The Latest Cristaldi Scores
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
Spicewood Vineyards’ 2019 “The Independence” is a fragrant Cabernet Franc that opens with rose petal and lavender notes, interlaced with black cherry and red currant fruits. Medium-bodied on the palate, the bright florality counterbalances the wine’s dense red fruit and spice characters, while sappy, fine-grained tannins provide a smooth, structured mouthfeel. The wine glides to a satisfying finish.
Sourced from Dutton Vineyards in the Texas High Plains, this well-built, polished Tempranillo from Spicewood presents sweet red-toned fruit and subtle spice character. Medium-bodied on the palate, salty mineral notes add complexity, leading to a toasty cedarwood finish. Balanced and refined, this wine offers a harmonious blend of fruit, spice, and structure.
From the 2022 vintage, this Cabernet Franc is a bright, spicy, medium-bodied red that offers notes of dried rose petals, crisp, crunchy acidity, and firm tannins. It’s quite expressive in its herbaceousness, which is well integrated and layered throughout. Balancing vibrancy with structure, this well-rounded red will appeal to fans of the variety.
The Spicewood Vineyards Red Wine Blend “Tandem” (a 50/50 blend of Carignan and Mourvèdre) is a fragrant wine that opens with delicate rose petal and violet notes, complemented by candied orange peel and red currant fruits. Medium-bodied, it features sappy tannins and layered flavors of agave nectar, toffee, and caramel, with subtle hints of dill.
The 2022 Louisa from Spicewood Vineyards is a 100% Sémillon that shines with simplicity and charm. This easy-drinking, straightforward wine offers lively citrus character, accented by a subtle hint of crushed Marcona almonds. The bright, clean saline finish adds a refreshing touch, making it an enjoyable and approachable expression of Sémillon. Perfect for casual sipping or pairing with light dishes.
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.
This Viognier from Ron Yates, sourced from the Nogalero Vineyard in the Texas High Plains, is aged for nine months in a combination of 15% new French oak and stainless steel. The result is a wine with a soft, medium-bodied richness, showcasing subtle orchard and stone fruit notes, complemented by a hint of pressed wildflowers.A lively thread of saline minerality runs through the palate, adding vibrancy and balance. The finish is long and gently spiced, making this Viognier refined and engaging.
This bright and zippy Sauvignon Blanc from Del Valley Vineyard, located about 70 miles from El Paso on a site of ancient river rock, is fresh and precise. Bursting with lemon-lime character, it’s laser-focused and lean, with a vibrant thread of limestone minerality running through it. Crisp and inviting, this Sauvignon Blanc is an excellent choice for those who appreciate a clean and mineral-driven white wine.
Ron Yates’ 2022 Sangiovese from Phillips Vineyard in the Texas High Plains offers vibrant, crunchy red currant fruits, complemented by notes of sagebrush and aromatic lime zest. Light- to medium-bodied, the wine is framed by super intense tannins that grip the palate, leading to a finish marked by a powerful limestone minerality.
Ron Yates’ 2019 Amalgamation bursts out of the glass with aromas of dried strawberry fruit and balsamic reduction, with cherry pit and fruit leather emerging on the medium-bodied palate. Velvety, fine-grained tannins are beautifully integrated, providing a smooth texture. The finish is long, with dark cherry-infused cacao notes and a subtle hint of orange zest.
This red blend, sourced from the 140-acre Narra Vineyard estate in the Texas High Plains near Brownfield, combines Malbec and Merlot aged for 36 months in all-neutral barrels, and showcases depth and refinement.The Malbec contributes a savory character, while the Merlot brings bright fruit and floral notes. Layers of sagebrush, Texas prairie grass, figs, and spiced plums define the aromatic profile, and with some air, intriguing black tea nuances emerge. The tannins, too, carry a black tea-like quality, seamlessly integrated and adding to the wine’s polished texture. A complex and balanced red.
When John Rivenburgh worked for Bending Branch, he pioneered the planting of Vermentino in Texas, establishing it in the High Plains around 2009. This 100% Vermentino is sourced from Canted County Vineyards, co-owned by the Morland and Holiday families. With approximately 1,000 acres under vine, this site has become a vital operation in the Texas wine scene. John champions Vermentino for its resilience in Texas’s climate, its suitability for machine harvesting—essential in the region—and its similarity to Sicilian whites, a personal favorite of his. Crafted similarly to his Picpoul Blanc, the grapes are pressed at the winery in Kerrville, fermented, and aged in neutral vessels for about six months before bottling. This Vermentino is lean, focused, and brimming with high acidity—a real “acid trip.” It delivers a bright squeeze of lemon-lime and lime zest, accented by white flowers, acacia, a hint of Marcona almonds, and Texas purple sage. The zippy, zingy acidity forms a solid foundation for the citrus-driven palate, leading to a long, mineral-driven finish with cool, wet granite character. All too easy to drink.
The Horn Red Wine Blend, sourced from the Texas High Plains, is a bright, red-toned fruit-forward wine with richly spiced layers of clove, rose petal, and flamed orange zest. These aromas carry through to the medium-bodied palate, where crunchy acidity and apple skin tannins add structure. The finish is smoky, with lingering clove and licorice notes that provide depth and complexity. This is one of the most intricate and intriguing wines from Rhinory that I’ve tasted.
Sourced from Timmons Estate Vineyard in the Texas High Plains, this medium-bodied Picpoul is straightforward and delightfully easy to drink. It features citrus peel fruit, subtle nutty overtones, and a chalky mineral finish. A refreshing and approachable wine that well aligns with Rhinory’s mission to craft wines that bring people together while supporting wildlife conservation efforts.
The Parr Vineyard Mourvèdre from the Texas Hill Country, produced and bottled by Kerrville Hills Winery, is a meaty, intense, and deeply flavorful wine. Its medium-bodied palate is framed by muscular, firm tannins, complemented by savory charcuterie and white pepper notes. A hint of vanilla bean and chocolate adds richness, leading to a lengthy and powerful finish.
The Diamonte Doble Vineyard Gewürztraminer from the Texas High Plains is a highly aromatic white, bursting with vivid notes of chamomile and bergamot tea, wildflower honey, and savory sagebrush. These aromas transition well into the medium- to full-bodied palate, which showcases deep, penetrating flavors layered with intense spices that lead to a long and lingering finish. Serve it well-chilled alongside a pork loin with an aromatic spice rub.
The Portree Cellars Fiano, sourced from Pepper Jack Vineyard in the Texas High Plains, is a vibrant and expressive wine. It showcases aromas of citrus peel, lemon oil, and toasted hazelnuts, creating a compelling and layered profile.Medium-bodied on the palate, it offers a touch of white pepper spice and additional dried floral notes that carry through to the finish.
The Portree Cellars Tannat from the Lahey Vineyard in the Texas High Plains offers a sappy, red-toned fruit character in a medium-bodied, grippy expression of Tannat. Unlike many of the richer, denser Tannats seen throughout Texas, this one leans slightly lighter and greener, with distinctive tobacco, black tea, and truffle notes on the dry finish. While it may not have the power and density of other Tannats, its freshness and unique profile make it a delightful choice. Serve it with a good chill alongside your favorite Texas BBQ.
The Pedernales 2021 Tempranillo Reserve opens with dusty currant fruit and rich leather spices, accompanied by subtle loamy earth aromas. Full-bodied on entry, it is framed by very firm, structured tannins that provide a solid foundation for layers of red-toned fruits to emerge, along with fashionable sweet spice notes. The wine glides to a long, complex finish marked by prairie grass, clove, and extra dark cacao, showcasing both depth and sophistication.
