The Latest Cristaldi Scores
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
The Mountain Lion Reserve Meritage Red from Ranch Wines is as tame as a lion waiting in the shadows. It offers a nice, elegant red-fruited profile with ripe currant and cherry fruits, complemented by notes of tanned leather and white pepper. Burly tannins throughout its medium-bodied expression provide the framework forits mineral-scented finish.
Crafted by Kim McPherson, this aromatic blend consists of 80% Muscat, 10% Viognier, 5% Riesling, and 5% Trebbiano. The wine bursts with bright wildflower and honey aromas, complemented by delicate chamomile tea notes.Medium-bodied on the palate, it delivers deep and lasting flavors of lemon oil and chamomile, with just a hint of sweetness on the finish. Elegant and refreshing, this wine is both delightful and incredibly crushable.
Texas Wine Collective’s Mourvèdre is a medium-bodied, solid red that offers elegant red berry fruit character, including red currants and dried strawberries, with subtle hints of clove and allspice. Incredibly accessible and straightforward, it boasts a fine-grained tannic intensity that is well-integrated. The wine finishes with a lengthy, mineral-rich finish, showcasing its depth and balance.
This blend of 41% Syrah, 36% Mourvèdre, 23% Grenache from Texas Wine Collective is a ripe, energetic and layered GSM style red, with nice red-toned fruit character and a medium-bodied palate expression. Complementing the fruit profile are white pepper and pressed violet nuances. Muscular, firm, and broad-shouldred tannins frame the palate, while a firm spine of acidity keeps this wine bright and fresh. Its long finsh is marked by the subtlest hints of charcuterie.
This dry Muscat, crafted by Kim McPherson for the Texas Wine Collective, is delightly aromatic . It opens with inviting notes of chamomile tea, honeysuckle, and jasmine, creating a beautifully floral bouquet. These floral characteristics continue seamlessly on the medium-bodied palate, which is supported by a firm spine of acidity. Balanced with a chalky mineral intensity, the wine finishes long and floral-driven, with a subtle hint of emerging honeyed sweetness.
This 2022 Rosé from the Texas Wine Collective is an aromatic blend of 78% Muscat, 10% Viognier, 5% Riesling, 5% Trebbiano, and 2% Mourvèdre. It opens with honeysuckle and jasmine florals that carry through to the medium-bodied palate. Vibrant red-toned fruits also emerge, interwoven with a bright, cool, and wet granitic minerality.
Alluring cinnamon and allspice-dusted red berry fruit lead the charge in this medium-bodied, fragrant, and tension-filled red. Strawberry notes, along with savory charcuterie nuances, add layers of complexity and depth. The wine balances vibrant fruit with rich, savory elements, creating a nuanced palate profile.
Just six barrels of the Texas Wanderer Red were produced in this vintage, blending 61% Mourvèdre, 15% Cinsault, 14% Grenache, 6% Syrah, 4% Petit Sirah all sourced in the Texas High Plains AVA. Cinnamon-dusted red-toned fruit and dark brown spicec notes lead to a medium-bodied palate with muscular tannins. Black olive notes stand out on the dry finish.
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
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.
The Terra Trails Winery Buena Suerte Vineyards Sangiovese from the Texas High Plains AVA presents a vibrant profile with crunchy, tart red cranberry and strawberry fruit, all laced with subtle vanilla and toffee notes. Medium-bodied, it features firm, taut tannins that are mineral-laced, adding structure and depth.
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.
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.
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.
The Tatum Cellars “Trois Etoiles” white blend is composed of 63% Marsanne, 21% Viognier, and 16% Roussanne, with only 100 cases produced. It opens with high-toned spice notes reminiscent of Texas prairie grass and hay, seamlessly interwoven with bright citrus fruit aromas. Light- to medium-bodied, the wine is clean and approachable, offering a straightforward yet enjoyable profile. The finish lingers with a subtle touch of crushed Marcona almonds, adding a pleasing complexity to this small-production white.
