Sign In/Subscribe

Cristaldi Scores

Producer
Producer
More
Country
Country
More
Vintage
Vintage
More

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

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.

2023

Michael Ros Winery

Michael Ros Vineyards, Grenache

Sourced entirely from their Michael Ros Vineyards in the Texas High Plains, this wine was aged for 19 months in 12% new Russian oak. Winemaker Tim Drake says he loves Russian oak, which he began using in 2005 while in Washington State. The trees used are over 300 years old, and the grain is so tight you need a magnifying glass to see it—meaning minimal oxygen penetration during aging, yet the wood imparts a touch of baking spice complexity. The wine itself shows a rich, soft fruit profile with ripe red fruit, cherry, and cranberry alongside espresso bean, sage, and green tobacco notes that layer beautifully across the mid-palate. The finish is lengthy, carried by sweet spice and plush tannins in this elegant medium-bodied expression.

2023

Reddy Wines

Aglianico

Small-batch fermented and aged for 18 months in 40% neutral oak, 40% new French oak, and 20% new American oak. This is an easy-drinking red with rose petal aromatics and dried cherry on the nose. The medium-bodied palate reveals notes of vanilla, cocoa powder, and a touch of blood orange acidity, finishing with medium length and gentle warmth.

2023

Rhinory

Keras Collection Pinot Noir

The Keras Collection: Keras is the original Greek word for “horn,” and the root of the word for “rhino.” The wine is made by Catherine Marshall at a winery in Stellenbosch and imported to the U.S. by Rhinory in Fredericksburg, Texas. It offers lovely, pure tart red berry fruit, dried flowers, and a hint of incense. Medium-bodied and expressive on the palate, with zesty blood orange acid tension and fantastic grippy tannins that are lithe and well-integrated. The finish shows a salty mineral character that keeps you coming back for more—and makes this a perfect pairing for mushroom risotto.

2023

Rhinory

Sangiovese

Fermented in stainless steel and then aged half in stainless and half in neutral French oak barrels for 11 months. In Texas, where some wines can run a little hot, picking earlier helps preserve freshness. This Sangiovese shows a savoury, meaty edge alongside bright red currant and tart cherry fruit, layered with notes of black olive. The medium-bodied palate is driven by super-juicy, crunchy acid tension, making it vibrant and food-friendly. “Wine is the ultimate condiment for food,” says David Bradbury, Wine Director at Rhinory.

2023

Rhinory

Sangiovese

A blend of Sangiovese from two vineyards in the Texas High Plains, this wine was aged entirely in neutral American oak for 12 months. It opens with a super-savory nose that, as some friends noted, evokes Swisher Sweets—meaty, tobacco-laced, with both green and black olive nuances. Red-toned fruit follows on the palate alongside subtle maple-kissed tannins and oolong tea notes. Superfine tannins build gracefully on the lengthy finish. It’s a homerun wine—versatile, approachable, and perfect with pastas, pizzas, or barbecue fare.

2023

Rivenburgh Wine

Ab Astris Vineyard, Clairette Blanche

This Clairette Blanche shows wonderful aromatic intensity, both nutty and citrusy, with pressed wildflower notes. The palate is soft yet textured, showing gentle grip and a touch of marzipan alongside its floral character. Typically a thin and flabby variety, here it gains impressive mid-palate weight thanks to a bit of skin contact. A fun, expressive white that’s drinking beautifully now and will continue to evolve through 2027.

2023

Rivenburgh Wine

Lahey Vineyard Sangiovese Rosé

This Sangiovese Rosé is quite complex, with lovely cherry fruit aromatics mingling with notes of licorice and aniseed. Dried fruit tones emerge with air, adding depth to the richer, creamier core. A fine-boned acidity and a taut, mineral finish provide structure and lift, while gentle tannic tension frames the wine beautifully. Aged for 12 months in neutral oak.

2023

Robert Clay Vineyards

B 23 01 RCV CHA, Robert Clay Vineyards, Chardonnay

This 2023 vintage was aged for 11 months in neutral oak, unfiltered, and estate bottled, with just 22 cases made. The wine is incredibly coiled and tense, showing subtle citrus notes of lemon and lime alongside white flowers and crushed Marcona almonds. The finish is long and saline, marked by a sharp mineral streak. Super crisp and tightly wound, it’s the kind of wine that demands food—think Alfredo, cacio e pepe, carbonara, or aged hard cheeses.

2023

Ron Yates

Cabernet Franc

Grown by Friesen Vineyards and aged for 15 months in 35% new French oak, this Cabernet Franc comes from Ron Yates Winery, which opened in 2016 following the Yates family’s purchase of Spicewood Vineyards in 2007. With nearly two decades of experience in grape growing and winemaking in the Texas Hill Country, the team delivers a polished expression of the variety. The wine is driven by dark cherry and currant fruit layered with notes of sagebrush and prairie grass. On the palate, it shows a lean, iron-like crushed stone minerality, cedarwood spice, and supple, building tannins that carry through a long, smoky paprika finish.

2023

Siboney Cellars

Bingham Vineyards, Albariño

Super delicate on the nose, with wildflowers and white-peach notes and just a kiss of vanilla. Light- to medium-bodied, with those same lifted aromatics carrying onto the palate, finishing crisp with a faint, chalky minerality. 100% Albariño. Five barrels made, with some new-oak ageing. Sourced from Bingham Vineyards — who also grow organic peanuts and cotton.

2023

Signor

Cabernet Franc

From Friesen Vineyard in Brownfield, Texas, in the Texas High Plains—owned by Ron Yates—this wine was fermented in one-ton fermenters and aged in French oak, roughly 40% new, with tight-grain barrels to help manage tannins. The wine is bright and expressive, showing ripe dark berry and blue fruit with violet nuances and warm baking spice tones that build across the medium-bodied palate. Supple, ripe tannins and subtle cocoa powder notes carry through to the lengthy finish. Nicely balanced and well-structured, and if this is the direction Signor is headed under winemaker Michael Barton, it’s definitely one to watch.

2023

Signor

Picpoul Blanc

Fermented in stainless steel and aged sur lie for about 6 months in concrete, this wine is sourced from Alta Loma Vineyards in the Texas High Plains near Brownfield, Texas. It’s fragrant and aromatic, showing rich baking spice character and dried floral notes with super-grippy acid tension and a candied mineral component. Subtle citrus fruit carries through on the medium-length finish.

2023

Slate Theory Winery

Estate Sauvignon Blanc

Fermented in stainless steel, with ageing split between partial acacia wood puncheons—used to build mid-palate weight and aromatic intensity—and stainless steel for five months. Very bright, crisp, energetic, and clean, with citrus notes alongside subtle hints of papaya and mango, flinty minerality, and white flowers on the nose. Medium-bodied on the palate, with excellent tension and grip, leading to a clean, mineral-driven finish with a saline edge. Fruit is sourced from Lahey Vineyards and Narra Vineyards in the Texas High Plains, along with estate fruit from the Texas Hill Country AVA.

2023

William Chris Vineyards

Dell Valley Vineyard Cabernet Franc

From Dell Valley Vineyard, a site situated 3,500 feet above sea level on an ancient coral reef that imparts a salty minerality to the wine. It offers dark berry fruit, tobacco spice, and bright wild herb character—balanced and fragrant with cassis and blackberry fruit on the medium-bodied palate. The finish is lengthy and expressive, framed by perfectly crisp, firm tannins with a velvety texture. A benchmark wine for the region from Tony Offhill with Jean Hoefliger as consultant.

2023

William Chris Vineyards

Dell Valley Vineyard Cabernet Franc

From Dell Valley Vineyard, at 3,500 feet above sea level, this site sits on an ancient coral reef that imparts a distinct salty minerality to the wine. Dark berry fruit, tobacco spice, and bright wild herbs lead the aromatics, while the medium-bodied palate shows cassis and blackberry fruit with balanced fragrance and lift. The finish is lengthy and expressive, framed by crisp, firm tannins that carry a velvety texture. A model wine for the region from Tony Offill. For the last couple of years, Jean Hoefliger of JH Consulting has worked with the team as well.

2023

William Chris Vineyards

Vintage Press VIneayrd Syrah

The Syrah includes 7% Grenache, sourced from the Vintage Press Vineyard in Stonewall, Texas. Aromas of white pepper, tart red berry fruit, violets, and wild herbs lead into a medium-bodied palate. Expressive wild herb character and blood orange acidity build across the palate, carrying through to a firm, tannic finish.

2024

Augusta Vin

Aestas Rosé

Whole-cluster pressed with some saignée. A blend of Counoise, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, and Tannat. Bright, ripe strawberry and cherry fruit lead, accented by orange peel and grapefruit zest. The palate shows great tension and energy, making this a truly pleasing, easy-drinking wine for summer.

2024

Augusta Vin

Albarino

Fermented in stainless steel and oak-aged for roughly six to eight months before bottling. Lovely, subtle aromatics of citrus oil and honeysuckle lead into a medium-bodied palate with a silky, satiny mouthfeel. Bright citrus zest and citrus oil keep the palate lively, fresh, and full of energy, carrying through with good length and tension. You would be hard-pressed to detect any oak influence apart from the beautifully silky texture.

2024

Augusta Vin

Giovana Bianca

Fermented entirely in stainless steel, with a small portion of Viognier fermented in barrel. The nose is beautifully alluring, revealing citrus, white peach, orange blossom, honeysuckle, and a hint of shiso. The palate is lush, creamy, and seductive, yet balanced by bright acidity and a crisp, chalky minerality that extends through the long, floral finish. Bright, rich, and poised.

2024

Augusta Vin

Marsanne

Aged entirely in stainless steel for six months before bottling. Elegant white peach, apricot, and honeycomb aromas lead, with a lovely weight and silky fruit depth from partial malolactic fermentation. The palate leans toward poached apples, guava, and white peach, layered with pressed wildflowers and a subtle baking spice character. Nicely persistent on the finish. 92

2024

Augusta Vin

Picpoul Blanc

Aged for about six to seven months in 100% stainless steel before bottling. Bright, ripe tropical fruits lead the nose, joined by nuances of white peach, apricot, and white flowers. The palate shows a chalky minerality that builds through to a zesty, energetic finish. 91-92

2024

Augusta Vin

Roussanne

In Texas, this grape tends to show more florality and structure, says Zachary Raines, winemaker for Augusta Vin—”probably from that shorter growing season.” The wine is fermented in stainless steel and aged in a combination of barriques and large-format puncheons, with 40% new French oak. The oak is beautifully integrated, lending a buttery palate expression with good mid-palate fruit density and length. Spicy ginger notes and saline-acid tension balance out the wine’s soft, fleshy mouthfeel.

2024

Augusta Vin

Trebbiano

This wine shows nice weight and richness from the addition of about 8g/L of sugar, with bright citrus, tropical fruit, and apricot notes. Crushed almonds appear on the off-dry finish.

1 2 3 4 5

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

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

100% Tempranillo, farmed at 15 clusters per vine with yields around 1.5 tons per acre. Fermented in open bins with cooling plates and hand punchdowns over 7–10 days. Malolactic fermentation completed in stainless steel, followed by 12 months in 20–30% new French oak, then transferred to neutral barrels for an additional 6–12 months prior to bottling. Aromas are bright and clean, with tart red berry fruit, baking spices, and subtle cedarwood notes. Medium-bodied on the palate, supported by very fine-grained tannins and crunchy red berry fruit. The wine is savory-spiced, with excellent fruit purity and mouthwatering acidity.

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

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 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.

2022

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Rating

$

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 Inwood Estates Vineyards Cornelious Tempranillo Reserve

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

Still

$$$

2022

2022 Kerrville Hills Alta Loma Vineyard, Picpoul Blanc

-

$

2022

2022 Kerrville Hills Arrowhead Creek Vineyard Mourvèdre

-

$

2022

2022 Lost Draw Wines Alta Loma Vineyard, Syrah

-

$$

2022

2022 Lost Draw Wines Tempranillo, Lost Draw Vineyard

-

$$

2022

2022 Lost Draw Wines Uplift Cuvee

-

$$

2022

2022 McPherson Cellars S & C Newsome Vineyards, Home Block Montepulciano

-

$

MAILING LIST

The only email you want to open

  • Podcast Drops
  • New Reports
  • Latest Scores