Texas Wine Report – Page 3

2020

Ron Yates

Friesen Vineyards, Tempranillo

The Ron Yates Tempranillo from Friesen Vineyards in the Texas High Plains is a rich, densely layered, and expressive wine. It showcases bold red berry and dark fruit character, with black cherry, currant, and fig notes. The tannins are intense and robust, firm and structured, providing a solid backbone that provides framing for a lengthy finish of dark cocoa and molasses richness.

Red

2020

Tatum Cellars

Grenache

This 100% Grenache from Tatum Cellars hails from Hoover Valley Vineyard, located in the Texas Hill Country AVA. It’s a fantastic, red-toned fruited and medium-bodied red, with compelling espresso bean nuances, and lovely floral notes of dried violets and rose petals. Hints of underbrush and coca powder are carried along on a long finish that shows a wet slate minerality.

Red

2020

Tatum Cellars

Mourvèdre

A 100% Mourvèdre from the Salt Lick Vineyard in Texas Hill Country, this is a muscular and full-bodied red with both red- and blue-toned fruit flavors, and plenty of brown baking spice notes. Robust tannins frame a focused palate with high-toned herbal and rich cedarwood spices that carry through the finish. Polished, expressive and delicious.

Red

2020

Tatum Cellars

Syrah

Here’s a full-bodied, succulent, and generous Syrah from Tatum Cellars and the Salt Lick Vineyard in the Texas Hill Country. This red presents lovely violets and red berry fruits, with subtle blue fruit undertones, slate, and a touch of salty minerality. Balanced by a long, juicy finish, that resolves its richness of palate fruit.

Red

2020

Terra Trails Winery

Autumn Red Blend

The Autumn Red Blend from Terra Trails is vibrant and flavorful, packed with red currant fruit, cinnamon, and coriander spices, all interwoven with hints of strawberry fruit leather. Medium-bodied, it features firm, taut, and intensely grippy tannins that provide structure, leading to a mineral-rich finish. This wine offers a good balance of spice, fruit, and grip.

Red

2020

Terra Trails Winery

Doggone Vineyard, Malbec

The Doggone Vineyard Malbec from Terra Trails has notes of hazelnuts and dried rose petals, accompanied by red currant fruits. Medium-bodied and salty on entry, green tobacco notes emerge over the red currant fruits in the mouth, all building to a dry, medium-bodied finish.

Red

2020

Terra Trails Winery

Reddy Vineyard, Petit Verdot

A medium-bodied, soft red wine with elegant intensity, the Reddy Vineyard Petit Verdot offers vibrant notes of cranberry, raspberry, and strawberry, laced with mocha and rose petal aromas. Very easy to drink, this wine is best served with a slight chill.

Red

2020

Terra Trails Winery

Reddy Vineyard, Tempranillo

The Reddy Vineyard Tempranillo is a medium-bodied red that offers vibrant candied red fruit, currant flavors, and sweet mulled spice aromas, along with notes of fig paste, currant jam, and toasty cedarwood. The wine is full-flavored and delicious, with nuanced toffee spice elements that add depth. Its rich profile makes it an excellent pairing for Texas smoked brisket

Red

2020

Texas Heritage Vineyard

Estate Alicante Bouschet

This 100% Alicante Bouschet, sourced from the Texas Heritage Vineyard, was aged for up to 38 months in mostly neutral barrels. The wine opens with perfumed aromas of currants and pressed violets, complemented by mocha-dusted fig notes. Medium- to full-bodied, it showcases a dynamic and expressive profile of red- and black-toned fruits, supported by grippy, intense, and firm tannins that are impressively well-integrated at this stage. The finish is marked by a distinctive salty, wet slate character, adding a touch of minerality to its structure.

Red

2020

Texas Heritage Vineyard

Estate Tannat

This 100% Tannat, sourced from Texas Heritage Vineyard in the Texas Hill Country, comes from vines planted in 2017. Aged for up to 36 months in mostly neutral American oak, the wine reflects the subtle mineral character of the vineyard’s limestone soils—a feature owner Susan Johnson highlights as key to their terroir. Bright, crunchy red fruit flavors mingle with white pepper spice, currants, tanned leather, and tobacco notes, creating a complex and layered profile. Medium- to full-bodied, it delivers good density and structure, balanced by a smooth, approachable finish. Remarkably impressive for third-leaf fruit, this wine is both a testament to its potential and a total crowd-pleaser.

Red

2020

Triple R Ranch

Longhorn

The Longhorn Reserve Shiraz (supplemented with 10% Alicante Bouschet), offers pretty red floral notes that intermingle with crunchy red berry fruit and spices. On the medium-bodied palate, the wine builds with richness and intensity, layered with apple skin tannins and laced with subtle hints of white pepper, sage, and tobacco.

Red

2021

Arrowhead Creek Vineyard

Montepulciano

This Montepulciano (augmented with 5% Aglianico) from Arrowhead Creek Vineyards offers a heady mix of sweet red berry fruits, with fine-grained tannins that provide good presence and build intensity on the mid-palate. The wine is balanced by vibrant blood orange acidity, complemented by smoky mineral notes, toasty cedarwood, and crushed prairie herbs.

Red

2021

Arrowhead Creek Vineyard

Proprietary Red Wine

From Arrowhead Creek Vineyards comes this 95% Malbec (supported by and 5% Aglianico). This is a focused, meaty red wine, with nuances of black olives, licorice, and a charcuterie, all delivered with intensity through the medium-bodied finish.

Red

2021

Bending Branch Winery

Tallent Vineyards, Mourvèdre

Bending Branch Winery’s Tallent Vineyards Mourvèdre from the Texas Hill Country is sourced from vines planted at 1,620 feet in Hickory sandstone soils. The wine undergoes whole berry maceration and is aged for 24 months in oak. Bright red-toned fruits, reminiscent of strawberry and black currants, are tinged with vanilla and persist on the medium-bodied palate. The wine finishes with a long, expressive note of espresso bean, adding complexity.

Red

2021

Bingham Family Vineyards

Roussanne

The Roussanne Estate Reserve from Bingham Family Vineyards, sourced from their High Plains vineyards, kicks off with fragrant notes of prairie grass, chamomile tea, and honeycomb. Medium-bodied on the palate, it offers a creamy richness that builds with layers of coriander cream, peach cobbler, and a touch of salted caramel cream. Despite its depth, the wine retains a bright and refreshing character, finishing strong with an excellent balance of richness and vibrancy.

White

2021

Blackmon Wines

County Line Red Blend

The County Line Red Blend from Blackmon, sourced from the Texas Hill Country AVA, is a rich and expressive wine, offering abundant black currant fruit, fig, dark cocoa, and toasty oak notes, all creating a beautifully layered profile. Full-bodied, it features plush, velvet-textured tannins and plenty of grippy acidity, which helps maintain freshness and vibrancy throughout. Well-balanced and tension-filled, with a mid-palate richness that builds complexity, this red is both inviting and sophisticated. The winemaker is Anthony Offhill.

Red

2021

Blackmon Wines

Merlot

This is a brooding, intense, and nicely structured Texas Hill Country Merlot from Blackmon. It presents spiced black cherry and plum fruits, complemented by fine cedarwood spices. Medium-bodied on the palate, it is framed by velvety tannins that provide smooth texture and depth. The wine is layered with ironstone minerality, carrying through to a lengthy finish.

Red

2021

Brennan Vineyards

Cabernet Franc

This Cabernet Franc from the Blackwater Draw Vineyard in the Texas High Plains is a heady, floral-scented red with vibrant red fruit flavors. The wine is framed by blood orange acidity and crunchy apple skin tannins, which build on the finish and culminate in a burst of sweet Indian spices.

Red

2021

Brennan Vineyards

Cabernet Sauvignon

Brennan Vineyards’ 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon from Newburg Vineyard in Comanche County is a well-balanced, unfussy, and easy-drinking red. Packed with vibrant strawberry and raspberry fruit, it’s complemented by notes of fruit leather, panna cotta, and coriander cream. The wine’s full-bodied expression of Cabernet is supported by robust tannins, adding structure while maintaining a smooth and approachable character.

Red

2021

Brennan Vineyards

Mourvèdre

This Mourvèdre from the Blackwater Draw Vineyard in the Texas High Plains is like strawberry fruit leather in a glass. Medium-bodied, it shows velvety tannins complemented by nuances of white pepper, charcuterie, and agave nectar. The tannins assert themselves, framing a dry finish while the mid-palate maintains a juicy character. Lingering notes of currants and cassis add complexity.

Red

2021

Elisa Christopher Wines

Paka Family Vineyards, Merlot

Elisa Christopher Wines’ 100% Merlot from the Texas High Plains is aromatic and spicy on the nose, with intriguing hints of jalapeño, black currants, and spiced plums. Medium-bodied, it offers juicy upfront fruit character, framed by vibrant blue fruit compote and black cherry accents. The wine is further layered with notes of pie spices, leather, and a touch of white pepper.

Red

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.

Red

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!

Red

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.

Red

2021

Llano Estacado

"The Tree" Tempranillo

The Artist Series “The Tree” from Llano Estacado leads with savory black olive, licorice, and tar notes. Medium-bodied, it is framed by intense tannins that will benefit from some additional aging to soften. The wine finishes long, with a distinct ironstone mineral quality.

Red

2021

Llano Estacado

Kubacak Vineyards, Sangiovese Classico

The Kubacak Vineyards Sangiovese Classico from the Texas High Plains is a meaty, savory red, infused with white pepper aromas. Medium-bodied with intense character, it shows hints of pressed wildflowers, green olives, and ends with a very dry finish.

Red

2021

Llano Estacado

Le Claret Classique Red Blend

The 2021 Le Claret Classique Red Blend combines 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Cabernet Franc, and 24% Merlot into a super savory wine. It opens with notes of peppered charcuterie, black olive, black licorice, and tanned leather, all framed by burly tannins. The wine builds beautifully from medium- to full-bodied, with a long finish that lingers for over a half-minute.

Red

2021

Lone Star Wines

Drinkin' Buddy Red Wine

The fancifully named Drinkin’ Buddy Red Wine is a straightforward, unfussy offering with ripe red cherry fruit and toasty cedarwood notes. It is framed by muscular tannins, creating a medium-bodied wine that builds with richness on the mid-palate. As the assertive tannins resolve, the wine becomes more plump and generous. Lingering notes of red licorice and emerging graphite add complexity.

Red

2021

Lost Draw Wines

Alta Loma Vineyard, Sangiovese

The 2021 Lost Draw Alta Loma Vineyard Sangiovese, sourced from the Texas High Plains, is a well-crafted wine from a site planted by Ronny and Gale Burran, along with Ronnie and Bobbie Jo Floyd. The wine is well crafted, with crunchy red-toned fruit and rich baking spice notes, complemented by mineral-laced tannins that provide presence and depth. Those tannins build through the full-bodied finish, where hints of white pepper, charcuterie, and blood orange zest mingle.

Red

2021

Lost Draw Wines

GSM

Lost Draw’s GSM—a blend of 38% Grenache, 38% Syrah, and 24% Mourvèdre—is a testament to thoughtful winemaking. Fermented in wooden vats and stainless steel, the wine is aged for 19 months in 20% new French Radoux barrels with American oak heads.This well-built red delivers a medium-bodied expression with balanced tension and good energy. Red-toned fruits and brown baking spice notes dominate, complemented by a subtle meatiness, likely contributed by the Grenache. The muscular tannins provide structure, while the finish is long and red-berried, accented by hints of vanilla and sage. A polished and dynamic GSM blend.

Red

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

2019

Producer

Name

This Reserve Mourvèdre presents a red-fruited, high-toned profile, with bright red berry fruits complemented by leather, spices, and assertive tannins that lead to a quite drying finish.

Red

2020

Producer

Name

This Mourvèdre from Bilger Family Vineyards in the Texas Hill Country, is sourced from vines grown on sandy, limestone soils. Red-toned fruits transition seamlessly into cool, limestone-driven minerality, with layers of espresso bean, charcuterie, and bright citrus notes of blood orange and grapefruit zest. A totally pleasing red, it strikes a perfect balance of richness and freshness, making it an excellent choice for pairing with smoked brisket or chicken dishes.

Red

2020

Producer

Name

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.

Red

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.

Red

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.

White

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.

Red

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.

Red

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.

Red

2020

Producer

Name

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.

Red

2020

Producer

Name

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.

Red

2020

Producer

Name

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.

Red

2020

Producer

Name

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.

Red

2020

Producer

Name

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.

Red

2020

Producer

Name

Eden Hill’s easy-drinking Agliancio offers vibrant red-toned fruit, with vanilla-scented aromas and ripe, robust tannins. It has a solid foundation of crunchy apple skin acidity, providing freshness and balance. Sweet spice and rose petal notes emerge on the finish.

Red

2020

Producer

Name

The Eden Hill Vineyards Winemaker’s Reserve Tempranillo from the Eden Hill Estate Vineyard, produced by Chris Hornbaker, is a richly layered, medium-bodied red. It opens with red-toned fruit aromas of strawberry, rhubarb, and cranberry, with an interesting note reminiscent of cotton candy—nostalgic and inviting, like childhood evenings at the county fair. Fine, firm tannins provide structure, and the finish is both sweetly spiced and bone dry. A truly fascinating Tempranillo from Texas!

Cristaldi Scores

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

Ron Yates

Friesen Vineyards, Tempranillo

Tatum Cellars

Grenache

Tatum Cellars

Mourvèdre

Tatum Cellars

Syrah

Terra Trails Winery

Autumn Red Blend

Terra Trails Winery

Doggone Vineyard, Malbec

Terra Trails Winery

Reddy Vineyard, Petit Verdot

Terra Trails Winery

Reddy Vineyard, Tempranillo

Texas Heritage Vineyard

Estate Alicante Bouschet

Texas Heritage Vineyard

Estate Tannat

Triple R Ranch

Longhorn

Arrowhead Creek Vineyard

Montepulciano

Arrowhead Creek Vineyard

Proprietary Red Wine

Bending Branch Winery

Tallent Vineyards, Mourvèdre

Bingham Family Vineyards

Roussanne

Blackmon Wines

County Line Red Blend

Blackmon Wines

Merlot

Brennan Vineyards

Cabernet Franc

Brennan Vineyards

Cabernet Sauvignon

Brennan Vineyards

Mourvèdre

Elisa Christopher Wines

Paka Family Vineyards, Merlot

Kalasi Cellars

Narra Vineyards, Malbec

Kalasi Cellars

Narra Vineyards, Red Wine

Kalasi Cellars

Narra Vineyards, Tannat Entav Clone

Llano Estacado

"The Tree" Tempranillo

Llano Estacado

Kubacak Vineyards, Sangiovese Classico

Llano Estacado

Le Claret Classique Red Blend

Lone Star Wines

Drinkin' Buddy Red Wine