Sangiovese, Duchman Family Winery, Texas

The legendary red grape used to make Chianti; Sangiovese, grows well in Texas!  I pour and pair this wine like a Pinot Noir from other parts of the world.  It is very easy to drink, it can be enjoyed by itself at cocktail hour and it pairs beautifully with a wide range of cuisine.  What I really love about this wine and Texas Sangiovese in general is that it does not have as high an acidity level as it's Italian counterparts and the grape vine is genius at taking the minrality from limestone and wrapping the fruit flavors into a cohesive delicious wine.  (Not every vine can do this.  I am not going to name names like Cab-er-nay ;-)

• Sweet Cherry 
• Tart Cherry
• Cranberry
• Red Apple
• Spice
• Minrality

Founded in 2004 by Drs. Lisa and Stan Duchman, pronounced “Dukeman.” Their love of the unique Italian grape varieties inspired them to work with viticultural consultant Bobby Cox and growers in the Texas High Planes AVA to use 100% Texas grapes that will allow winemaker Dave Reilly to make the best possible wines!!!

“If that were all cultivated, Texas could produce more wine than all of California.” - BOBBY COX, Texas High Plains Grape Grower

Dream big, Bobby!

Texas WineMonth- Austin Quote

“Nature seemed to have intended Texas for a vineyard to supply America with vines.” Stephen F. Austin. I love this quote. The exact wording and context the Founding Father of Texas said it in is not as important to me as the mindset and experience these words reveal. Mr. Austin and his contemporaries won Texas' independence and were "hacking their living out of the wilderness with their own two hands, burying their children along the way!" (to quote Hawkeye in The Last of the Mohicans. (Great movie!)) Many of them were new immigrants from the Old World; Germany, France, Spain, Italy and other homelands. Some were from places just as hot and dry as Texas, and they had grown vines and made wine in the Old World! They looked around the Texas landscape and could easily imagine vast vineyards here too. Prior to Prohibition, Texas had almost fifty commercial wineries! This was the beginning of what would have been a great industry for our state. Prohibition closed all but one winery; Val Verde in Del Rio.

In the years immediately after Prohibition the California wine industry grew exponentially. They have done a incredible job; growing grapes, vinifying wine and marketing their wine and state. Today they make ninety percent of the wine in the U.S.A. Most wine drinkers in North America who think about wine are really thinking about California wine. Because of this many think that wine country has to be as cool and as wet like California. This is NOT TRUE, there are other regions in the world hot and dry like Texas and they make world class wines. I encourage you to look for Texas wines that are taking their inspiration from these other regions. You might have to go outside your comfort zone and drink a wine other than Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet or Merlot. But, you will be okay and you might even find a Viognier, Roussanne, Blanc du Bois, Trebbianno, Picpoul Blanc, Syrah, Tempranillo, Malbec, Sangiovese, Lenoir (a.k.a. Black Spanish) or Aglianico grown in Texas that you love even more than those California wines! And, who knows, maybe someday Texas wineries will make enough wine to begin shipping them to the other states in our union and other countries! Achieving that elusive dream that started back when Texas was a brand new state (country.)

Please follow my blog; I will have more to share with you about Texas, wine and the lessons we learn along the way.

Texas Wine Month- Plant! Baby, plant!!!

Welcome to Texas Wine Month!  The most important thing for you to know about the Texas Wine Country is that there is a shortage of grape vines growing in Texas soil.  Texas needs more grape vines!  We have many great grape growers working hard and supplying great raw materials for the talented winemakers.  I want to encourage them and thank them for hard work they are doing.  Working outdoors in Texas is not easy, the heat alone keeps many indoors.  Add to this the other weather challenges, the pests, wild life and more.  I admire you strength, determination and true grit to do the work it takes to grow vines here in Texas.  You are doing a great job!  We are tasting better wines every vintage.

The simple math is that today we may have five thousand acres under vine and the current estimate on demand is that the wineries can sell as much wine that would come from eighteen to twenty thousand acres of vines!  Even if these numbers are a little high you can see there is still a great need for more grape vines growing in Texas soil.  So, this Texas Wine Month I call you to drink more Texas wine, visit Texas wineries, thank the wineries for the wine they make, thank the growers for the grapes they grow AND encourage all of them to plant more vines in Texas.  Plant baby! Plant!!!

Digital Wine List...

Earlier this year I had a brush with the potential of having a digital wine list for our guests and the concept has captured my imagination!

Truth be told; today all wine list are digital. Sommeliers are using some form of computer program to log, arrange and track the wines in their charge. There is a divide or canyon between the printed list the guest uses to select wine from and the digital one the sommelier uses. The good news is that this divide is closing; we are beginning to see distal list in the hands of customers. This can take the form of a Ipad or other tablet to other electronic devices. This is one of the challenges; the cost of the hardware is significant. While thinking about this dynamic and watching our customers in the resort; I realize that the vast majority of our customers are already "packing" their own hardware. So then, why wouldn't our guest want to access our digital wine list with their own device? This is how and why I have added the wine list page to my blog page. Please; click on the link below and give me your feedback.  Do you find this list helpful?  How can it be better?

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WINE LIST

MOET AND CHANDON, “IMPERIAL” Epernay, Champagne, France, NV

The world’s most loved CHAMPAGNE!  The flagship of the Champagne house Moët & Chandon, "Impérial" is the most accomplished and universal expression of the house style and Champagne itself. It reflects both the diversity and similarities of the three champagne grapes and the richness of the region’s best vineyards to reveal the magic of the birthplace of sparkling wine!

• VIVACIOUS
• Apple
• Pear
• Yellow Peach
• Lemon
• Yeasty
• Delightful

Moët Impérial is an extremely accomplished assemblage of over 120 vineyards, in which the Pinots predominate for intensity and structure (35% to 40% Pinot Noir, 45% to 50% Pinot Meunier) with a hint (10%) of Chardonnay for freshness.  The synergy between fruit and yeast is revealed through maturation. The ageing process is almost twice as long as the legal requirement.  The use of 30% of carefully selected reserve wines complete the assemblage and enhance its harmony, complexity and consistency.  This wine has earned its success with substance and consistency.  Year in and year out it is a remarkable wine.

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CHARLES DE FERE, CUVÉE JEAN-LOUIS, Blanc de Blanc, Brut, France, NV

Jean-Louis Denois, a sixth generation Champenois from a well-established Champagne producing family.  He decided to create his own sparkling winery in 1981 in Fère-en-Tardenois, twenty miles outside of the Champagne appellation. Instead of being bound to grapes from one region as is the Champagne tradition and laws, he wanted the flexibility of using a variety of different grapes and purchasing the best grapes each year, believing that other regions had the potential to create sparkling wines of superb quality without being very expensive.  The Jean-Louis Cuvée is highly praised for it's quality and affordability.  Wine Enthusiast – 87 Points, Best Buy and Washington Post – Highly Recommended

• VIVACIOUS
• Bright 
• Fruity Aromas 
• Apples 
• Apricots 
• Hint of Honey 
• Smooth Finish

Charles de Fère wines are made using Chenin Blanc (40%), Ugni Blanc (20%) and various other grapes that change each year to ensure that our style remains consistent.  The grapes come from many of France’s exceptional wine growing regions: Loire Valley, Charentes, Burgundy, Gers, Languedoc and the PACA region (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur).

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Tempranillo, PEDERNALES, Texas

Tempranillo is Pedernales Cellars premier varietal and the heart of their winemaking efforts. In the early 1990s, Larry and Jeanine Kuhlken planted their first vineyard outside of Fredericksburg, Texas. They were pioneers as Hill Country grape growers with only a handful of wineries operating in Texas. It was also a time for experiments with different grapes varieties and viticultural practices. Over time, with carefully managed yields, and as the vines matured, the vineyard started producing consistently high quality fruit with bold, intense flavors.

• Rich Black Cherry
• Raspberry
• Earthy 
• Mineral 
• Spiciness 

This wine is made with fruit from the Texas High Plains and Texas Hill Country, the wine was aged in French and American oak barrels. An excellent example of Pedernales Cellars making some of the best wine in the state. Their estate vineyard has expanded over the years and today consists of 17 acres mostly planted with hot weather varieties such as Tempranillo, Touriga Nacional, Albarino, Monastrell (known as Mourvedre in French), Garnacha (Grenache in French) and small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Their plantings and winemaking style is natural for a boutique winery focused on making small lots of hand crafted wines.

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Claret, BECKER, Texas High Plains, Texas

"LES TROIS DAMES" has graced this label for years in honor of the matriarchs of grape growing in the Texas High Plains; Eunice Hunter, Laverne Newsom and Dorothy Cooper. This great trio of ladies have a state full of grateful Texas wine drinkers and wine makers indebted to them. It is them and their families who lead the states grape growing. Recognition of them from Becker Vineyards, one of our states most successful wineries, is a right and good thing.

• SUCCULENT and POWERFUL 
• Red and Black Berries 
• Raspberries 
• Chocolate 
• Spices 
• Vanilla 
• Oak 

CLARET blends should only contain varieties that are authorized for use in the red wines of the Bordeaux region of France. Currently, the varieties are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. Carmenere is another permitted grape, but rarely used except in red wines from South American. The term Claret has no regulated meaning or legal status so it is best to investigate how each winery is using the term. In the United States, red wines labeled as ‘Meritage’ (www.meritagewine.org) can be included in the category of Clarets and the term ‘Meritage’ is regulated with a legal meaning.

For more on the Becker Claret visit; http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?s=Becker+Claret&searchsubmit=

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Shiraz, MESSINA HOF, “DOUBLE BARREL” Cedar Crest Vineyards, Texoma, Texas

The vines that grew these grapes are in The Cedar Crest Vineyard which was planted in 1988; making them twenty-one years old in 2009 when the grapes were harvested. This wine is an example of what can be made from fully mature vines in Texas! And, it is delicious! The vineyard is owned by the Lattimores (supporters of the Grayson College – local Enology and Viticulture programs). The elevation is at 619 feet with sandy-loam soil just 4 miles south of the Red River; the Oklahoma and Texas border, in the heart of the Texoma AVA.

• EXPRESSIVE
• Black Cherry
• Black Currant
• Juicy Cherry
• Ripe Blackberry
• Raspberry
• Charred Barrel
• Earthy
• Long Finish

The quality and character in this wine always makes me wonder why there are not many more GREAT Texas Shiraz? 90% Shiraz, 10% Cabernet Franc, 12 months in new French Oak and 12 months new American Oak.  Messina-Hoff Winery was established in 1983, Paul’s family from Messina, Sicily,  Merrill’s family from Hof, Germany. continuing a great family tradition of making great wines and sharing good times. A family and tradition that will continue with their son Paul Mitchell has just received a Wine making Certificate from the University of California, Davis extension program. Paul began apprenticing under his father, Paul V. Bonarrigo, as a child and teenager, and he grew up working in all of the areas of the winery. Read more at the Vintage Texas Blog.

And please reply to this blog;have you tried this Shiraz?

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Chardonnay, Rodney Strong, Sustainably Grown, Sonoma County, California

Place Matters.  An early pioneer in Sonoma County, Rodney Strong was an acknowledged visionary who understood the potential that Sonoma County’s soil and climate held for producing world-class wines. He was the first to craft a single-vineyard Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, one of the first to plant Pinot Noir in Russian River Valley and the first to produce a Chalk Hill Chardonnay.  
“Place is not everything. But place is the most important thing.” – Tom Klein, Proprietor

• SUPPLE
• Brown Spice
• Vanilla
• Lemon
• Apple
• Toasty Barrel
• Pear
• Pineapple

From the west and southwestern regions of Sonoma County, ideal for growing chardonnay grapes.  The cool maritime influence of the Pacific Ocean arriving reliably in the form of fog each summer evening maintains the bright natural acidity that is key to the balance of any fine Chardonnay, while the warm summer afternoons ensure plenty of ripe fruit character. A combination of estate grown and locally farmed fruit, grown in the Russian River Valley, Alexander Valley, and Sonoma Coast appellations make this wine delicious.

And please reply to this blog;

have you tried this Chardonnay?

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Chardonnay, Rombauer, Carneros, Napa Valley, California

The Joy of Wine is written on every cork, it is their philosophy of wine and food.  Partly an homage to Koerner Rombauer's great aunt, Irma Rombauer, who wrote the now classic book; The Joy of Cooking, and partly Koerner's ancestors from the wine growing region of Reingau, Germany, where wine is considered an essential complement to a meal.  For the Rombauer Vinyards; The Joy of Wine is a family tradition. 

• SUPPLE
• Vibrant Tropical Fruit 
• Grapefruit
• Lime
• Cantaloupe
• Pineapple
• Vanilla
• Fig
• Apricot
• Richness

Just north of San Francisco is the cold San Pablo Bay famous for it's cold winds and thick fog.  On the north coast of San Pablo Bay is the appellation known as Los Carneros, Spanish for The Rams.  During the day, as the sun heats up the vineyards and mountainsides of Napa Valley to the north, the rising hot air draws cool air and fog from San Pablo Bay. The intrusion of fog over Carneros in the early afternoon moderates the vineyard temperatures, providing just the right conditions for growing cool-climate varietals with crisp acidity and moderate sugar levels. One of the best regions for growing Chardonnay.

And please reply to this blog;
have you tried this Chardonnay?

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Shiraz, Nugan , "Vision", Riverina, New South Wales, Australia

James Halliday, Australia’s most respected wine-writer praised Nugan Estate’s rise stating; “Nugan Estate has arrived on the scene like a whirlwind...”  The Nugan Estate is quickly becoming recognized as one of Australia’s rising stars in premium wine production.  Nugan Estate's wines are sourced from the family’s vineyards ensuring they benefit from being estate grown. The Nugan Estate owns 590 hectares of vineyards in Australia’s finest wine growing regions of Riverina in New South Wales, King Valley in Victoria and McLaren Vale in South Australia – making them the 18th largest vineyard holders in Australia. In addition, Nugan Estate sources premium quality grape from the renowned Coonawarra region of South Australia.

• EXPRESSIVE
• Ripe Raspberries
• Blackberries
• Spice
• Toasty Oak
• Elegant Tannins
• Earthy

Nugan Estate is a premium producer of estate grown wine based in Griffith, New South Wales.  It is part of the Nugan Group, which was founded in 1940 on fruit and vegetable packing and expanded in the 1970s into juice production – later becoming one of the largest exporters of niche juice products to Asia. This success resulted in our CEO, Michelle Nugan, being recognised as a Telstra Business Woman of the Year and Australian Export Hero.  In 1993 Nugan Group further diversified its operations planting vineyards and selling fruit under contract. From there, winemaking was a natural progression.  Today Nugan Estate is the 18th largest vineyard holder in Australia. In addition, Nugan Estate sources premium quality grape from the renowned Coonawarra region.  Family operated by Michelle, Matthew and Tiffany Nugan, Nugan Estate is one of Australia’s Top 20 Wine Exporters and is complemented by a premium wine portfolio, extra virgin olive oil and the award winning Griffith restaurant, Michelin.


And please reply to this blog;

have you tried this Shiraz?

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Cabernet Sauvignon, MOUNTAIN VIEW, Central Coast, California

“Some of the best values in the marketplace have come from Mountain View.  Smart consumers should be buying these wines.” –Robert Parker
50% Monterey grapes and 50% Northern Paso Robles grapes; excellent vineyard sources with talented and experienced wine making with American oak aging for 12 months, a little Merlot blended in (8%) was added for balanced juicy flavors; this is the most interesting and delicious wine at this price point.  

• POWERFUL 
• Berry Fruit 
• Black Cherry
• Cranberry,
• Cedar 
• Earthy Base Tones

From its inception, in 1978, Mountain View winery has forged strong relationships with growers in order to produce reasonably priced wines of superior quality. With growers located in regions that offer strong varietal character and exceptional value, including Monterey, Amador, Carneros, Lake County and the Central Coast. Mountain View Vintners are committed to the pursuit of ecologically sound practices whenever and wherever possible in the production process of premium quality varietal wines. In the Monterey and the Central Coast vineyards their growers have adopted sustainable farming methods and are happy to report environmentally sensitive results along with quality and economic benefits from the changes to "let the 'green' soil do its job naturally" have been realized. Their packaging is also “green” oriented as all glass bottles are produced with 75% recycled glass and our cases are made from 85% post-consumer recycled paper. And, the label printer, Galaxy Press, was the first printer in Northern California to achieve “green” certification and all labels are made from water based products so that they are biodegradable. Quality and substance is what we find in every bottle of wine from the Mountain View Vintners.

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Cabernet Sauvignon, VILLA SAN JULIETTE, Paso Robles, California

The story begins with the reality series “Corkscrewed: The Wrath of Grapes” that followed the trials and exploits of award-winning entertainment producers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick as they made a major investment in their long held dream – owning their own vineyard. Childhood friends from the backstreets of Liverpool who produce the huge US prime time hit, American Idol, Ken and Nigel have the Midas Touch.  The beautiful 168 acre vineyard in Paso Robles, California is quickly developing into another HUGE Success for this team!

• POWERFUL
• Cherry
• Plum
• Cedar
• Cocoa
• Clove
• Raspberry
• Vanilla

MATT ORTMAN, WINEMAKER, grew up the son of a well-respected winemaker, surrounded by vineyards and wine in the Napa Valley, Matt's own wine making career started at the age of 12 when he unsuccessfully attempted fermenting apple juice. But, Matt desired to build skyscrapers and bridges as a Mechanical Engineering major at Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo. After this an older, wiser Matt had an epiphany after enjoying a bottle of wine that his father had given him and his bride, Lisa. Realizing he wished he had pursued wine when he had the chance growing up, he took a cellar position at Castello di Gabianno winery in Tuscany. Upon his return to California, Matt joined his father in launching the Ortman Family Vineyards brand.  After learning his craft from true master artisans, Matt is now winemaker with Villa San-Juliette. He believes strongly in the region and feels that the estate vineyard lies in one of the pockets capable of creating exceptional wines. The combination of soils, aspect, and elevation are what will allow him to create wines of richness, depth, and character which will stand up to the quality of the landscape and tasting room experience. This is an exciting wine from and exciting place; ready to make your dinner more exciting, tonight!

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Meritage, ESTANCIA, Paso Robles, California

In 1999, Estancia planted nearly 700 acres of vineyards in the acclaimed appellation of Paso Robles. The infertile soils and rugged terrain of Estancia’s Keyes Canyon Vineyard, encourage the vines to yield small fruit clusters with tiny berries packed full of rich berry tones. This unique appellation is home to more extreme temperature swings than any other wine-growing region in California. During the day, the vines bask in the warm sunshine and at night they are soothed by a cool marine layer from the Pacific Ocean.

• POWERFUL AND SOPHISTICATED
• Complex
• Dark Black Cherries
• Anise
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Chocolate Powder
• Soft Oak
• Luscious

Varietal Composition 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot.  Oak Aging 14 months.

Pronounced; MEHR-ih-tihj. The name Meritage (a compound of the words merit and heritage) was chosen from over 6,000 entries in an international contest held by a group of vintners who sought to establish standards of identification for a category of American blended wines made with traditional Bordeaux grape varieties.  Instituted in 1989, the term Meritage is a certification mark registered with the U.S. Department of Trademarks and Patents. To be designated as Meritage, a wine must meet the following standards: 1. It must be a blend of two or more Bordeaux grape varieties- 2. It must be the winery's best wine of its type; 3. It must be produced and bottled by a U.S. Winery from grapes that carry a U.S. appellation; and 4. Its production is limited to a maximum 25,000 cases per vintage.

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Cabernet Sauvignon, MAGNOLIA GROVE, by Chateau St. Jean, California

Magnolia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon's label evokes a relaxed elegance that is synonymous with the Sonoma County lifestyle and feeling one will experience when traveling and staying in a Starwood Hotels.  This wine was created for Starwood Hotels by Chateau St. Jean to meet the expectations of their consumers who are knowledgeable, yet unpretentious about their wine selections.

• POWERFUL
• Black Cherry
• Soft Tannins
• Cedar Spice
• Vanilla
• Oak

Grapes are sourced primarily from vineyards in the Central Coast and the Northern Interior of California.  Fermented in stainless steel tanks with a portion in French and American oak, the majority of the fruit goes through malolactic fermentation, lending richness and creamy mouthfeel.  Use of oak is intended to complement the brightness of the fruit and its structure without overpowering the palate. Excellent results from a great partnership.

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Cabernet Sauvignon, JOSEPH CARR, Napa County, California

The Joseph Carr wines really bring together the best vineyards and talented wine making into the bottle and then selling that at fare prices.  The vineyard sources for this Cabernet Sauvignon are first rate; Rutherford, Stags Leap District, Pritchard Hill and Red Hills.  You will frequently find the juice from the neighboring vineyards selling for twice the price and more.  I applaud this endeavor for making quality and keeping it affordable.

• POWERFUL
• Dark Cherry 
• Ripe Plum
• Ripe Black Currant,
• Smoke
• Vanilla
• Cocoa Dust
• Firm Tannins

Joseph Carr wines are produced at Larson Family Vineyards in Carneros, bordering both Napa and Sonoma Counties. A beautiful property built over a hundred years ago by Tom Larson's grandfather; this is where they crush, barrel ferment, blend, and age all of the Joseph Carr wines.  Tom owns over a hundred acres of vines in Northern California, as well as managing 500 acres of some of the finest boutique vineyards in the valley. In this place the people can be creative, laugh a lot, and work together to produce handcrafted wines, unhurried, in a state of the art facility.

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Cabernet Sauvignon, JOSH CELLARS, North Coast, California

Joseph Carr's wine making team jokingly refers to this as a “vin de garage”  after work they like to sit around  wine cellar they call “the garage” and tinker with things.  Grape growers and friends come by and lend a hand,  laugh, tell stories and produce a winemaker's wine that we make just for ourselves; a handcrafted wine.  And, now they are sharing this with with you and me; named after Joseph Carr’s father, Josh, and they are expressive, but unassuming and approachable – just like Josh Carr was.

• POWERFUL
• Cherry
• Black Currant
• Spicy 
• Berry
• Oak

The grapes are from a single vineyard in the mountains of the Red Hills at the highest section between the Vaca and Mayacamas mountain ranges. The Mayacamas are famous for great Cabernet wine, due in part to ancient pyroclastic soils that contain volcanic glass. Josh Cellars North Coast Vineyards contain obsidian gravel that allows the soils to drain well, which is extremely important for growing Cabernet grapes. The high elevation sunlight combined with the rich volcanic red soils and obsidian fragments produce quality grapes that are extremely unique to the Red Hills. The vineyard itself sits on an East facing slope with varying altitude from 1200 to 2000 feet. The average daytime summer temperature is 84 degrees with an average nighttime temperature of 51 degrees. Handpicked at the peak of flavor development, crushed and cold soaked for 24 hours; punched down three times a day to maximize flavor extraction. Followed with a 10-15 day extended maceration. Barrel aging in new American oak and 1-2 year French oak for 16 months.

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Chardonnay, JOSEPH CARR, "DIJON CLONE", Sonoma Coast, California

California estate vineyards with traditional French techniques makes this Chardonnay delicious.  The vines are Dijon Clones 75, 76, 95, 96  growing in the Sonoma Coast region. The Growers picked the grapes by hand at the peak of ripeness and the winery gently pressed the grapes into juice using a membrane press. The juice was then chilled, settled, and racked into Burgundy oak barrels for fermentation. The yeast lees were hand stirred monthly to enhance the creamy finish produced by barrel fermentation and to encourage secondary malolactic fermentation. Less than 1,200 cases were produced.

• Apple
• Pear
• Vanilla
• Butter
• Citrus
• Tropical fruit 
• Creamy Butter
• Toasty

In 2009, New York Times writer Eric Asimov proclaimed Joseph Carr to be “a producer to watch”, and put his wines alongside the likes of Far Niente, Clos du Val, Heitz, Grgich Hills and Rubicon. Mr. Asimov continues to comment that these are “wines of balance and restraint”. As director of Joseph Carr Napa Valley, Joseph continues to work with many of the associates he has met throughout his long career in restaurants as a Sommelier. Influenced by the wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy, Joseph Carr's winemaking philosophy is balance, sophistication and approachable. Since launching his business in 2005, Mr. Carr's wines have been received with great enthusiasm. His wines grace some of the finest restaurant lists in the United States and abroad.

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VEUVE CLICQUOT, BRUT, "YELLOW LABEL" Champagne, France, NV

All champagne producers are judged by the quality of their Brut non vintage wine.  How well they make this wine year in and year out demonstrates their mastery of the true Art of Champagne blending.  Perhaps the one house that does this better than anyone else is Veuve Clicquot. Their Brut Yellow Label is made from the superb vineyards they own with a predominance of Pinot Noir for structure, a Clicquot signature, with a touch of Pinot Meunier to round and soften the blend, with a bit of Chardonnay for elegance and finesse, essential to this perfectly balanced wine.

• VIVACIOUS
• Apple
• Pear
• Plump Raisins
• Vanilla
• Toasty Brioche
• Spice
• Echoing Finish

The Brut Yellow Label is so widely popular the bottle has become iconic, because the wine inside is so utterly reliable both in terms of quality, color and bouquet.  The experienced and well trained Clicquot Cellar Master skillfully achieves total consistency of taste by drawing from priceless reserve wines for the blend: from 25 to 35%, sometimes as much as 40% of the wine in this NV (Non-Vintage) bottle is made up of these older wines - perhaps nine-years old.  This is just one of many reasons why Champagne is one of the greatest wines in the world, and when compared to it's peers, the other great wines of the world, Champagne remains a bargain.

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Chardonnay, MAGNOLIA GROVE, by Chateau St. Jean, California

Magnolia Grove Chardonnay's label evokes a relaxed elegance that is synonymous with the Sonoma County lifestyle and feeling one will experience when traveling and staying in a Starwood Hotels.  This wine was created for Starwood Hotels by Chateau St. Jean to meet the expectations of their consumers who are knowledgeable, yet unpretentious about their wine selections.

• SUPPLE
• Pineapple
• Ripe Peach
• Lemon Zest
• Vanilla
• Oak

Innovative techniques for wood aging are used; toasting the oak at lower temperatures for longer period of time. This "lower and slower" process brings out more sweetness and vanilla in the wine than traditional methods,making the flavors in this wine comparable to Chardonnays that sell for twice the price.  Grapes are sourced primarily from vineyards in the Central Coast and the Northern Interior of California.  Fermented in stainless steel tanks with a portion in French and American oak, the majority of the fruit goes through malolactic fermentation, lending richness and creamy mouthfeel.  Excellent results from a great partnership.

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2013 Rambling Rosé at Becker Vineyards

 It was a beautiful Saturday in the Texas Hill Country AVA,Saturday August 10th, 2013.  It is harvest time and on this occasion we were celebrating another great vintage of the Becker Vineyard's Provencal!  We figure this was about the ninth year of doing this tasting.  This is one of the many Culinaria events that take place year round in celebration and support of the culinary arts in South Texas.  We thank every one who participated in this worthwhile endeavor. 

It was great to see that the category of rosé wine is more popular than ever, both seating for this event were sold out.  The attendees were already rosé wine  drinkers and enthusiast.  This is great news because this is a category of wine that Texas can make in quantity and quality that rivals the best rosé wine in the world.  I thank the Becker's leadership in making this wine and providing this forum to develop our knowledge and experience with rosé wine.

We tasted the rosé wines blind, blind tasting is the only way to accurately judge and assess the quality of any wine.  The picture above shows the six wines at the start of the tasting.  The colors are beautiful and varied from pale pink, often called salmon, to richer pink hues that can become fairly red in appearance.
My notes and review of the wines are below following the order they were presented with the top left wine being the first and the bottom right being last.


Le Poussin Rose, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 2012
High acidity making the first sip bracing and intense, followed by cranberry, raspberry and sour red fruit flavors.  There are secondary flavors of earthy tones and a floral flourish in the finish.

Belle Glos, Pinot Noir Blanc, Brugioni Vineyard, Sonoma Coast, California 2012
A smoky aromatic nose with flavors of strawberry, raspberry and a pronounced minrality. There are hints of tannins and fruit is persistent throughout the taste experience, making this a delicious and rich wine.  

Provencal, Becker Vineyards, Tallent Vineyard, Texas Hill Country, 2012
Strawberry and tart cherry aromas and flavors with a dusty minrality.  There is a light musty note with a hint of orange peal in this balanced well made wine.

Alexander Vineyards, Rosé, Grand Vin de Bordeaux, France, 2012
A pretty floral nose, blooming flowers and Prosciutto ham, beguiling combination that is appetizing.  The flavors are tart and tangy with a subtle effervescence with white cranberry fruit.

Balandran, Rosé, "Les Mugues" Costières-de-Nîmes, Rhone, France 2012
A bit of orange spritz on the nose with subtle flavors of strawberry and a smooth flavor experience with a satisfying finish.

I'M (Isabel Mondavi), Deep Rosé, Napa Valley, California 2012

Aromas of cola and cherry with a smoky background, the flavors are rich with cherry and vanilla with a lush mouth feel and a persistent finish.

All six wines are excellent and would make for an enjoyable selection for your next bottle of wine.  The cuisine for the event was prepared by Chef John Brand of the Omni Hotel on the Riverwalk.  It was a duck confit and it clearly demonstrated how well rosé wines pair with food.  If you are ever in doubt on which wine to pair with almost any meal you can reach for a bottle of rosé wine, it is very food friendly.  The ultimate test that proves this is Thanksgiving dinner; the turkey, the ham, dressing, potato salad, green bean casserole, cranberry relish and everything else on the table will go with rosé wine!  

Do you have a favorite rosé wines?  Please comment below...

Malbec, SANTA JULIA, “ORGANICA” Mendoza, Argentina

Created in honor of the only daughter of Jos Zuccardi, Santa Julia represents their commitment to achieve the highest of quality standards; developing sustainable policies that contribute to environmental care while being useful to the community.

• SCRUMPTIOUS
• Blueberry
• Fresh Plum
• Cherry
• Strawberry
• Chocolate 

Santa Julia is a clear example of the combination of the quality and diversity of Mendocinian soils, resulting in modern wines.  A family company founded in 1963 by Engineer Alberto Zuccardi. Who began planting vines in Mendoza experimenting with an irrigation system of his own creation based on a method used in California.  Forty five years later there are three generations joined by a passion for wine. In September 2007, the prestigious magazine DECANTER acknowledged José Alberto and Sebastián Zuccardi as being among the five most influential personalities of Argentine Wine.

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Malbec, COLORES DEL SOL, Mendoza, Argentina

‘Colors of the Sun’ is the English translation for this wines name, because the grapes bask in bright, pure sunlight in their vineyards at elevations reaching 3,500 feet, making them among the highest, driest, and sunniest in the world!  The wine has been crafted in a distinct style, combining cutting-edge winemaking skills with the authenticity and singular charm of the Malbec grape.

• SCRUMPTIOUS
• Blackberry
• Spice
• Raspberry
• Lush Mouthfeel
• Fine Grained Tannins

Colores del Sol is sourced exclusively from the Luján de Cuyo vineyard district within Mendoza, South America’s most prestigious wine-growing region.  Just to the south of Mendoza city, across the River Mendoza, lies Lujan de Cuyo, a village now entirely surrounded by vineyards and wineries. As they are situated so close to the river, the majority of these vineyards have alluvial soil types, i.e. sandy, stony surfaces based on clay substrata. A significant benefit of being located close to a glacial river is a lower level of salinity in the water, and a lack of impurities compared with other river types.

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Cabernet Sauvignon, ROBERT MONDAVI, Napa Valley, California

There is no name or label on a bottle that embodies California Wine more than this one.  One could make a case that Chardonnay is most stereotypically California, but from Napa Valley it has to be Cabernet Sauvignon.  And, this one is 100% Napa Valley and 40% of that is from the legendary To Kalon Vineyard!  Planted originally in 1868, the To Kalon Vineyard has become recognized as one of the first-growth vineyards of the world.  Ancient Greek for “the highest beauty,” To Kalon is the historic vineyard that provides Robert Mondavi Winerywith grapes for its world-class Cabernet Sauvignon.

• POWERFUL
• Black Cherries
• Blackberry
• Italian Plums
• Mocha
• Tobacco
• Clove

Mr. Mondavi believed that wines should reflect their origins, that they are the product of the soil, the climate, and the careful stewardship of those precious resources. He also believed in combining the newest techniques and technology with time-honored winemaking traditions.  The Robert Mondavi Winery winemaking and vineyard teams are proud to carry on the tradition to always strive higher, to pursue Mr. Mondavi’s goal of excellence with the same passion and innovative spirit, moving forward with programs that break barriers and open new frontiers.

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