The Latest Cristaldi Scores
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
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.
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.
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.
The GSM Mélange 2021 from Pedernales Cellars blends 40% Mourvèdre, 33% Grenache, and 27% Syrah. It offers crunchy red-toned fruit notes, interalced with black currants, while hints of black truffle add aromatic complexity. Medium-bodied with silky, black tea-infsued tannins, black truffle and underbrush hints on the palate fuel a lengthy and mienral-rich finish.
Sourced from the Michael Ros Vineyard in the Texas High Plains, the Michael Ros Winery Sangiovese Rosé is a beautifully lean and focused pink. It offers delicate notes of candied watermelon, strawberry, and cherry pit, accented by subtle hints of straw and white pepper. It’s light, bright, and brimming with pleasing tension.
This Picpoul Blanc shows good weight and depth of fruit character, with honeydew melon and candied lime aromas. Medium-bodied and plush, it offers a satiny texture that makes it all too easy to enjoy. Bright enough for a hot summer day yet layered with warming spice notes that lend it appeal for sipping during the colder months.
From Michael Ros Vineyards in the Texas High Plains, this Sauvignon Blanc is fermented in stainless steel and aged for seven months prior to release. Straightforward and uncomplicated, it delivers clean citrus and stone fruit flavors, accented by a subtle hint of baking spice on the finish. A refreshing and approachable wine, perfect for casual sipping.
This Tannat from Narra Vineyards in the Texas High Plains is incredibly savory, with bright herbaceous notes leaping out of the glass, reminiscent of jalapeño, dried sage, smoky thyme, and rosemary. On the medium-bodied palate, red currants abound, while the tannins are firm and tense, providing structure and depth. Give it some air to allow those tannins to soften a bit.
Sourced from the Legacy Vineyard in the Texas High Plains, this 100% Sangiovese is hand-picked and crafted with a direct press of the skins before fermentation and aging in neutral vessels for a few months prior to bottling. The nose is captivating, offering aromas of strawberry panna cotta, pressed lavender, and dried Texas purple sage. On the palate, it delivers vibrant tension, featuring crunchy blood orange notes, grapefruit zest, and cherry pit, underscored by a subtle hint of crushed granite stone.
The Meierstone Vineyards Reserve Malbec, sourced from Newsom Vineyards in the Texas High Plains, is a wonderfully easy-drinking and mild-mannered wine.Crunchy red-toned fruit character, with salty-sweet savory spice notes, lead to a medium-bodied palate. The wine is framed by fine-grained, gentle tannins that are well integrated, with hints of allspice, clove, and dried lilacs. The finish lingers with those same delicate floral and spice notes.
The 2021 Meierstone Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon from the Texas High Plains offers alluring cherry and strawberry fruit notes, complemented by tobacco, leather, and vanilla aromas. Medium-bodied on the palate, it reveals more of the same vibrant fruit, supported by a firm foundation of taut tannins that create tension and structure. The wine maintains freshness through its blood orange notes, leading to a finish tinged with a hint of orange zest, adding a refreshing and zesty element.
The 2023 Trebbiano from Meierstone Vineyards in the Texas High Plains showcases captivating spice aromatics, with hints of coriander and brown sugar adding intrigue. Lean and sharply focused on the palate, it reveals subtle notes of prairie grass that enhance its complexity. This wine is intensely savory, bursting with energy, and an absolute joy to drink. Its bright, acid-driven profile delivers a “ripping” freshness that’s as engaging as it is satisfying. For those seeking a lively and distinctive white.
The 2021 “Wrecking Ball” is a full-bodied red blend of Tannat and Cabernet Sauvignon, offering crunchy red-toned fruit and brown spice notes, with hints of molasses and dried herbs. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, it maintains good tension, finishing dry, with a robust backbone of crisp tannins that provide structure and depth.
