Sign In/Subscribe

Cristaldi Scores

Producer
Producer
More
Country
Country
More
Vintage
Vintage
More

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

2022

Kerrville Hills

Alta Loma Vineyard, Picpoul Blanc

This Alta Loma Vineyard Picpoul Blanc shows excellent weight and balance, with pretty notes of citrus peel, wildflowers, and honeycomb. The palate is rich and creamy, filled with ripe orchard fruit that builds in density toward a medium-bodied finish. Hints of honey and crushed almonds linger gracefully, adding depth and texture

2022

Kerrville Hills

Arrowhead Creek Vineyard Mourvèdre

Uniquely Mourvèdre, this wine offers heady, meaty aromatics with high-toned violets, black currant fruit, saddle leather, and tobacco. Loamy earth notes underpin the palate, while broad-shouldered, muscular tannins drive the full-bodied finish.

2022

Lost Draw Wines

Alta Loma Vineyard, Syrah

Fermented in oak foudre and aged for 20 months in 20% new, 40% second-use, and 40% neutral French oak barrels, this Syrah comes from Alta Loma Vineyard in the Texas High Plains. It’s a full-bodied, dense, and powerful expression with meaty richness, black truffle, and loamy earth notes wrapped in a molasses-like depth. The bold, expressive palate reveals juicy dark berry fruit layered with cocoa powder and lifted by zesty blood orange acidity, all framed by robust, finely structured tannins.

2022

Lost Draw Wines

Tempranillo, Lost Draw Vineyard

Fermented in oak foudres and aged for 21 months in 20% new American and French oak barrels with the remainder in second-use French oak, this wine is dark-fruited and expressive, showing brandied cherry, fig, and violet notes layered with cedarwood and baking spices. The mid-palate builds with medium- to full-bodied richness, supported by cocoa powder tannins that frame the firm finish.

2022

Lost Draw Wines

Uplift Cuvee

The Uplift Cuvée is a dynamic, balanced, and polished red wine that combines richness with finesse. It opens with generous dark fruit alongside elegant cedarwood tones, a touch of meatiness, and blue fruit accents. The palate brings everything together beautifully—robust, power-packed tannins support a creamy mid-palate texture, nuanced oak spice, and a lengthy, juicy, succulent finish. Each variety was fermented separately in oak foudres and aged for 24 months in French oak—25% new, 25% second-use, and 50% neutral.

2022

McPherson Cellars

S & C Newsome Vineyards, Home Block Montepulciano

Aged for 14 months in 20% new French oak. Sourced from S & C Newsome Vineyards in the Texas High Plains, this Montepulciano exemplifies McPherson’s hallmark consistency of quality and style from vintage to vintage. It offers tart cherry fruit, cedarwood, and a subtle meaty nuance, all unfolding across a medium-bodied palate with velvety tannins and lingering black tea notes on the finish.

2022

Michael Ros Winery

Texas High Plains, Envisage

Aged for 25 months in 28% new French oak barrels, this wine marks the first red blend release under the Envisage label—the name symbolizing the bold leap that Michael and Rosanne took in founding their family-owned boutique winery in the Texas Hill Country. This medium-bodied blend is framed by red berry fruit and warm baking spice, layered with white pepper nuances and a touch of richness. Juicy and fresh on the palate, it shows firm, taut, mineral-laced tannins and finishes bone dry with lingering spice and energy.

2022

Pedernales Cellars

Tempranillo Reserve

The flagship wine for Pedernales Cellars, this blend was aged for 18 months in a combination of new and neutral oak and sourced primarily from Lahey Vineyard, with fruit from Daniel Vineyard supplementing. It’s a fantastically bold, supple, and dark-fruited wine, showing blue fruit nuances, dark chocolate notes, and a touch of chalky minerality. Supple tannins frame the full-bodied finish.

2022

Pedernales Cellars

Teroldego

Sourced from Pepperjack Vineyard in the Texas High Plains, the 2022 Teroldego was aged for 18 months in a mix of neutral French and American oak. It’s a bold, juicy wine brimming with red and black fruit, showing a meaty richness on the palate nuanced by violets and candied rose petal notes. Supple yet firm tannins provide structure, while the finish is bold, juicy, and rich.

2022

Rivenburgh Wine

Canted County Vineyard Grenache

This is a full-flavored, meaty, and muscular Grenache showing real grit and tenacity. Bold notes of black olive, ripe cherry, and cherry cola mingle with wet slate minerality and robust tannins that build toward a towering finish. Sourced from Canted County Vineyard, this lot was originally destined for a blend, but as John Rivenburgh explains, the fruit was so compelling in 2022 that he decided to bottle it on its own.

2022

Robert Clay Vineyards

B 22 00 RCV CHA, Robert Clay Vineyards, Chardonnay

A small-batch production of just 20 cases and 5 bottles, this wine was aged for 16 months in neutral oak, filtered, and estate bottled. It’s bracing and focused on the palate, showing lifted citrus peel and baking spice notes with subtle hints of tropical fruit. Medium-bodied with a lengthy, warming spice finish, it’s beautifully balanced and fresh, maintaining focus even with its broad fruit character. Excellent work by father and son duo Dan and Blake McLaughlin. Robert Clay Vineyards released its first official vintage in 2015 after farming a local vineyard since 2012 and honing their craft through home winemaking in Mason, Texas.

2022

Ron Yates

Cabernet Sauvignon

Grown by Friesen Vineyards and aged for 22 months in 40% new French oak, this Cabernet Sauvignon is bold, rich, and unmistakably Texan in style. “Everyone wants a Cab and a slab here in the Hill Country,” Ron Yates tells me. In the glass, it unfolds with aromas of blackberry, red currant, cassis, and cedarwood, accented by mild Indian spice. Medium- to full-bodied, it offers supple, satiny tannins and a dark-fruited, mineral-rich finish.

2022

Ron Yates

Friesen Blend

Grown by Friesen Vineyards and aged for 22 months in 45% new French oak, this full-bodied, robust red is deeply fruited and richly textured. Aromas of cedarwood, sage, and tobacco lead into a palate of dark cherry and strawberry layered with leather and loamy earth. The finish shows dried cherry and a lingering dusting of cocoa nib.

2022

Siboney Cellars

Lahey Vineyards, Cabernet Franc

From Lahey Vineyard in the Texas High Plains, this is 100% Cabernet Franc aged in 30% new French oak. Just 250 cases made. Candied red-berry fruit and brown baking-spice notes lead, joined by hints of coriander and cumin that build across the medium-bodied palate. Smoky clove and a streak of blood-orange acidity (with just a touch of grapefruit pith) add lift and detail. Taut, firm tannins resolve nicely on the finish.

2022

Slate Theory

The Narcoleptic

Aged for 31 months in 34% new French oak and 66% neutral oak, this medium-bodied red is full-flavored, showing dark brambly berry fruit and subtle medium-toast oak nuances. Rich loamy earth and currant notes add depth, leading to a lasting finish marked by crushed stone minerality.

2022

Slate Theory

The Schizophrenic

This wine received longer aging than is typical for the winery—31 months in 57% new French oak and 43% neutral oak. It opens with alluring notes of sagebrush, thyme, and rosemary layered over dark loamy earth, violets, and charcuterie. Currant fruit and dark chocolate–covered cherries add richness to the medium-bodied palate, which finishes with a lingering, earthy depth. The Jones family purchased Torre di Pietra Winery in 2018 and invested in 1851 Vineyards the following year, rebranding the operation as Slate Mill Wine Collective and expanding into a custom crush facility. The first official release under the Slate Theory label was a 2017 Malbec, and the Slate Theory winery and cave opened in 2021.

2022

Slate Theory Winery

The Obsessive

Slate Theory’s The Obsessive offers bright, lifted aromatics of desert sage and anise, with black tea, black olive, currant, and cassis notes. Medium-bodied with soft tannins and gentle acidity, it’s an easy drinker that carries through to a long, savoury-spiced finish.

2023

Becker Vineyards

Chardonnay Reserve

Becker’s Reserve Chardonnay is sourced from Canada Family Vineyards in Plains, near the New Mexico border, and Tallent Vineyards in Mason within the Texas Hill Country AVA. Fermented and aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak, it’s a lush, full-bodied, and supple Chardonnay built on a rich, toasty oak profile—more buttered croissant than dark toast. Layers of apricot cream, pineapple crème brûlée, and salted lemon unfold across the palate, leading to a lemon curd finish. Generous yet balanced throughout.

2023

Becker Vineyards

Montepulciano

This blend of 95% Montepulciano with about 1.5% each of Tempranillo, Dolcetto, and Barbera was aged for 16 months in neutral French and American oak barrels. The wine is meaty and medium-bodied, offering dark chocolate–covered cherry fruit, loamy earth, violets, and maple-cured bacon notes. Soft, supple tannins frame a sweet-fruited finish laced with brown spice.

2023

Invention Vineyards

Imaginada Albarino

Acquired in late 2022 by Brian Heath, this blend of Albariño and Viognier is rich and expressive on the palate, showing bright floral character with notes of honeysuckle and jasmine. Lively, lemony acidity supports a fleshy mid-palate of tropical and orchard fruit, while the clean, fruit-driven finish reveals subtle wild herb nuances reminiscent of chamomile tea. Fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel. Winemaker Jason Englert oversees an 80,000 case production across all Heath Family Brands (Grape Creek Vineyards, Heath Sparkling Wines, Jenblossom Cellars and Invention Vineyards).

2023

K Estate

Estate Tempranillo

This is a well-built wine from estate vineyard fruit, showing tart cherry, subtle cedarwood, and tobacco notes with cocoa powder tannins framed by saline-driven acidity and crushed volcanic minerality. Everything comes together beautifully in this medium-bodied wine with a zesty, acid-driven finish. Winemaker Jason Englert oversees an 80,000 case production across all Heath Family Brands (Grape Creek Vineyards, Heath Sparkling Wines, Jenblossom Cellars and Invention Vineyards).

2023

K Estate

The Bridge Red Blend

This one-off bottling from K Estate “bridges” two vintages, so if you can find it, grab it. The 2023 season was hot and dry, with Brix levels rising quickly—many wines ended up tart or unbalanced, but not this one. It’s beautifully composed, with ripe fruit and a spicy herbal edge layered over volcanic earth tones. Subtle sweetness from barrel aging rounds out the palate, leading to a nicely balanced finish. Winemaker Jason Englert oversees an 80,000 case production across all Heath Family Brands (Grape Creek Vineyards, Heath Sparkling Wines, Jenblossom Cellars and Invention Vineyards).

2023

Kerrville Hills

Cinsault Rosé

This is one of my favourite rosés from Kerrville Hills, as the Cinsault creates an intriguing and complex pink wine that leaps from the glass with bright cherry fruit, apricot, and tangerine peel. It builds with medium-bodied intensity, showing candied minerality and warming brown spices that emerge on the finish. Simply a super-pleasing rosé.

2023

Kerrville Hills

Rustic Spur Vineyards Tannat

This is an exceptionally well-built wine and another example of a variety that proves beautifully suited to Texas terroir. It shines in the glass with bright red berry and black cherry fruit, brown spices, rose petals, leather, and tobacco. The medium- to full-bodied palate shows crisp tannins and lingering notes of dried fruit and baking spice. Beneath it all lies great underlying tension and chalky minerality, while cocoa powder tannins build with impressive intensity on the long finish. Drink now or hold over the next decade.

2023

Kerrville Hills

Viognier

This Viognier opens beautifully in the glass, revealing candied citrus peel, dried prairie grass, and an intriguing smoky maple-bacon and white truffle richness from lees aging. Medium-bodied with a subtle, crunchy tannin grip, it shows layers of citrus and orchard fruit on the palate, while those savoury, aromatic notes reappear and linger through the finish.

2023

La Velentía

Blanc de Blancs

This 100% Chardonnay comes from two vineyards—Texas Hills in Johnson City (Texas Hill Country AVA) and Certenberg Vineyard in Pontotoc, Texas. Picked on the early side to preserve natural acidity, it underwent bâtonnage for three months before bottling. Made in the pét-nat style but sterile-filtered before secondary fermentation and bottled under crown cap, the wine is light, bright, and crisp, showing orchard fruit notes and a frothy, gentle mousse that’s pleasantly soft rather than aggressive. It has great texture and a clean, vibrant finish. Crafted by winemaker Rae Wilson, with support from Tony Offill.

2023

La Velentía

Fire Oak Vineyard Red Blend

This blend of 52% Carignane and 48% Mourvèdre is sourced entirely from Fire Oak Vineyard in Mills County, located between Fredericksburg and Fort Worth. The site shares a similar soil profile to Uplift—sandy loam with some clay loam components. Aged 12 months in neutral French oak, the color derives from early oxygenation and stirring during the start of fermentation before the wine settles and is barreled down. The result is a fresh, inviting red with beautifully pure red-berry fruit and a subtle, natural sweetness that draws you in. Medium to full-bodied with supple tannins, it shows ripe, upfront fruit framed by a fine thread of wet-rock minerality. Absolutely lovely—one of my favorite wines from Texas. A great effort by Rae Wilson and Tony Offill.

2023

Lost Oak Winery

Viognier

This 100% Viognier was fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel, resulting in a wine with rich floral aromatics and subtle honeyed undertones. Creamy orchard fruit flavors come together beautifully on the light- to medium-bodied palate, framed by zesty acidity and an unctuous, fruit-driven finish. In other words, it’s effortlessly crushable. Sourced from Diamonte Doble and Bingham Family Vineyards.

2023

Meredith Margaret Wines

Seifer Vineyard Sangiovese

A delicious Sangiovese that builds beautifully in the glass, showing ripe cherry and strawberry fruit alongside brown baking spices and well-integrated cedar from new oak. Currant and cassis notes add depth, while crisp, crunchy tannins frame the palate. The finish is long and layered with loamy earth and a touch of underbrush.

2023

Michael Ros Winery

Michael Ros Viineyards, Dolcetto

Fermented in stainless steel and aged for a year and a half in 100% neutral French oak barrels, this Dolcetto shows real tannic tension framing its crunchy red fruit core. Warm baking spices, a touch of toasty barrel char, and subtle charcuterie notes add savory depth to the firm, focused finish. It’s a lively and structured expression that highlights both fruit purity and textural grip.

1 2 3

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

2022

Producer

Name

Fermented in stainless steel and aged for 32 months in 40% new American oak. Yields were incredibly low in 2022. Winemaker Mike Nelson notes that the variety retains heat well—some years require no acid adjustment for his Tannat, while in others he adds a touch to balance. He envisions pairing this wine with venison, Tex-Mex, or barbecue, and it’s certainly built for that. The wine shows meaty richness and an iron-laced quality that underscores its medium- to full-bodied character, nuanced by dried prairie grass notes. Solid, firm tannins build with intensity on the finish, giving the wine structure, length, tension, and power. Ab Astris is a boutique, family-owned winery founded by Erin and Tony Smith. Winemaker Mike Nelson is dedicated to producing handcrafted vintages from their 12-acre estate, the Hill Country, and the Texas High Plains.

2022

Producer

Name

The 2022 vintage was a drought year in Texas, and typically Ab Astris would produce a single-vineyard designate, but not this time. In this vintage, winemaker Mike Nelson fermented the wine in bins and aged it for 30 months in a combination of neutral and up to 40% new American oak. The wine shows red berry fruit and baking spice character building in intensity across the medium-bodied palate, framed by fine, firm tannins and finishing with cocoa powder and vanilla notes. Ab Astris is a boutique, family-owned winery founded by Erin and Tony Smith. Winemaker Mike Nelson handcrafts vintages from their 12-acre estate, the Hill Country, and the Texas High Plains.

2022

Producer

Name

The Cabernet is sourced from the winery’s 24-hectare estate and includes a portion of Petite Sirah, aged for 24 months in 30% new French oak. It shows classic Cabernet character with notes of blackberry, smoky graphite, and smoked paprika, all coming together on a plush, full-bodied palate. There’s an umami richness that drives the finish, with layers of dark fruit, cherry cola, and savory depth building through to the end. Quite the wine.

2022

Producer

Name

This non-vintage dessert wine is blended in a solera style, with fortification occurring in tank midway through fermentation. Fortified with brandy distilled from wine, it’s a truly delicious and well-balanced example of the style. Aromas of candied cinnamon and red berry fruit lead to a palate brimming with luscious dark fig jam, licorice, and a touch of green olive, all accented by savoury Christmas spice. Despite its richness, the wine maintains a lifted freshness and finishes with crisp tension. A dessert wine you can confidently cellar, as it will develop added volume, intensity, and nutty complexity over time.

2022

Producer

Name

The 2022 Ranger Hays is a blend of 74% Malbec, 14% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from vineyards across the Texas High Plains and Texas Hill Country. Aged for 24 months in 25% new French and American oak, it’s a savory, medium-bodied red showing notes of dark olive, loamy earth, iron, and crushed rock. Velvety tannins carry through to a starker, mineral-driven finish.

2022

Producer

Name

This is a crowd-pleaser in the Super Tuscan style, offering ripe currant and cassis fruit with hints of blackberry and subtle blue fruit aromatics. Firm, taut, mineral-laced tannins frame the palate, accented by earthy and tobacco spice notes and wet stone minerality on the lengthy finish. A fine medium-bodied wine that builds to full-bodied intensity as it finishes. Winemaker Jason Englert oversees an 80,000 case production across all Heath Family Brands (Grape Creek Vineyards, Heath Sparkling Wines, Jenblossom Cellars and Invention Vineyards).

2022

Producer

Name

The Cab Trois comes from a hot, dry year, and it shows in the vivid dry herb aromatics that mingle with dried rose petal notes, creating a spicy, herbal character that’s quite intriguing. Purple violet florals carry through on the palate alongside spiced plum fruit and chalky minerality, leading to a lengthy, mineral-driven finish. Winemaker Jason Englert oversees an 80,000 case production across all Heath Family Brands (Grape Creek Vineyards, Heath Sparkling Wines, Jenblossom Cellars and Invention Vineyards).

2022

Producer

Name

The 2022 Petite Sirah is a full-bodied, bold, and richly textured wine with inky black fruit and blue fruit nuances layered with notes of underbrush, dark forest floor, red tobacco, and espresso bean. It shows impressive density and weight throughout the palate. Winemaker Jason Englert oversees an 80,000 case production across all Heath Family Brands (Grape Creek Vineyards, Heath Sparkling Wines, Jenblossom Cellars and Invention Vineyards).

2022

Producer

Name

A heady mix of red and black fruit unfolds with rich cedarwood spice, building through cocoa powder tannins and crunchy red fruit accented by warm Indian spices on the mid-palate, carrying through to the full-bodied finish. Winemaker Jason Englert oversees an 80,000 case production across all Heath Family Brands (Grape Creek Vineyards, Heath Sparkling Wines, Jenblossom Cellars and Invention Vineyards).

2022

Producer

Name

This Cabernet Sauvignon is medium-bodied, showing red currant fruit and black tea notes layered with sagebrush. Superfine tannins provide a solid foundation for this tangy, zesty, blood-orange-fueled red, which finishes with savory black olive and black truffle charcuterie nuances. Winemaker Jason Englert oversees an 80,000 case production across all Heath Family Brands (Grape Creek Vineyards, Heath Sparkling Wines, Jenblossom Cellars and Invention Vineyards).

2022

Producer

Name

The Conflation Red is a bold, dark-fruited wine with muscular tannins and appealing iron-stone mineral tension at mid-palate. Ripe currant and cassis emerge on the medium- to full-bodied finish, joined by lingering notes of dark fig and subtle underbrush. Nicely put together and easily crushable. Winemaker Jason Englert oversees an 80,000 case production across all Heath Family Brands (Grape Creek Vineyards, Heath Sparkling Wines, Jenblossom Cellars and Invention Vineyards).

2022

Producer

Name

The most captivating wine I tasted at the Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival in October 2025 came from Kalasi Cellars. This is a medium-bodied red with redcurrant fruit and darker blueberry notes, supported by super-fine tannins that offer a pleasing grip—almost like apple-skin tannin. Brown spices weave through the palate, leading to a medium-bodied, spice-bright finish. A great food-pairing wine thanks to its grip and vibrant spice profile.

2022

Producer

Name

I tasted this wine at the Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival in October 2025. It shows red-berry fruit and generous mild Indian spices, with a medium-bodied palate feel and soft tannins leading to a juicy red-fruit finish. Cedarwood spice lingers pleasant finish.

2022

Producer

Name

I tasted this wine at the Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival in October 2025, and it was quite enticing. It offered sweet red-berry fruit and warm brown spices, with soft tannins and a medium-bodied palate feel. Notes of brown sugar, cedarwood, and charcuterie carried through on the extended finish.

2022

Producer

Name

This Alta Loma Vineyard Picpoul Blanc shows excellent weight and balance, with pretty notes of citrus peel, wildflowers, and honeycomb. The palate is rich and creamy, filled with ripe orchard fruit that builds in density toward a medium-bodied finish. Hints of honey and crushed almonds linger gracefully, adding depth and texture

2022

Producer

Name

Uniquely Mourvèdre, this wine offers heady, meaty aromatics with high-toned violets, black currant fruit, saddle leather, and tobacco. Loamy earth notes underpin the palate, while broad-shouldered, muscular tannins drive the full-bodied finish.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Rating

$

2022

2022 Ab Astris Winery Tannat

-

$

2022

2022 Ab Astris Winery Tempranillo

-

$

2022

2022 Augusta Vin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

-

$

2022

2022 Augusta Vin Vino Forte

-

$

2022

2022 Becker Vineyards Ranger Hays

-

$$

2022

2022 Grape Creek Vineyards Bellissimo Super Tuscan

-

$

2022

2022 Grape Creek Vineyards Cabernet Trois Red Blend

-

$

2022

2022 Grape Creek Vineyards Petite Sirah

-

$

2022

2022 Heath Vineyards Absolution Red Blend

-

$$$

2022

2022 Invention Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

-

$$

2022

2022 Invention Vineyards Conflation Red Wine

-

$$

2022

2022 Kalasi Cellars Narra Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 8 (Heritage Collection – Red Label)

-

$$

2022

2022 Kalasi Cellars Narra Vineyards, Malbec (Heritage Collection – Red Label)

-

$$

2022

2022 Kalasi Cellars Narra Vineyards, Petit Verdot (Heritage Collection – Red Label)

-

$$

2022

2022 Kerrville Hills Alta Loma Vineyard, Picpoul Blanc

-

$

2022

2022 Kerrville Hills Arrowhead Creek Vineyard Mourvèdre

-

$

MAILING LIST

The only email you want to open

  • Podcast Drops
  • New Reports
  • Latest Scores