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Cristaldi Scores

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Vintage

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Color

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2020

Lost Draw Wines

Tempranillo

The 2022 Texas Hill Country Tempranillo from Lost Draw is a fine, easy-drinking red, featuring tart red-toned fruit and cedarwood spice, with a subtle hint of wild herb notes.Medium-bodied, it has a touch of meaty richness on the palate, balanced by a firm spine of acidity that adds freshness. The finish is long, marked by dried floral nuances and pomegranate fruit character, making for a red that is both vibrant and complex.

2020

Lost Draw Wines

Veraison Hills Vineyard, Mourvèdre

The Lost Draw Mourvèdre comes from the 20-acre Veraison Hills Vineyard in the Texas HIll Country, planted on the Hickory aquifer in 2016 by Mike and Deanna Dickey. It’s a super mineral-driven red with intense, granular, and grippy tannins that resolve through a welath of red-toned fruit and spice notes.Nuances of underbush and an obvious limestone mineral character linger through the lenghty, white pepper infused finish.

2020

Macari Vineyards

Cuvee Katherine

Made entirely from Pinot Noir, this spent 42 months en tirage and was disgorged on September 4, 2024. Whole clusters were gently pressed and fermented slowly and coolly over five weeks, then aged in tank for nine months before bottling. The result is a sparkling wine with a gorgeously frothy, creamy mousse and elegant red berry fruit. Medium-bodied, bright, and expressive, it finishes with a fantastic rush of saline minerality that adds precision and lift to all that supple texture and energy.

2020

Madrevite

Il Reminore

Citrus, apricot, dried acacia flower, saline, and tropical fruit all grace the nose here. Even with age, this has ample freshness, with a palate still full of high-toned tropical fruit flavors, and just a touch of toasted nuts. – J.R.

2020

Maison Jussiaume

Blanc de Blancs

Produced in the Méthode Champenoise style, this sparkling wine opens with lifted notes of lemon and biscuit, building on the palate with a frothy, assertive mousse that quickly resolves. What lingers is a bright core of lemon-lime citrus, French pastry nuances, and oyster shell minerality on a long, refined finish.

2020

Naumes Family Vineyard

GSM

From owner Laura Naumes and winemaker Chris Graves comes this expressive GSM blend, which opens with the bright, candied red berry fruit of Grenache, nuanced by the white pepper and violet aromatics of Syrah. Mourvèdre brings muscle and supple dark berry fruit to the palate. This is a generous, full-bodied red with a touch of sweetness in the dark-toned fruit and plenty of joie de vivre in its juicy, expressive, and easygoing character.

2020

Omega Road Winery

Rumored Red Blend

With 10% of proceeds from each bottle benefiting the Celebration Nation Organization in support of farmworkers and their families, this red blend carries purpose along with personality. Composed of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Carignan, 3% Tempranillo, 3% Zinfandel, and 3% Semillon, it offers intriguing spice notes alongside jaunty plum fruit aromas. The palate evolves from tangy to chewy to silky, delivering friendly red fruit flavors with excellent lift and impressive length. -JR

2020

Padigan

Estate Reserve Ruby

Picked at optimal ripeness—not raisined—this wine is bright and beautifully balanced, with cherry-walnut liqueur and milk chocolate notes. The mouthfeel is luscious and expressive, with vibrant acid tension and excellent length. Exceptionally balanced and delicious. Residual sugar: 9 g/L.

2020

Pedernales Cellars

Canted County Vineyards, Tempranillo Reserva

The Canted County Vineyards Tempranillo Reserva 2020 from Pedernales is a fantastic red wine with excellent concentration and depth of fruit and spice flavors, showcasing impressive overall structure. Full-bodied, it offers a harmonious balance of red and black-toned fruits, currant jam, and subtle hints of loamy earth and black tea. The wine finishes with a long, satisfying note of chocolate-covered figs, leaving you wanting more.

2020

Pedernales Cellars

Gran Reserva Tempranillo

Sourced from Canted County Vineyard and aged to Rioja Gran Reserva standards in 100% new French oak, this limited production of just 75 cases will be released in December 2025. Wow—this is fantastic! One of the best wines I tasted during my trip to Texas in October 2025 for the Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival. It’s bold, robust, rich, and supple, with high-toned black cherry, blackberry, and fig fruit layered over dark loamy earth, dried violets, and cherry liqueur notes. Currant fruit and fine-grained tannins build across the palate, leading to a supple, dark-fruited finish with nuances of unsweetened cocoa powder and impressive intensity through the full-bodied close. Larry and Jeanine Kuhlken planted their first vineyard near Fredericksburg in the early 1990s, founding what would eventually become Pedernales Cellars, named after the nearby Pedernales River. In 2005, their children, David and Julie, joined the business, which remains family-run.

2020

Pedernales Cellars

Lahey Vineyards, Tempranillo

Pedernales’ Lahey Vineyards Tempranillo is a polished medium- to full-bodied red wine with plump, velvety tannins and satiny-soft red fruit that offers both depth and integrity. Fragrant rose petal notes mingle beautifully with ripe raspberry and the crunchy character of pomegranate seeds. The wine finishes with a satisfying richness, leaving a lasting impression of elegance and complexity.

2020

Peter William

Malbec Reserve

Malbec is something Rogue Valley producers do exceptionally well, and in the right hands, it shows bright red and black-toned berry fruit with elegant baking spices and a stony mineral character—and this wine has that in spades. It’s not inky dark, but a beautiful deep ruby, framed by balanced tannins and acidity. The tannins are plump yet firm, and the acidity carries a saline edge with excellent grip—like a bite of crunchy sea salt on a juicy cut of beef. This is a dynamic and thoroughly satisfying Malbec from Peter William.

2020

Peter William

Syrah Lot B-42

From hillside vineyards, the Lot B-42 Syrah lifts out of the glass with blackberry fruit, dried rose petals, and white pepper, all enhanced by tobacco and beautifully long, rounded tannins that support the supple fruit. Fine oak adds a baking spice frame around this wonderfully juicy, dark-fruited Syrah—an elegant wine with just the right touch of hedonism.

2020

Peter Willliam

PWV Peter William Vineyard Tempranillo Reserve

Sourced entirely from the hillside estate of Peter William Vineyard in the Rogue Valley — a small, hillside site planted since 2013 with roughly ten acres under vine. Grapes are destemmed, given 19 days of skin contact with daily punchdowns, then aged 20 months in 50% new French oak. The wine delivers pristine red-berry and cassis fruit, complemented by subtle tobacco overtones, cedar from the oak, warm baking spices and dusty mineral notes. A rich, velvety core gives way to a finish of perfumed rose-petal, slate-stone minerality, and a cool, refreshing lift that makes this one hard to resist.

2020

Poggio della Dogana

Poggiogirato

An organic red produced in Castrocaro Terme from fruit sourced from 15-year-old Sangiovese vineyards, this spends 12 months in oak. A very nice nose of herbal spices, leather, wild berries, florals, and red and black fruits is on offer here. The mouthfeel is almost burly in its structure, but there is great minerality and dark fruit flavor to balance it all out. The finish is long and herbal, and the entire palate is absolutely packed with tannins by Sangiovese standards. – J.R.

2020

Reddy Wines

Ready Vineyards, TNT Tempranillo

The Tempranillo was aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak, while the Touriga Nacional spent 24 months in 100% neutral oak. This is the standout wine in the Reddy Wines lineup, showing lovely sweet red berry fruit, dried violets, and unsweetened cocoa powder. The palate is fresh and energetic through the mid-section, supported by powerful, robust tannins that carry a bright blood orange and dusty mineral finish. A very nice wine.

2020

Remotion

Celestina Vineyard Barbera

This Barbera comes from the Celestina Vineyard and was aged for 18 months in French oak. The nose is highly floral, with red berry fruit, tobacco, leather, and fresh cedar. On the palate, it shows richly sweet fruit, concentrated like brandied cherries, with a hint of walnut husk and blood orange acidity framing the finish. Serve slightly chilled and enjoy alongside sticky-sweet BBQ ribs.

2020

Rivenburgh Wine

Rustic Spur Vineyards Souzao

This is another variety that performs exceptionally well in Texas, and in the hands of John Rivenburgh it shows remarkable focus and precision. Expressive and juicy acidity drives the wine, balanced by fine, firm tannins with a distinct mineral edge. Blue fruit aromatics and cassis mingle with loamy earth, brown spice, and wet slate notes. A rock-solid wine with freshness, tension, and energy that perfectly support its rich profile.

2020

Rodrigue Molyneaux

Nebbiolo

A blend of 94% Nebbiolo, 3% Barbera, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, all sourced from the Tabby Cat Vineyard. The nose is a striking homage to Piedmont, with classic notes of sour cherry, dried herbs, tobacco leaf, and dried blood orange. That vibrant sour cherry character carries through to the full-bodied palate, where it meets lively acidity, a meaty texture, wood spice, and a delicate flourish of dried rose petals. -JR

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.

2020

Ronchi di Castelluccio

Ronco Casone

This red is sourced from their most shaded, coolest, and latest-harvested Modigliana vineyard. The Sangiovese clones planted there are believed to be unique to the site, and are lower-yielding. It’s got a gorgeous nose of black cherry, red plum, orange rind and roses, tinged with underbrush hints. The palate is extremely focused in its elegant red fruit flavor, vibrant acidity, and linear minerality. Lovely stuff, it needs some time in bottle to resolve its linear tannins. – J.R.

2020

Ronchi di Castelluccio

Ronco della Simia

Sourced from a Sangiovese clone that produces thicker-skinned berries, planted on east-facing slopes at 440m a.s.l. The name refers to a local legend involving an American soldier stationed in Modigliana during WWII, who supposedly decided to settle in the region along with (for some reason) a pet monkey. When the monkey died, he apparently buried it near a well in the ronco (which I am assuming would now violate some regulations?), which is considered to be a “mystical” place. It starts with earth, dried orange peel, dried herbs, sour black cherry, plums, redcurrant, dried rose petal, and a rather serious nature all around. The elegant nose belies a powerful, forceful palate, with leathery tannins, and deep red fruit flavors. This has got serious stuffing in its structure; even the acidity feels serious! – J.R.

2020

Ryan William Vineyard

Ryan William Vineyard Cabernet Franc Reserve

As is often the case with Reserve bottlings of Cabernet Franc from New York State, this wine delivers greater volume and a satiny texture. It offers a layered mix of red and black fruit nuances, with notes of tobacco, cedarwood, and crushed cacao nibs emerging on the juicy, earth-driven finish. Sourced from 20-year-old vines at Ryan William Vineyard on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes, the fruit was fermented on the skins, then pressed and aged in a combination of new, used, and neutral French oak barrels.

2020

Siboney Cellars

Cabernet Sauvignon

This was one of the nicest wines I tasted during my impromptu visit to Siboney Cellars. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from Challis (Clone 47) and Lahey (Clone 8) vineyards, it’s a great value at an SRP of $65—an impressively well-made Texas Cabernet. Dark berry fruit, loamy earth, violets, and crème de cassis lift from the glass. Medium- to full-bodied, it shows velvety tannins and a salty, saline minerality on the earth-driven finish.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

2020

Producer

Name

Sourced from estate fruit and aged for 20 months in 60% neutral oak, this is a vibrant take on classic California Zinfandel. It delivers all the hallmarks—juicy, meaty, jammy, and peppery—while also offering a refreshing line of acidity that keeps it lifted. The medium- to fullbodied palate shines with bright red fruit. -JR

2020

Producer

Name

This wine is sourced entirely from Block 3A, located near the pond on the southern portion of the property. It’s aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak, followed by an additional year in bottle before release. Dark fruit and loamy earth anchor the nose, with leathery tannins, vivid energy, and a coiled tension that gives the wine verve. There’s plenty of chalky black cherry and blackberry fruit, supported by pronounced, expressive tannins that have an elliptical quality—broad yet focused. The finish is fantastic, layered with spice and a volcanic, crushed red rock minerality. So expressive, and built to evolve.

2020

Producer

Name

The 2020 vintage of this red is a refined and juicy wine, offering dark berry fruit layered with soft, plump tannins that give it a sense of roundness and fullness. Delicate floral notes and hints of bay laurel add aromatic lift on the medium- to full-bodied on the palate.

2020

Producer

Name

A blend of 95% Pinot Noir and 5% Pinot Meunier with 8 g/L dosage. Delicate cherry and pomegranate fruit build through a vibrant, frothy mousse, anchored by racy saline-acid tension. The finish is long, juicy, and bright, with lively fruit balancing the grippy, mouthwatering structure.

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.

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!

2020

Producer

Name

2020 was a blockbuster vintage for the region—ripe, opulent, and particularly favorable for red wines, though the winery tragically lost much of its crop to frost. Thanks to expert farming by the team at Hermann J. Wiemer, this Cabernet Franc—sourced from Serenity Vineyard—was hand-picked, meticulously sorted, and fermented naturally before resting for 18 months in a single 600L neutral French oak puncheon. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, it’s a blockbuster in style: a bold and expressive wine, showing medium to full-bodied intensity with layers of dark berry fruit, cassis, and currant. A woodsy, earthy richness carries through on the palate, framed by towering, sappy tannins that structure the juicy kirsch and spice-laden core. Notes of green tobacco and bay laurel add complexity. Drink now or cellar for the next 3–5 years.

2020

Producer

Name

The Flat Creek Montepulciano is a well-built, medium-bodied red, showcasing crunchy dark cherry fruit and brooding mulberry spices. It’s layered with notes of leather, tobacco, and robust tannins that build to a fuller and richer finish.

2020

Producer

Name

This fragrant estate Syrah is a bold, muscular wine with broad-shouldered tannins and a nice balance of sweet spices, violets, and loamy earth. Medium-bodied, it unfolds with leather and tobacco nuances, complemented by tart, dusty, mineral-rich red fruit flavors. The finish is long and entertainingly spicy.

2020

Producer

Name

Bill Wathen and Dick Doré have been making wine together since 1985, when they founded Foxen at Rancho Tinaquaic. Their grapes are SIP Certified and sustainably farmed. The 2020 Pinot Noir is a powerhouse—still tightly wound in 2025, with tremendous tension and broad-shouldered, sinewy tannins. Dark cherry fruit interlaces with incense and espresso bean aromas, while tangy tangerine peel and blood orange acidity bring freshness and lift. The finish is long and textured, with notes of dusty cocoa powder and cherry pit.

2020

Producer

Name

The La Connection is their take on a GSM blend, with a touch of Petite Sirah added for depth. Grapes are gently pressed and fermented over 10–12 days, then aged for 22 months in neutral French oak. The wine is highly fragrant, with dark berry fruit, high-toned dried herbs, and dried violets, alongside white pepper and black truffle character. The medium-bodied palate is framed by fine, medium tannins and bursts with juicy blood orange, black cherry, and spiced plum fruit that lingers through the long finish.

2020

Producer

Name

The Grapes of Roth is Roman Roth’s personal label and now ranks among the premium offerings within the Wölffer Estate portfolio. This bottling is 92.5% Merlot from McCullough Vineyard in Cutchogue and 7.5% Cabernet Franc. A power-packed, dynamic, and complex expression of Merlot, it bursts with red berry fruit, spiced plum, and cedar-rich tannins that form a firm backbone to support the juicy mid-palate and exceptional length. It’s energetic and taut, with a vibrant spine of acidity—more linear and earth-driven than plush or silky, steering clear of the West Coast profile. Exceptionally food-friendly and built for the table. Aged in French oak barriques: one-third new, one-third one year old, and one-third two years old. Only 3,786 bottles produced.

2020

Producer

Name

“The Individualist” Red Wine from Grape Creek Vineyards in the Texas Hill Country is a dynamic blend of 84% Tannat, 9% Montepulciano, 7% Petite Sirah, and 4% Aglianico. Tannat is showing incredible potential in Texas, and may very well prove to be one of the state’s best red varieties over time. This wine offers alluring dark berry fruit notes that mingle beautifully with tobacco and sage. Fragrant rose petal aromas are interwoven throughout the full-bodied palate, which is framed by very fine, firm tannins that are powerful and assertive. The ripe tannins resolve through layers of black fruit, graphite, and espresso bean nuances.

2020

Producer

Name

A méthode traditionnelle sparkling wine made from 100% Chardonnay, riddled and disgorged by hand after 41 months en tirage with zero dosage. It opens with tart green apple and builds a vinous character on the mid-palate, lifted by a creamy mousse and finishing with bright mineral tension.

2020

Producer

Name

100% Tempranillo from a 4.5-acre site in the Texas High Plains, farmed at just 2 clusters per vine, yielding 0.2 tons per acre. Fermented in open bins with cooling plates and hand punchdowns for 7–10 days, then pressed to barrel and aged for 24 months in 50% new French oak. This is a wine you’ll want to open a day in advance, corked again, to let it settle. Aromatics are loaded with super dark berry and currant fruit, rich baking spices, and dried wild herbs. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, with suave, velvet-textured tannins and deep dark berry concentration layered with dark chocolate. The tannins are pronounced and assertive at the pull of the cork but soften with aeration—another reason to decant or pre-open. Excellent length, tension, and energy, with a vibrant core of acid driving freshness.

2020

Producer

Name

The Magnus, a blend of 52% Tempranillo and 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, opens with high-toned red berry fruit and spice character, complemented by delicate notes of dried lilacs. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, it layers dried fig and apricot fruit flavors with smoky minerals, molasses, and the herbal essence of tarweed. The wine finishes long, with an excellent concentration of flavors and a firm spine of racy acidity that keeps everything balanced and in check, making it a structured and captivating red.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Rating

$

2020

2020 Wanderlust Vineyard Syrah

Still Wine

N/A

2020

2020 Weis Vineyards Noble Select Riesling

Still Wine

N/A

2020

2020 Wente Family Vineyards Limited Release Meritage

Still Wine

$$

2020

2020 Wente Family Vineyards Nth Degree Cabernet Sauvignon

Still Wine

$$$

2020

2020 Wente Family Vineyards Nth Degree Syrah

Still Wine

$$

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