The Latest Cristaldi Scores
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
This is the inaugural release from Spencer Gatlin—son of Dan Gatlin—who has launched his own project with a clear vision. “What he has done, and will do, is create his own concepts,” Dan says proudly. One of those concepts centers on Merlot 181, a clone Spencer calls “a grape that blows my mind.” Inspired by a 2018 trip to France—specifically a day spent tasting in Saint-Émilion—Spencer set out to craft a Right Bank–style wine rooted in Pomerol sensibilities. Sourced from Narra Vineyards in the Texas High Plains, along with a few additional nearby sites, this blend of 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc is grown at about 10 clusters per vine, averaging 1 ton per acre. Fermented in open-top bins with cooling plates and hand punchdowns over 7–10 days, then aged 12 months in 20% new French oak followed by 12 months in neutral barrels. The wine opens with elegant red fruit tones, baking spice, high-toned red florals, and a touch of cedarwood. Medium-bodied on the palate, it offers a plush mix of cranberry and plum with supple tannins and a saline-mineral finish that begs for a well-salted cut of steak.
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.
100% Tempranillo, farmed at 15 clusters per vine with yields around 1.5 tons per acre. Fermented in open bins with cooling plates and hand punchdowns over 7–10 days. Malolactic fermentation completed in stainless steel, followed by 12 months in 20–30% new French oak, then transferred to neutral barrels for an additional 6–12 months prior to bottling. Aromas are bright and clean, with tart red berry fruit, baking spices, and subtle cedarwood notes. Medium-bodied on the palate, supported by very fine-grained tannins and crunchy red berry fruit. The wine is savory-spiced, with excellent fruit purity and mouthwatering acidity.
The Syrah includes 7% Grenache, sourced from the Vintage Press Vineyard in Stonewall, Texas. Aromas of white pepper, tart red berry fruit, violets, and wild herbs lead into a medium-bodied palate. Expressive wild herb character and blood orange acidity build across the palate, carrying through to a firm, tannic finish.
The Merlot from the 7-acre Blackmon Ranch Vineyard in the Texas Hill Country AVA is cold-soaked in foudres, then fermented, with winemaker Tony Offill using only the free-run juice, aged for 16 months in 20% new French oak. Aromas of incense and spiced plum lead into a palate of supple, juicy dark berry fruit framed by velvet-textured, firm tannins. There’s excellent mid-palate depth and plenty of tension to carry the day. These are among the most food-friendly wines I have tasted from Texas, all underpinned by vibrant, mouthwatering acidity.
Fermented in barrel and aged for up to 16 months in 20% new French oak. Grapes are sourced entirely from the 7-acre Blackmon Ranch Vineyard in the Texas Hill Country AVA. This is a bold expression of Cabernet from this site, with inky dark berry fruit, toasty oak spices, black cherry, graphite, and pressed wildflowers. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, with mineral-laced, fine-grained tannins supported by a solid beam of mouthwatering acidity and freshness. The lengthy finish carries a touch of mesquite smoke. Impressively structured and complex, this is a wine to enjoy now and over the next decade. Made by Winemaker Tony Offill, who also makes wine for William Chris Vineyards.
Ferments are done in barrel, followed by ageing for up to 15 months in 20% new French oak. Attractive red and black berry fruit leads, with nuances of graphite, tobacco, elegant cedarwood aromatics, and rose petal florals. Medium-bodied on the palate, with firm, structured tannins and notes of espresso bean, all lifted by blood orange acid tension. The lengthy finish carries a touch of mesquite smoke. Grapes are sourced entirely from the 7-acre Blackmon Ranch Vineyard in the Texas Hill Country AVA.
A combination of fruit from California, Washington, and Texas. Grapes are fermented in stainless steel and aged for 18 to 30 months, depending on the lot, in a mix of new and neutral oak. A blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. This is an easy-going red, with brambly red berry character, smooth tannins, and a lengthy, approachable finish. A very harmonious and well-crafted red blend.
Considered a flagship wine of Augusta Vin, this Petite Sirah offers dark berry and brambly fruit layered with tobacco spices and graphite. Bold and powerful tannins resolve beautifully into rich dark berry fruit, finishing with lingering notes of loamy earth and tobacco. This is one of the most balanced and expressive 100% Petite Sirah wines I have tasted. Excellent on its own at cellar temperature, but equally compelling alongside a full meal.
nuances, pressed wildflowers, and expressive, well-integrated toasty oak. Full-bodied, with firm, taut, mineral-laced tannins and excellent grippy saline-acid tension underscoring the rich dark fruit and spice character. This is a very well-made wine, showing excellent density and impressive complexity from nose to finish.
A blend of Malbec, Tempranillo, Souzao, Petite Sirah, and Tannat. Aged for roughly 30 months in a mix of new and neutral French oak. This is a bold and powerful wine, with succulent dark berry fruit and well-integrated cedarwood notes. Full-bodied on the palate, with soaring tannins, mocha nuances, and dusty minerality, finishing with lingering coffee bean notes.
A blend of Barbera from the Texas High Plains, Teroldego, and Sangiovese—the predominant variety. Fermented in stainless steel with two to three days of pumpovers, then aged for up to 18 months in a mix of new and neutral French oak. Bright, tart red fruits lead the way, with cherry shining through alongside warm brown baking spices. The tannins are firm and textured, yet carry a velvety edge, giving way to a lengthy finish laced with graphite and limestone notes.
Whole-cluster direct to press. VerTempora is Latin for “Spring,” and this wine is a blend of Counoise, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre. Bright strawberry and cranberry fruit lead, with subtle sagebrush aromatics. About 8–9g/L of residual sugar was added—almost out of necessity. The acidity remains super juicy and bracing, but the touch of residual sugar adds welcome weight and balance.
In Texas, this grape tends to show more florality and structure, says Zachary Raines, winemaker for Augusta Vin—”probably from that shorter growing season.” The wine is fermented in stainless steel and aged in a combination of barriques and large-format puncheons, with 40% new French oak. The oak is beautifully integrated, lending a buttery palate expression with good mid-palate fruit density and length. Spicy ginger notes and saline-acid tension balance out the wine’s soft, fleshy mouthfeel.
Fermented in stainless steel and oak-aged for roughly six to eight months before bottling. Lovely, subtle aromatics of citrus oil and honeysuckle lead into a medium-bodied palate with a silky, satiny mouthfeel. Bright citrus zest and citrus oil keep the palate lively, fresh, and full of energy, carrying through with good length and tension. You would be hard-pressed to detect any oak influence apart from the beautifully silky texture.
From the Rolland Taylor Vineyard in the Texas High Plains. Hand-picked, fermented in stainless steel, and aged in a mix of new and neutral oak puncheons and smaller barriques. Bright notes of orange peel and lemon zest lead the nose, accented by honeysuckle, vanilla, and subtle toasty oak. The medium-bodied palate offers fantastic silkiness, carrying through to a lengthy, saline finish with a pop of grapefruit and tangerine zest—almost like biting into a fresh kumquat.
Aged entirely in stainless steel for six months before bottling. Elegant white peach, apricot, and honeycomb aromas lead, with a lovely weight and silky fruit depth from partial malolactic fermentation. The palate leans toward poached apples, guava, and white peach, layered with pressed wildflowers and a subtle baking spice character. Nicely persistent on the finish. 92
