The Latest Cristaldi Scores
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
The Lost Draw Vineyard Malbec from the Texas High Plains is sourced from a 60-acre site on sandy soils with a limestone base. It opens with alluring notes of crunchy red cherry and strawberry fruit, mingling with cherry pit and espresso bean nuances. Medium-bodied, the wine delivers more intense red fruit flavors on the palate, supported by silky, polished tannins that glide smoothly. The finish reveals hints of underbrush and limestone minerality, adding depth and complexity to this balanced Malbec.
Lost Draw’s Texas Hill Country Sangiovese is sourced from the Uplift Vineyard in the northern part of the Texas Hill Country AVA, which sits atop the Granite Dome—one of the oldest soil series in the U.S. This red is impressively layered, with crunchy red-toned fruit and currant, complemented by vibrant limestone minerality. That minerality is so intense that it practically coats the tannins, giving the wine a dusty texture with subtle crushed rock and white pepper notes. Focused and linear, it has a strong foundation of spicy acidity that gives it both freshness and depth. This is a truly age-worthy Sangiovese, one that I highly recommend considering for collection and cellaring as it will evolve beautifully over time.
Lost Draw’s GSM—a blend of 38% Grenache, 38% Syrah, and 24% Mourvèdre—is a testament to thoughtful winemaking. Fermented in wooden vats and stainless steel, the wine is aged for 19 months in 20% new French Radoux barrels with American oak heads.This well-built red delivers a medium-bodied expression with balanced tension and good energy. Red-toned fruits and brown baking spice notes dominate, complemented by a subtle meatiness, likely contributed by the Grenache. The muscular tannins provide structure, while the finish is long and red-berried, accented by hints of vanilla and sage. A polished and dynamic GSM blend.
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.
The 2021 Lost Draw Alta Loma Vineyard Sangiovese, sourced from the Texas High Plains, is a well-crafted wine from a site planted by Ronny and Gale Burran, along with Ronnie and Bobbie Jo Floyd. The wine is well crafted, with crunchy red-toned fruit and rich baking spice notes, complemented by mineral-laced tannins that provide presence and depth. Those tannins build through the full-bodied finish, where hints of white pepper, charcuterie, and blood orange zest mingle.
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.
This Picpoul Blanc from Lost Draw, crafted by Brad Buckelew with consulting winemaker Jean Hoefliger, is a clean, bright, and fresh expression of the variety. It opens with lively citrus and delicate white tea notes, complemented by a subtle touch of honeyed almonds. The medium-bodied palate offers a refined texture that builds into a salty mineral richness on the finish, making it an exceptionally food-friendly white.
The fancifully named Drinkin’ Buddy Red Wine is a straightforward, unfussy offering with ripe red cherry fruit and toasty cedarwood notes. It is framed by muscular tannins, creating a medium-bodied wine that builds with richness on the mid-palate. As the assertive tannins resolve, the wine becomes more plump and generous. Lingering notes of red licorice and emerging graphite add complexity.
The Llano Estacado Fumé Blanc, a blend of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc from the Texas High Plains, strikes a balance between richness and precision. Barrel aging imparts a touch of depth, while the wine remains focused and linear. Pressed white floral notes, subtle baking spice character, and hints of Texas prairie grass define the profile. The bone-dry finish underscores its elegance.
The 2021 Le Claret Classique Red Blend combines 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Cabernet Franc, and 24% Merlot into a super savory wine. It opens with notes of peppered charcuterie, black olive, black licorice, and tanned leather, all framed by burly tannins. The wine builds beautifully from medium- to full-bodied, with a long finish that lingers for over a half-minute.
Produced by Jason Centanni, this rosé is a delicate blend of 91% Cinsault and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon. Extremely light and almost ethereal, it offers a refreshing and easy-to-drink profile.
A saline thread of minerality runs through the wine, bolstered by bracing acidity and subtle red-toned fruit notes. Vibrant, understated, and captivating.
This Teroldego from the Texas High Plains, sourced from the Pepper Jack Vineyard, was aged for 20 months in oak. Most often associated with Italy’s Alto Adige, Teroldego does well in this area of Texas, and this red demonstrates that variety is one that Texas grape growers should continue to explore. The wine is polished and expressive, with elegant granitic mineral intensity framing ripe, savory currant fruit, herbs, and brown spice notes. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, it offers a wealth of firm, nicely integrated tannins that have rounded edges, providing a smooth structure. The wine finishes with a flashy burst of sweet currant fruit and chocolate-covered figs.
Limestone Terrace’s Esate Mourvèdre is crafted from fruit grown on their Limestine Terrace Vineyard in the Teas HIll County AVA. Aged 20 months in neutral American oak, it leads with red-toned fruit notes and baking spice character, tinged with a hint of molasses. Medium-bodied, its mineral-scented tannins are taught and firm.
Sourced from 2013 plantings in the Rustic Spur Vineyard (the oldest Tannat vineyard on the northwest side of the Pedernales River Valley in the Texas Hill Country), this 100% Tannat is an outstanding effort of the region. Aged for 24 months in neutral oak, it offers a captivating nose, with rich aromas of loamy earth, black and red currants, plums, fruit spices, tobacco, and molasses. These elements transition seamlessly to the palate, which is full-bodied and defined by firm, soaring tannins that resolve beautifully. Layers of brown Indian spices, charcuterie, black tea, pressed wildflowers, dried fennel, and sage add complexity to the long, lingering, and expressive finish. Balanced and deeply nuanced.
This Petite Sirah comes from 2012 plantings at Newsom Vineyards on Indian Hill in the Texas High Plains. The vineyard, located about 40 miles west of most sites in the High Plains, sits near the New Mexico border and features unique soils—shallow sandy clay loam transitioning to chalky limestone, with the Petite Sirah blocks on a knoll of iridescent red sand over fractured limestone. Bin-fermented with whole berries and ample oxygen exposure, this wine moves away from the typical inky and heavy style of Petite Sirah. Instead, it offers a balanced and elegant profile of dark currants, black cherry, and high-toned blue fruits, accented by cedarwood notes. The palate is medium-bodied, with spiced plums, brandied Morello cherries, and currants, layered with savory tobacco and leather. The fine, black tea-like tannins are beautifully integrated, enhancing the wine’s structure and depth, and adding a sense of sophistication.
Sourced from 29-year-old vines at Newsom Vineyards, this 100% Brunello clone Sangioveseis aged for 26 months in a combination of 30% new American oak and neutral French and American barrels, and displays impressive complexity and balance. The wine opens with high-toned, bright cherry aromas, complemented by dried floral notes and hints of brown spices. Medium- to full-bodied, it features firm, taut, and grippy tannins, enriched by savory notes of charcuterie, tobacco, and leather. The finish is long and layered, with cherry pit and spiced plum adding depth.
Under the guidance of John Rivenburgh at Bending Branch, Picpoul Blanc was first planted in Texas in the High Plains around 2009 at the then-named Bending Branch Estate Vineyard. Selected for its excellent acid retention, the planting drew inspiration from Tablas Creek in Paso Robles. This particular wine comes from the roughly 15-acre Alta Loma Vineyard in the Texas High Plains (previously known as Timmons Estate Vineyard until its recent renaming). After harvest, the grapes are pressed in the vineyard, then transported to the winery and fermented on the skins without cold settling. Known for its natural acidity, the variety requires no acid adjustments and is bottled approximately six months after fermentation. This Picpoul Blanc is super aromatic, offering honeyed and nutty notes, melon-rich fruit, and pretty white floral aromas interwoven throughout. The palate is richly textured with good depth, balanced by a pleasant grip and a long, salty mineral finish.
The “Raj Collection,” named after the family’s son, is a special label produced only in the best vintages. This vintage is a blend where Petite Verdot adds richness and depth to Merlot, which can be lighter in this region. Aged for 24 months in neutral French oak, the wine is both structured and elegant. It features ample red and black currant character, with fig, blood orange, and high-toned notes of dried wild herbs, tobacco, leather, and a hint of white pepper. The palate is balanced by firm, taut, fine-grained tannins, leading to a long, mineral-driven finish. This is an excellent effort!
