it features enchanting aromas of jasmine and honeysuckle. On the palate, it delivers impressive phenolic grip and a vinous character, underpinned by a chalky mineral baseline and bright acid tension. Lean, focused, and utterly refreshing, this white shows both charm and precision.

2023

Producer

Name

Made from early-picked grapes, with larger berries and lighter skins, this rosé undergoes pressing directly at the vineyard before being transported to the winery. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel, followed by six months of aging in tank before bottling. With a modest 12% alcohol and a light orange hue from brief skin contact, this wine is vibrant and refreshing. It offers bright red berry and high-toned melon fruit notes, layered with savory herbal undertones. The palate is defined by a tart, racy acid backbone that leads to a dry, crisp finish. Sourced entirely from Kalasi’s Narra Vineyards estate in the Texas High Plains, this wine is a delightful, a versatile and engaging expression of its unique terroir.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Rating

$

2018

2018 Kalasi Cellars Kanchi Red Wine

Still

N/A

2021

2021 Kalasi Cellars Narra Vineyards, Malbec

Still

$$

2021

2021 Kalasi Cellars Narra Vineyards, Red Wine

Still

$$$

2021

2021 Kalasi Cellars Narra Vineyards, Tannat Entav Clone

Still

$$

2022

2022 Kalasi Cellars Narra Vineyards, Red Wine, Raj Collection (Green Label)

Still

$$$

2022

2022 Kalasi Cellars Narra Vineyards, Sagrantino

Still

$$

2022

2022 Kalasi Cellars Narra Vineyards, Teroldego

Still

$$

2023

2023 Kalasi Cellars Malvasia Bianca, Narra Vineyards

Still

$

2023

2023 Kalasi Cellars Narra Vineyards, Sangiovese Rosé

Still

$

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