On Saturday evening we were in San Antonio (day trip) and ate at an absolutely delightful restaurant – “Cured” . Central to the Pearl area on the near north side, along the River Walk, Cured is the brainchild of Steve McHugh. I had seen a notification from my High School that Steve and his restaurant had been nominated for a James Beard Award (the “Oscars” for restaurants), for the 2nd year in a row. While I had never met Steve or any of his family, he is from my tiny hometown of Walworth, Wisconsin (~1500 people)!
Michelle and I were very impressed with our experience. The ambiance is casual, but the food is exquisite. You can even sit at the “bar,” which encircles the chefs, similar to the Culinary Institute of America experience (where Steve got his training).
Charcuterie display as you enter Cured
Walking in, you see the meats that are the namesake of the restaurant – a large display of the cured meats for the charcuterie choices on the menu. Everything from pate’s up to 12-month aged shoulder, with lamb pepperoni, aged Wagyu beef, etc.
Quail legs appetizerCharcuterie plate we chose
We started with the Happy Hour appetizer of Quail legs (50 cents each), which were fabulous! We followed it up with a small charcuterie plate of Apple Jalapeno Pork Rillettes, aged Wagyu, and Vermont cheddar cheese. I could have continued to eat the charcuterie meats all night!
For our main course, Michelle had the Roasted Beef Marrow,
Roasted Beef Marrow
with Escargot, Pickled Shallots, Hedgehog Mushrooms. I had the Bison Tartare, with Huitlacoche Purée, Bourbon, Quail Egg, Brioche. Both dishes were fantastic! I’ve always been a huge fan of beef tartare, and this bison was beyond compare.
Bison Tartare
Steve McHugh told me that they have also done a lamb tartare before. Michelle is a big fan of beef bone marrow, and this was delicious, also.
While the wine list was extensive and eclectic, since it was a warm (85 degree) day, and we had been walking in the art museum plus a 3 mile walk along the famed San Antonio River Walk, we decided on beer. They have a fantastic beer selection, and when I saw the Deschutes (Bend, OR) Fresh Squeezed IPA, I could not resist.
Cured is a huge hit, and worthy of a James Beard Award. This should be a mainstay on everyone’s list of restaurants in San Antonio.
This past Saturday, Michelle and I went to two more local wineries, relative to our home in Leander, TX, including a delicious visit to Perissos Vineyards outside of Burnet. Perissos is Greek for “exceeding abundantly, beyond what is expected, imagined, or hoped for” – Ephesians, 3:20. Perissos Vineyards is a small, family-run vineyard and
Deliciousness under development…
winery – the 16 acre dream of Seth and Laura Martin, as a place to raise their five children, and teach them the values of working for yourself. The Martins currently have around 11 acres planted, with over 13 varietals – the main successes being with Aglianico, Dolcetto, Petite Syrah, Roussanne, Tempranillo, Touriga, and Viognier. The entrance to Perissos Vineyards is wonderful. Upon entering the gates, you drive straight between rows of vines – white on the right, and red on the left. It’s a beautiful sight in the summer. The tasting room is done in large – farmhouse style, with long bench-style tables and seats. You can pack a lot of people in this place!
All of the wines at Perissos Vineyards are 100% Texas grown. Depending on yields, quality, and desired blends, they will supplement their Estate-Grown grapes with grapes from the Texas High Plains.
We met Amy, the Tasting Room Manager, who expertly took us through our tasting of four Estate and two High Plains wines. We
Perissos Tasting Menu
started with a newly released 2015 Estate Viognier ($32). This is a bright, crisp wine, loaded with honeysuckle, with touches of pear and apple. Wonderfully refreshing for this hot Texas summer day, it finishes with a smooth, creamy touch of pineapple and apricot. Definitely a delicious way to start today’s tasting.
We moved on to a 2013 Roussanne ($26) – a blend of 100% Roussanne from the Oswald (78%) and Bingham (22%) High Plains Vineyards. With lots of honey and citrus on the nose, this wine has a typical slight sour grapefruit taste, and a bold finish.
The final white (or maybe it could be considered a “blonde,” given its namesake) is the 2013 Estate Lucy (32), a blend of Viognier (40%,
Perissos’ Farm-style Tasting Room
Roussanne (40%), and Muscat Canelli (20%). Named for Seth and Laura’s daughter Lucy, this is another great hot afternoon wine. With a wonderful sense of sweetness (I’m sure like little Lucy herself), this wine has no Residual Sugars. The sweet aromas and tastes of tangerine come from the Muscat Canelli.
Moving on to the reds, we started with the Award Winning 2013
Award winning Perissos Vineyards wines
Estate Aglianico ($48). The 2014 release just won Best of Class at the 2016 San Francisco Chronicle competition in the past few weeks! The 2013 is dark and fruity, with plum and red raspberries, with slight spices and a touch of leather on the finish, with a great mouth feel. A delicious wine!
Every once in a while, you’ll run into that person who just needs some self-reassurance in their ability to name a wine they are drinking. T he 2014 Estate Racker’s Blend ($45) is perfect to help these people. If they pick a grape from the taste, they might just be right. This is a
Perissos Vineyards barrels
blend of EIGHT grapes: Aglianico (25%), Malbec (12%), Syrah (16%), Petite Sirah (20%), Tempranillo (24%), Touriga Nacionale (1%), Dolcetto (1%), and Montepulciano (1%). This is a very smooth, versatile wine that would go well with steaks and most Italian foods.
The final wine on the tasting menu was the 2014 (High Plains) Italian Stallion ($40) – an outstanding Italian blend of 25% each of Sangiovese, Dolcetto, Aglianico, and Montepulciano. A very delicious blend of blackberry flavors, with a touch of white pepper with lots of texture and a smooth, silky finish.
We also had the good fortune to spend some time with Laura Martin, and had a wonderful discussion with her about her family and their passion and dedication to their dream. In addition, Perissos offers a plate of cheese, crackers, fruit, and salami for $12.95. They will have an Estate 100% Montepulciano coming out soon (Mmmmmm….>!!), and also have a 2014 Rose (Grenache, Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon) and a 2015 Rose (Dolcetto, Grenache, Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon).
All in all, a delightful experience at a beautiful farm-style winery with great, award winning wines!
Feel free to leave a comment below, and to subscribe on the left, so you get notified of new posts.
Also, feel free to email me privately at: stevestastingsandtravel@gmail.com.
In the Gaelic language of Scotland, Torr Na Lochs roughly translates as “Hill over Lakes.” This winery on Hwy 29 just west of Burnet, a little over an hour NW of Austin, has one of the most breathtaking views of any winery in the Texas Hill Country. Set on a hill with a beautiful view
Torr Na Lochs Winery – Burnet, TX
of the Lake Buchanan area, this new winery (September, 2015) is worth a visit to. Torr Na Lochs Winery was the vision of owners Blake and Karen DeBerry. With roots in San Antonio and the Lake LBJ area, the DeBerry family had been living in Singapore, and then moved to Aberdeen, Scotland. In 2004, Blake found this hillside ranch overlooking the Colorado River of Texas Valley for sale on the internet, and bought it sight unseen. The plan was for land to retire to, without much more in mind. But, another move back to Singapore put things on hold.
While on a vacation in Australia, Blake noticed the similarities to some of the wineries there and his ranch he had bought in Texas. Blake and
TNL Tasting Room
Karen decided that a winery would be perfect for their “retirement” ranch. They finally moved back to Texas, and spent two years of weekends getting their land ready to plant a vineyard, finally planting their first three acres of vines in April, 2014. The next 18 months were spent making wines in the Texas High Plains, and building their winery and tasting room. This gorgeous facility finally opened for business in September, 2015.
Aside from the stunning view that you see after parking, the next
TNL View of Lake Buchanan
thing you notice is how friendly the DeBerry family and their staff are. Michelle and I were warmly welcomed by everyone we met. The tasting room is very well designed, with ample seating at low and high top tables, with a view of the barrel room and the winery through windows, plenty of servers, and
TNL small patio
the spectacular view of a massive patio overlooking the valley and lakes (Inks and Buchanan) below.
A tasting at Torr Na Lochs consists of three Whites, a choice of one of two Rose’s, and two or three reds (out of five available), for $10 ($15 if you keep the tasting glass). Blake poured the entire tasting menu for me, so I could get a good sense of their variety. All of their current selections are made with Texas High Plains grapes, as this coming bottling will be the first of their Estate-grown wines. The Whites and Rose’s have screw tops, while the Reds have cork closures.
We started with a 2014 “Fion Geal” (Gaelic for White Wine – $26), a fresh, crisp blend of six grapes, primarily Viognier with a touch of
Torr Na Lochs “Fion Geal”
Muscat. A light, fruity dry wine that would pair well with spicy food, as well as with the Texas heat. Think Nectarines with a lemon-lime finish. Very refreshing! We next had the 2014 Roussanne ($24) from the Oswald Family Vineyards in the High Plains. A typical light Roussanne done in 100% stainless tanks. With a beautiful lemon color, this simple, straight-forward wine will please those who like this acidic Rhone-style wine. I’m personally not a big fan of Roussanne, due to the acidity and slightly pungent notes, but a couple of years usually does the trick. The final White was the 2014 “Sweet Sunset” ($24), a 50-50 blend of Roussanne and Orange Muscat. Although “sweet” is in the name, this wine is only 3% Residual Sugars, so it’s nowhere near the sweetness of a dessert wine. With soft floral notes and a tangerine finish (from the Orange Muscat), this was a delightfully refreshing wine to enjoy on this 100 degree day.
On to the Rose’s… Bright and crisp, with the taste of fresh strawberries, the 2014 Rose’ di Montepulciano (Oswald Family Vineyards – $22) was extracted from the batch of Montepulciano tasted later. With a beautiful color, this is a nice alternative blush wine
Torr Na Lochs – Rose’ di Montepulciano
that would appeal to the sweet “White Zin” drinkers to trick them into enjoying a dry wine. The strawberry makes them think it is sweet. The second “Members Only” rose, named for Blake and Karen’s granddaughter was a 2015 Ruby Kate’s Rose’ ($22). Made with 50% Montepulciano and 50% Dolcetto, this Italian-style rose is very soft and subtle, with distinct fruit-forward cranberry notes (from the Dolcetto), a bright red color, with a surprising kiwi fruit finish. A nice tribute to Ruby Kate!
The five Reds were a nice variety, with some 100% Italian varietals that I like, but that may be a bit more unknown to many wine drinkers. The first, a 2015 “Fion Dearg” (Gaelic for Red Wine – $24), is a blend of
Torr Na Lochs – “Fion Dearg”
Tempranillo, Mourvedre, and Carignan. Pale red in color, this is lightly spicy with ripe strawberry and cherry notes, with a touch of tobacco. Would be good with barbecue and tacos. My favorite of the day was the 2014 Montepulciano ($31) – a grape that I have come to love. With a ruby red color and deep berry notes (think plums), this is a delicious oaky, full wine, with ripe tannins. I bought three bottles of this Montepulciano, to both enjoy now, and to cellar for a few years to watch it develop. Next was a very interesting wine – a 2014 Dolcetto ($30). This wine needs to be taste two different ways. First,
Torr Na Lochs – Montepulciano
without any swirling at all, this is a pure fruit-forward wine. Then, with 15 seconds of swirling, this wine opens up very quickly to expose soft fruit with a slight pepper note. A great wine to show off what it means for a wine to open up, since it happens so quickly. The most complex wine on the menu is a 2013 Sangiovese ($33). Aged 14 months in European Oak, with cherry and other berry notes, this wine has delicious smoky vanilla and leather notes, with slight spice and pepper. The final selection is a 2015 Petite Syrah ($48). With only two barrels produced, this is a beautifully dark, inky purple wine with deep, soft blackberry notes. Although very drinkable now, this wine – which helped to add 50 new Club Members this month – will grow well with age.
After completing the tasting menu, Blake took us out into the winery to do tank tasting on his first to Estate-grown wines. Barrel and Tank-tastings are a bit different, if you’ve never done them, as the wines are not always filtered or finished yet. These have been filtered, but still have a little finishing to be done, and then bottled. The 2015 Estate Malbec is deep with cherry, and will be a nice typical Malbec when ready. The 2015 Estate Syrah is a blend of 82% Syrah and 18% Petite Syrah. Aged in French and European Oak, this looks to be a wonderful wine in another year or more. I look forward to trying both of these when they are bottled and aged a bit!
Torr Na Lochs Tasting Menu – July, 2016
Of course, wines and a beautiful view to enjoy are not always enough. Torr La Nochs also has a light menu of food offerings to go along with your tasting. There is a $10 cheese plate, which included res and green grapes, cheese crisps, and crackers. For $12, they offer a seasonal plate, with cheeses (including goat cheese), nuts, and dried apricots. And lastly, they have a $6 dessert plate, with a homemade turtle, with truffles and a chocolate-dipped strawberry.
A big THANK YOU to Blake DeBerry for hosting Michelle and me at his
Blake & Karen DeBerry – Owners of Torr Na Lochs Winery – courtesy of TNL website
gorgeous new winery. Come for the wines, and enjoy the spectacular view, or come for the view, and enjoy some very promising wines! IT’s worth the trip to experience.
Feel free to leave a comment below, and to subscribe on the left, so you get notified of new posts.
Also, feel free to email me privately at: stevestastingsandtravel@gmail.com.
Last month, I got treated to wines and a home-cooked dinner with an old friend. I got to go back to St. Charles, MO (St. Louis) because my three (grown) children were all in town, along with my two grandsons. On my arrival on Friday evening, I texted my good friend, Dick Deitte, who immediately invited me over to his house. He was cooking dinner for two of his kids, and was opening some wines. Those who know Dick know that he also loves his wines, and loves to share them. They also know what a great chef he is for his family and friends. So, when he said he was making two pastas and sauces, and he had “a few” wines to try, I knew I was in for a treat. Dick and I have shared a lot of great wines over the years…
I ran to the store and grabbed a bottle of wine that I knew would be appropriate for this dinner.
When I arrived, Dick grabbed me a wine glass and filled it with an “opening” wine. Now, when I say a “wine glass,” he gave me one that holds about 16 oz., and truly filled it half-way. I knew I was in for some serious wine drinking. Our starter wine was a treat – a delicious 2012
2012 Jordan Chardonnay
Jordan Chardonnay -Russian River Valley – Sonoma County ($36). Jordan considers this one of their best vintages of this Chardonnay. Jordan is a fantastic winery to visit and tour – found at the extreme north of the Sonoma Valley. It was a perfect starting wine, and complemented the first pasta course, with the white sauce. Clean and crisp, it set the tone for the rest of the night. The fettuccine with the white/alfredo sauce was delicious. Dick certainly knows his way around a kitchen.
Next, it was time for the second pasta course – an excellent farfalle (bowtie) pasta with a red meat sauce. Now it was time for the bottle I had brought – a 2013 Moss Roxx Lodi Ancient Vine Zinfandel ($32). Moss Roxx comes from the Oak Ridge Winery in Lodi, CA. Of course Old/Ancient Vine Zins go great with a red/meat sauce and pasta. I’ll admit that I
2013 Moss Roxx Ancient Vine Lodi Zinfandel
have never been a fan of wines from Lodi. When I lived there 25 years ago, they were really known for their White Zins, and their reds always seemed like they were rushed to the bottle and onto the store shelves. I will say they’ve come a long way, but the old vine Zins can be outstanding. This one was very good.
Once we finished eating, Dick showed me his new walk-in wine cellar, which holds about 800 bottles. We grabbed a few bottles and went back up. We popped open the next bottle – a 2012 Betz Family Winery Clos de Betz
2012 Betz Family Winery Clos de Betz
($55) – a Right Bank style Bordeaux blend of 67% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Petit Verdot. Inky black, this Columbia Valley, Washington wine was young (would be fantastic in 8-12 years) but luscious – 93-95 Points by Robert Parker in barrel tastings! It was about this time that I showed Dick my Wine & Travel Blog, and promised to write an article on this great evening.
Our 4th and last bottle was a 2012 Robert Craig Affinity – Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($55 – 92 Pts.). A delicious way to finish the evening – a deep true Bordeaux blend of the Left Bank Five (78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 6%
2012 Robert Craig Affinity
Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec, 1% Cabernet Franc). Heavy on the Cabernet, this is considered Bob Craig’s “entry level” offering, and is drinking well now. Looks like I’ll need to pay a visit to Robert Craig to try the Reserves on my next Napa trip!
All in all, a great evening of food, wine, and friendship. I also got to catch up with Carrie and Sam, two of Dick’s kids, who are friends with my son, Mitchell. Dick and I never did get around to singing – something he and I used to do together in our church in St. Charles. Dick sings in the St. Louis Chamber Chorus, and always wanted be to audition, but I never had the time. Maybe Dick will come to Austin some time, so I can reciprocate at my house…
The following night, after spending the day and evening with my kids and Grandkids, I was also able to go to a party and see many of my other St. Charles friends, whom I have dearly missed since moving away four years ago! Between seeing family and friends, it was a wonderful trip!
Feel free to leave a comment below, and to subscribe on the left, so you get notified of new posts.
Also, feel free to email me privately at: stevestastingsandtravel@gmail.com.
I wish I could remember who recommended to me to visit David Coffaro Estate Vineyard & Winery to have a unique wine tasting. Tucked away in the Dry Creek region of northern Sonoma County, this small boutique winery has quickly become not only one of my
Entrance sign on Dry Creek Rd.
favorites, but also a favorite of friends that I have recommended them to. As Dave and Pat Coffaro put it, they are “dedicated to making premium wines at a fair price.” And their loyal fans will all tell you that they have definitely succeeded! Without a doubt, they produce premium wines, and they have a somewhat unique way of providing those wines at that fair price, but only if you are patient. In my first visit to David Coffaro, about 10 years ago, I learned that only 5% of their sales are at the tasting room counter (for those with a lack of patience…). The rest of their sales are through their website, and most of those are in their “Crazy Coffaro Futures Program.” Yes, that’s right – wine futures.
Wine futures purchasing is where you are paying a low price today, for wines that are still in the barrel, and may not be bottled and shipped to you for a year or more. In general, these are usually about half of what the retail price will be when released. And to take it a step
David Coffaro pouring in the Tasting Room
further, you can save even more by buying further in advance – buying what is still on the vines! Now, that certainly takes some trust in the winemaker (and even in the weather), but fear not when it comes to trusting winemakers Dave Coffaro, Josh Price, and Jose Flores! I have drank a number of cases of their wines (no, not all at one time), and I have NEVER been disappointed. There aren’t many wineries that I can say that about.
There are a number of things that impress me about these wines and the experience at the winery itself. In no way is this one of those
Owner, winemaker, and wearer of sleeveless t-shirts, David Coffaro!
stuck-up wineries for “wine snobs.” This is a laid-back place for those who appreciate great wines without all the fluff. The tasting counter is tiny, to say the least. But the counter is merely a starting point.
Sparkling Pinot Noir – a Thanksgiving favorite!
Unless you happen to be there between the end of bottling for one season, and the end of harvest for the next, you are generally allowed (actually encouraged) to do barrel tastings of the various single
varietals and the many unique blends. After all, if you are buying futures, it is nice to have a preview of what you may be ordering, and straight from the barrel is the best way.
When it comes to varietals, I think it is safe to say that Dave and Pat may have most any other winery in California (and maybe most other wine areas) beat. Take a look at this link http://www.coffaro.com/diary/diarypics/vineyardmap.pdf to the vineyard map, and you will see what I mean. Old vines, young vines, old world, and new world classics abound. Of course the typical California varietals are all there (I don’t need to name them…), but
Vineyard Map
also a wonderful list of lesser known classics, such as Aglianico, Peloursin, Lagrein, Mourvedre, Carignan, Petit Meunier, Pinotage, Montepulciano, Nebbiolo, etc. (Even my Spell Check questions most of those…) This variety gives Dave the option for both some unique single varietals, as well as an endless variety of fantastic blends.
I have two favorite stories I like to tell about my experiences with David Coffaro wines. About 6 years ago, I was occasionally buying wines through a now defunct wine auction site – one of those sites where people would sell wines they wanted or needed to get rid of (so to speak). I happened to see about three cases total of bottles of David Coffaro wines, all from 2000 and 2001. Knowing that this was a lesser known place, I bid the minimum on every bottle, and won them all. So I got three cases of 9-10 year old wines, for an average of $3.25 per bottle! When released, these wines have a retail price of $30-38 (and worth much more!), so I figured this was a pretty low risk! I had never seen a David Coffaro wine without a screw top (he stopped
Probably the last remaining bottle of 2001 Aca Modot on earth – still in my cellar!
using corks around 2004-2005), so I was surprised to see corks. I remember the first bottle I tried – a 2001 Aca Modot (their flagship Bordeaux blend – named after the Native American village originally on the site), and was blown away by how great it was! Needless to say, that was the best $100 I spend on wine, and got 3 cases for that amount! When I posted a photo on Facebook, Pat Coffaro replied, and said that they didn’t even have any of their wines left from back then, and asked how it was.
My second great story was about a year later, on a tasting visit to David Coffaro. I had let Pat know that I was coming (I was in San Francisco on a business trip, and added a weekend), and got there somewhat late in the afternoon (they close at 4 pm). When I arrived, there was one couple finishing a tasting, and when they left, I was alone with Dave and Pat. After chatting and tasting the current offerings (there were no barrels left when I was there), Dave said to me… “Steve, do you have some time to stick around? I’ve got something for you to try.” Well, let me tell you… when a
Just a small sampling of the many wines available
winemaker/owner asks you if you have time to stick around, you do NOT hesitate! The answer is always YES!!! Dave ran over to the house and came back with a box. He said they had just finished bottling the previous day, and he had the last 12 wines they had bottled. He wanted me to taste them all, and said he trusted my opinion. Right then, I knew I was in someplace special. That was such a humbling thing to hear. I felt so honored. So, we sat and tasted, and talked into the evening, and it was the best tasting experience of my life.
Dear readers, I know I say I like a lot of wineries, and have many favorites that I recommend, but even if you never follow any other advice I give, please take this advice to heart. The next time you go to the Napa/Sonoma area, PLEASE take the time to go up to Dry Creek (north of Healdsburg), and visit David Coffaro Estate Vineyard & Winery. This place will change the way you think about great wines, as
2013 Estate Cuvee – delicious!
well as change how you buy. And yes – you can still order current wines from their website, and buy their futures (both 2015 and 2016 available now). And, if you join their club, you get even better prices. Most of you know I do not recommend wine clubs often, but this one is an exception, to me.
Dave and Pat – I don’t get there often, since I live in Austin, Texas, but know that both my wife Michelle and I absolutely love your wines!
Feel free to leave a comment below, and to subscribe on the left, so you get notified of new posts.
Also, feel free to email me privately at: stevestastingsandtravel@gmail.com.
Beaulieu Vineyards in Rutherford (Napa Valley), California is the winery that first got me interested in “real” wines. Back in 1989, we were living in Lodi, California – at that time known for White Zinfandel. That’s pretty much what I drank back then, since I didn’t like any of the red wines I had tried. I soon came to learn that I had only tried “cheap” (low quality) reds. That all changed when I decided to take a trip to Napa Valley. After asking around for advice, a number of my co-workers (a few of them even had their own vineyards) at General Mills said that Beaulieu Vineyards (BV) would be a great place to start, as they had a very wide variety of white and reds, and had been around for 90 years.
Beaulieu Vineyards (BV) historic winery – Rutherford, CA (Napa Valley)
As I stepped inside the tasting room door, I was greeted by a lovely woman in a French/Colonial-style dress, who said to me “Welcome to Beaulieu Vineyards. Please have a glass of Chardonnay.” I felt like I was Darren Stevens (“Bewitched”), arriving home and being greeted by Samantha with a martini! I knew I had found something special. I wandered around the beautiful tasting room, sipping that Chardonnay and realized that there was much more to wine than White Zin. It was like drinking soft, clean, light melted butter. I was thinking… “If only I had a plate of lobster or some good Wisconsin Swiss Cheese right now…”
2003 BV Georges De Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
BV has a much storied history. Back in 1900, Georges De Latour bought four acres of land in Rutherford, determined to make wines that could compete with those of his homeland, France. His wife looked at the land, and declared it a beautiful place (beau lieu), and the name stuck. De Latour did two very smart things – he brought in disease-resistant roots from Europe to plant, and he got contracts to supply the Roman Catholic Church with wine for Communion. Because of this relationship, BV was the only winery allowed to remain open through Prohibition, as the church needed wine. Following Prohibition, Georges made one more significant decision. He went to France, and brought back André Tchelistcheff to take over the role of Winemaker. Tchelistcheff revolutionized how California wines were made, bringing a number of process improvements. However, when he tasted Georges De Latour’s 1936 “Private Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon, André was so impressed, that he made this the BV premiere wine, and the first California cult classic wine – BV Georges de Latour Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was launched. To this day, these Cabs are considered the most collectible Cabernet Sauvignons in the U.S. I have my own collection of 20+ bottles of this wine, ranging from 1973 to the 94-point 2012. A t each of my first two children’s weddings (6 and 8 years ago), I shared a bottle of the 1997 “GDL” with my close friends.
BV Reserve Tapestry – Bordeaux Blend – a very Romantic wine!
Back in 2001-2002, when I really started my wine collection, BV was the first place I went to, and the first Wine Club I ever joined, after having their Reserve Tastings. It was then that I fell in love with their next most famous wine – their Bordeaux blend – “Tapestry.” “Tapestry” has been called “the most romantic wine in America,” and I totally agree. There is nothing better on a cold night than to have a roaring fire, a couple of prime filets, a couple of bottles of Tapestry, and the one you love! About six years later, on April 16, 2008 – in the Member’s Tasting Room, I proposed to Michelle while the Tapestry was being served! (I knew she couldn’t possibly say “no” while drinking that wine!) I also have a 20+ bottle collection of Tapestry back to 1995.
Although BV is considered to be a very large winery, you never really feel that way. They treat each of their guests as if they were their only customers. BV probably has the widest variety of wines and price ranges of any winery I know. From their Coastal Estates (~$6-$8) label, their Napa Valley (~$20) label, their Rutherford (~$32), Maestro (~$24-$75), Reserves (~$40-$70), Georges de Latour (~$85-$140) to their ultimate Clones (~$140-$195), there is a BV wine for everyone and for every occasion.
As an example, for my daughter’s wedding reception “pre-party,” I bought a case each of BV Coastal Estates Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon, at $6.25 a bottle. They were all enjoyable and very drinkable wines. I had a few bottles left over, and saved them for 5-6 years, and they easily compared then to a $30+ wine.
2004 Clone 4 cork with beautiful sediment crystals – opened in 2015
When it comes to storing wines long-term, BV has some of the best, and most affordable collectable wines. The low-end wines can lay down for 6-8 years, while the GDL, Tapestry, and Clones will keep (under proper storage) for 20-50+ years! When you buy a bottle for $85, and enjoy it 30 years later when it drinks like a $500 bottle, you know it was a good “investment!” These wines take on a life of their own – slowly changing and improving over the years.
2001 BV Port – Napa Valley
With Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Muscat Canelli, Chardonnay, Rose, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a number of delicious (and a few “fun”) blends, BV has wines that cover the spectrum. Occasionally, they have produced a Sparkling Chardonnay (a big hit on New Years’ Eve) and a delicious Port, and they also have one of my favorite dessert wines – Muscat de Beaulieu – a delicious apricot and honey sweet dessert wine ($24 – my first bottle ever was $8.50).
I cannot thank Beaulieu Vineyards enough for starting me on this wine journey. They took me as a novice and converted this former beer and White Zin drinker into a wine lover. For those just starting out, or those who know their wines well, this is a winery to visit often, to join, or to order from regularly. From every-day to special occasion wines, BV has it all, and is the best there is over the entire range of wines!
Feel free to leave a comment below, and to subscribe on the left, so you get notified of new posts.
Also, feel free to email me privately at: stevestastingsandtravel@gmail.com.
Most of my trips to the Texas Hill Country wineries are on Fridays or Saturdays. Being Christmas week, and being off of work for the whole Holiday season, I decided to go on a Tuesday this time. The bad news is that many of the wineries from Johnson City to Fredericksburg – especially the smaller ones – are closed on Tuesdays. The good news is, I got to try two new wineries, and a couple of ones I’ve been to in the past. (Note: I was on vacation after Christmas, and have been sick since getting home, so I got behind in my posting. SORRY!)
Pedernales Cellars Tasting Room
I have visited Pedernales Cellars a number of times before, but normally they are my last stop on my way back to Austin. This time I decided to start there for a change. Pedernales is known for their award winning Tempranillos, having won Double Gold for their 2012 Reserve Tempranillo in San Francisco. That was an outstanding wine, and the 2013 promises to be as good. This winery offers both a regular and a Reserve tasting. I’ve done the Reserve tasting twice in the past, and it is well worth the $25 tasting fee. This visit, I did the normal $15 tasting. Owner/Winemaker David Kuhlken has a very nice selection to sample, consisting of a 1st vintage 2014 Vermentino (grapefruit & florals – $30), a 2nd vintage 2014 Viognier Reserve – Bingham (honey, rose, peach, vanilla, toast – $40), a 2014 Texas Dry Rose (Tempranillo/Mourvedre proprietary blend – dry with a crisp pear 7 cherry taste – $30). The two reds are a 2012 Texas Valhalla – a blend of Montepulciano, Aglianico and Tempranillo (plum, strawberry, spice, and light chocolate – $40), and the spectacular 2013 Tempranillo Reserve (tobacco, cherry, blackberry, and dark chocolate – $50). The next taste was a 2014 Moscato, a light off-dry dessert wine at 3% residual sugar (peach, green apple, apricot, pear – $30). Finally, they shared their Stonewall Holiday Glogg. Based on a Swedish recipe, this spiced tawny-style Port was served with a ginger cookie, and would be great mulled (nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves – $20). One tip about Pedernales’ Wine Club is that the prices remain constant at $69 or $79 per quarter. Many other clubs will fluctuate their price based on wine prices. Many thanks to Victoria for her expertise (as well as a winery tour) and to newcomer, Jose for his assistance!
Alexander Vineyards – Award winning French wines!Some of Alexander Vineyards Bordeaux wines
Next we stopped at a delightful newer (2013)tasting room, Alexander Vineyards, just east of Fredericksburg. Claude Alexander has brought true French, German, and soon Italian imports to Texas Hill Country. Claude selects the varietals and blends to put his name/label on, and is doing a fantastic job! Claude, along with Jayne Osborne were a delight to talk with. OK – for some of you, these are not Texas wines, so you may not really think they belong in Texas, but Claude travels to Europe to sample the barrels and to create the blends he wants, to put his name on the wines, and he is in Fredericksburg with his quaint tasting room, so I highly recommend giving these fine wines a try. Within the next two years, Alexander Vineyards will have about 40 delightful wines and champagnes available. Our tasting started with three champagnes (Grand Cru Brut – 6 g. RS – 91 pts – 100% Blanc de blanc – $50; Extra Brut – 3 g. RS – 92 pts. – $70; and Rose – 86% Chardonnay, 14% Pinot Noir – $70). Next was a silky smooth Bordeaux Rose (60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot – $18). This rose would go great with turkey, crab, BBQ, and I have had it with halibut cordon bleu and steamed trout! While enjoying their excellent charcuterie plate (rabbit & pork cheek pate, 2 sausages, 3 cheeses, & 2 chutneys), we moved on to the rest of the wines. The White Graves (55% Semillon, 45% Sauvignon Blanc – 93 pts. – $28) is “white on the nose and red in the mouth.” This was selected as the 2nd best white Bordeaux in France, best in Graves. A delicious white wine for red wine lovers. Then, it was on to the reds! The 2013 Graves (55% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon – $33) is very soft, approachable, and drinkable now. The 2012 Grand Cru St. Emilion (75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc – $44) is very young, well balanced, and will set up well with up to 20-30 years of storage. This would be excellent with ribeye, quail, etc. Lastly, we enjoyed a spectacular 2011 Sauternes dessert wine (100% Semillon – 9th vintage – 2500 bottle production – $33). A perfect “OMG”, this was selected as the best Sauternes in San Francisco in 2014. Alexander Vineyards is here to stay, and is a great place to expand your palette with an excellent cross-section of European wines. Claude plans to plant local grapes soon, and will build on to his tasting facilities as he gets more great wines. Eventually he plans to add B&B cottages, as well. A fantastic find!
Our third stop was the newly opened Armadillo’s Leap. This is the new lower-end arm of Pedernales Cellars, with mostly non-Texas grapes. Fitting with the lesser quality of wines compared to other wineries, Armadillo’s Leap offers a 6-wine tasting with a glass to keep, for only $10 – and with healthy pours! The wines offered were:
Sparkling Muscat: 0% RS, but feels like a light dessert wine – $30 Armadillo’s Leap Tasting Menu
2013 Viognier – Roussanne: a slightly funky wine that must be served with food, such as shrimp salad or a spicy pork tenderloin – $20
2013 Viognier “Table White”: a smooth, drinkable wine to have with Tex-Mex – $15
“Red”: A 100% Tempranillo, an everyday kind of wine – $25
BFF: A sec, secret blend red, with plum, strawberry, chocolate, and very soft tannins – $20
Muscat: a slightly light pure Muscat with 4% RS, with Mandarin orange, pear, and green apple flavors – $18
Our 4th and final stop of the day was at another of the great, newer wineries – Lewis Wines. This was my 4th visit to Lewis Wines, and as usual, it did not disappoint. Doug Lewis and Duncan McNabb have something special going on here. In my
Lewis Wines tasting patio
opinion, they have some great wines, and have a lot of potential to become exceptional. With their new tasting room and patio, they can handle the crowds that are pouring in. Featuring 100% Texas wines with a primarily Spanish and Portuguese style, we started with the delightful 2014 Swim Spot, a crisp blend of primarily Blanc du Bois – a perfect summer wine – $14. Next, we enjoyed the lovely 2014 Mourvedre Rose, a truly boutique wine, with only 157 cases produced – $30. From there, it was on to a wonderful quartet of Temranillos:
2012 Newsome (High Plains) Tempranillo, with slight leather, this is a very drinkable wine, and will peak in 3-5 years – $30
2012 Parr Tempranillo, a smooth leathery Tempranillo – very delicious – $32
2012 Lost Draw Tempranillo, deliciously smoky with hints of tobacco – $35
2012 Texas Tempranillo, a smooth blend of 46% Lost Draw, 25% Newsome, 19% Parr, and 10% Bingham – $28.
We finished up at Lewis with both the 2011 and 2012 Round Mountain Estate, a fantastic blend of 82% Tempranillo and 18% Touriga Nacional – %50. As usual, a delightful tasting at Lewis Wines!
Thank you to all of these wineries for another wonderful day of tasting in our Texas Hill Country. I look forward to more visits to yours and other area wineries, as the list continues to grow!
Feel free to leave a comment below, and to subscribe on the left, so you get notified of new posts.
Also, feel free to email me privately at: stevestastingsandtravel@gmail.com.
A continuation of a Saturday afternoon wine tasting out Texas Hwy 290, west of Austin – the 2nd most visited wine area in the country. My previous post talked about William Chris and Kuhlman Cellars.
Our rainy Saturday afternoon wine tasting in the Texas Hill Country continued at Four Point O (4.0) Cellars. This facility is a tasting room for three reputable Texas wineries. The first is Brennan Vineyards, Pat and Trellise Brennan’s 37 acre winery in Comanche, Texas.
Four Point O (4.0) Cellars Tasting Room – Fredericksburg
Brennan is best known for their Tempranillo and Viognier, as well as an excellent white blend, their medium bodied Reserve Lily (Chardonnay 42%, Muscat of Alexandria 38%, Chenin Blanc 10%, Riesling 6%, Grenache 4%) and a delightful Mourvedre dry rose.
The second winery represented at Four Point O is Gene Estes’ Lost Oak Winery , from Burleson, TX. Lost Oak is known primarily for their dry, semi-sweet, and sweet whites, with Blanc du Bois, Muscats/Muscatos, Rieslings, Viognier, and blends, with a few red blends and Tempranillo, plus a “Holiday wine” (which they could not tell me what all was in the blend), a mildly spicy treat with a Tempranillo base.
The third (and my favorite) winery available at Four Point O is McPherson Cellars. With their winery located in Lubbock in a former Coca Cola bottling plant, the McPherson family has over 40 years of winemaking experience. Kim McPherson has won over 450 medals in competitions within Texas, the U.S., and Internationally, with his offerings of wines from Spanish, French, and Italian varietals. Their flagship wine is a traditional Italian “DBS” (Dolcetto, Barbera, and Sangiovese) – a warm, earthy, wonderful blend – think of a nice Chianti (without the Fava Beans…).
The Four Point O tasting room was very crowded, due to the rain, leaving the outside tent completely empty (except for the music entertainer). During the wait for a tasting, there is a nice sampling of
Four Point O (4.0) Tasting Room
flavored mustards, olive oils, sauces, etc. to sample, as well as some wonderful cheeses from Veldhuizen Cheese. The tastings at Four Point O offer a nice choice of three tasting menus ($12 for 6 wines) – “Light and Sweet,” “Cellar Selection,” and “All Red.” In addition to the three wineries mentioned above, there are also a few selections that Todd Webster (Winemaker at Brennan Vineyards) has made for the 4.0 label, including a 2012 Syrah and 2013 Tempranillo. A delightful tasting room, which I have visited four times!
Our final tasting of the day was another excellent example of Texas wines done right – Messina Hof Hill Country Winery. Messina Hof is
Messina Hof Hill Country Winery – Fredericksburg, TX
based in Bryan, TX, with a Four Diamond Resort there, and this tasting room and B&B in the Fredericksburg (Hill Country) area. The Messina Hof name comes from the family origins of Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo (Messina, Sicily and Hof, Germany), and have strong ties to Texas A&M University, with a few “Aggie Network” wines available.
Messina Hof is well set up for the maximum flexibility for wine tasters. For $10, you get 5 wooden tokens to use for tasting. Most wines are one token, with their high end “Paulo” and their Limited Release wines needing two tokens. The tasting menu gives you 40 options, from whites, sparkling, rose, reds, dessert, and port wines. I ended up trying 10 wines, with no disappointments.
Messina Hof Tasting Room
Some of the highlights I tried were the Bell Brothers Zinfandel (09), with a light bell pepper and cherry taste, The Texas Sparkling Rose (fresh strawberries), a newly released Petit Verdot (14), a soft yet bold wine with a deep color, and an excellent Papa Paulo Port, which would pair perfectly with dark chocolate (provided) and a Cuban cigar (not provided…). But to me, the star of the tasting was their 204 Paulo Sagrantino. A spectacular $60 wine that would be fantastic with a spicy marinara pasta or a great pizza. Messina Hof is definitely a great place to spend an hour or more, with this wide variety of tasting options.
As I have said a few times before, although I am a huge fan of Napa and Sonoma wines, I continue to be amazed by the quickly improving quality of our Texas Hill Country wines. The number of new wineries is growing all the time, and I continue to hear of additional wineries in the area that I need to try. I am always looking for my next favorite local winery, so please continue to send me suggestions via email or Facebook!
Feel free to leave a comment below, and to subscribe on the left, so you get notified of new posts.
Also, feel free to email me privately at: stevestastingsandtravel@gmail.com.
Much has been written recently about the popularity of Texas Hill Country wineries (even by me). This area just west of Austin has quickly grown to become the #2 most visited U.S. Wine Region, and is well deserving of that ranking. Texans are fiercely loyal to their wineries, and there are many people that refuse to drink or even hear about non-Texas wines. Personally, I understand their loyalty to local wines, but even the French have come to understand and even appreciate wines from outside of France, and will occasionally drink them, talk about them, and even give them awards. Even a few of the Texas Hill Country wines have won some Gold and Double Gold medals in France recently. These wineries are getting so popular that some of them are considering becoming “Members Only” wineries, where only members of their wine club are able to come in for tastings. Personally, I think that is very short-sighted, as it severely limits getting new customers. Who would want to join a winery if you aren’t even allowed to try their wines before joining?
Texas Hill Country Map
I have lived in Austin for 3 ½ years now, and have taken day trips out to Hye, Stonewall, and Fredericksburg (all along a 20-mile stretch of Hwy. 290) over a dozen times. Yes, I have my favorites, but I also try new places, and even give wineries a second or third chance, based on the opinions of friends. Some of them, I love. Others – I just don’t get why they are so popular. But that is the thing about wine. It goes to the old question and answer: “What is the best wine?” “The best wine is the one that YOU like best – not what someone else likes best.” So, in the spirit of trying to do a credible job for this blog, I want to give wineries the benefit of the doubt, and respect that there are people that absolutely love some wineries that I may think are just “OK” to me.
Austin Food Trucks – every kind of foods imaginable!
I usually like to take a Friday to go wine tasting, but last weekend my son Mitchell and his girlfriend Liz were visiting Michelle and me, and we played golf on Friday, so we decided to go wine tasting on Saturday. The advantage on the weekend is that many of the wineries have food trucks on site, so there is plenty to eat. The disadvantage of the weekend is… CROWDS! I am generally not a person who likes to go wine tasting when it is crowded. You feel rushed, and tend to lose much of the personal touch and opportunity for conversation with your server or sommelier, and also miss out on those weekday encounters with the owner or winemaker. Last Saturday also had the disadvantage of… rain! Rains do not keep the crowds down, but they do make it very difficult to get to the food trucks. Many of the Hill Country wineries have either covered outdoor tasting areas or set up tents, and cold, windy, rainy days (although rare) make those areas mostly unusable. Yet, the musical entertainment they brought in can still be heard performing out there, since that is what they are paid to do.
Lyndon Baines Johnson’s Ranch aka the Texas White House
Since we had toured downtown Austin in the morning, we got out to Hye in the early afternoon, so we were limited to visiting (only) four wineries. Our first stop was in the tiny town of Hye – located between Johnson City and the LBJ Ranch (home of the Western White House in the mid-1960’s) – a very nice place to tour.
William Chris Tasting Menu
We stopped at the very popular William Chris Vineyards. This is one of the wineries that has gone to reservations only on the weekend to get inside the building to taste. But, they were able to accommodate us outside on their patio for a nice tasting. In 2008, Bill (William) Blackmon and Chris Brundrett got together with their combined 35 years of Texas wine experience to open this winery. In the past three years, they have expanded their tasting facilities twice. The tasting menu offered a great cross-section of the many wines William Chris is capable of producing, combining single varietals and blends. The Blanc du Bois was a crisp, clean, and refreshing way to start this $15 tasting. Since I am not a “Hye Society” member, I did not get to try the Vermentino… This was my 4th time visiting William Chris, and I have to admit it is starting to grow on me, although despite its overwhelming popularity, it still is not one of my overall favorites out here. However, I will say that the Hunter (Merlot – Malbec) is a delicious blend, and a very nice dinner wine.
William Chris Cinsault Rose’ Wine
Of particular delight was a 100% Cinsault rose’ wine. I’m a fan of a good dry rose, and this one brought a smile to my face.
Next we were off to Kuhlman Cellars, and another exquisite tasting and pairing with sommelier Jeremy Wilson! Since I wrote an earlier exclusive Blog about Kuhlman Cellars, I’ll be brief here, but suffice it to say, this is definitely one of the best out in Hill Country! Five great wines, paired with five perfectly created tasting treats. Appointments are highly recommended for a tasting.
Kuhlman Cellars Pairing
Wine: 2014 Calcaria~ Fresh Seasonal Pineapple, Chile Con Sal and Jalapeno Aioli
Wine: 2014 Roussanne~ Guava Jelly, Cracker Jack Dust, Blue Cheese and Cilantro on a Rice Cracker
Wine: 2012 Alluve~ Kuhlman Cellars Herbed Almonds (substituted Asian pears, chocolate shavings, and herbs du Provence)
Wine: 2012 Barranca~ Five Spice Pork belly Terrine, Cherry Emulsion and a Scallion Sliver on a Water Cracker
Wine: 2012 KanKar~ Brie and Cream Cheese Spread in a Butter Tartlet Shell, Asian Pear Confit and Shaved Prosciutto with Minced Chives
Next post: The remaining two wineries of the day: 4.0 Cellars and Messina Hof!
Feel free to leave a comment below, and to subscribe on the left, so you get notified of new posts.
Also, feel free to email me privately at: stevestastingsandtravel@gmail.com.
One of my favorite U.S. cities to visit is Portland, Oregon. The Pacific Northwest has an wealth of nature’s beauty, and the Portland area has no shortage of it. From the stunning sights of the Columbia River Gorge and surrounding waterfalls,
Columbia River GorgeMultnoma Falls (Upper Falls – 542 ft.; Lower Falls – 69 ft.)
to majestic Mt. Hood, rising on the outskirts of the city,
and the serene (and delicious) wineries of Willamette Valley just south of the city,
Portland has so much to offer.
“Keep Portland Weird” is the motto of the city. This phrase really refers to the pride that the city takes in its unique local businesses, the sense of individuality you find there, and the variety of leisure activities and lifestyles that you can find there. Portland is the home to some fantastic and unique local foods. Voodoo Doughnuts, and Salt and Straw Ice Cream both originated here, and have become very popular.
Also, the nationwide fine seafood chain known as McCormick and Schmick’s originated in Portland in 1892, and you can still dine at the original downtown location, Jake’s Famous Crawfish. I’ve eaten here a few times, and it’s tough to beat the food, wines, and service!
The Willamette Valley has been making wines for 50 years, and is known for some of the best Pinot Noirs in the U.S. – possibly in the world – as well as Pinot Gris and Chardonnay wines. The two words that best describe Willamette Valley Pinot Noirs would be that they have a prominence of cranberries and earth. As you can imagine, there is no shortage of rain in the area, however there are some drastic year-to-year differences in Spring and Fall temperatures that can cause dramatic (but wonderful) differences in vintages. The wineries are impacted by the abundance of morning fog, which impacts the south-facing vineyards the most. With rolling hills throughout the valley and even within a winery, the Pinot Noirs can vary greatly, giving a wide variety of flavors based on location and exposure. French oak barreling is widely used, giving wonderful clove and vanilla notes to the wines.
There are more than 400 wineries in this area, which stretches from Portland south to Eugene. An interactive map of Willamette Valley can be found here: Willamette Valley Wineries.
I will talk more about some specific wineries in the area in later posts, but some of my favorites that I have visited (so far), include:
Autumn is a particularly beautiful time to visit the wineries, after the harvest, and when the vines turn a beautiful golden yellow color.
Portland and the surrounding area are also home to some fantastic brewing companies, whose beers have gotten quite popular around the country. These include Rogue, Widmer Brothers, McMenamins, and my personal favorite (with a fantastic brewpub restaurant downtown) – Deschutes Brewery. Be sure to try the Brewery Pretzel!!!
But my favorite reason to visit Portland isn’t for the wines, the beers, the food, or the weirdness. Portland is also home to my daughter and son-in-law, and my first grandchild. None of Portland’s other charms can compete with family!
Feel free to leave a comment below, and to subscribe on the left, so you get notified of new posts.
Also, feel free to email me privately at: stevestastingsandtravel@gmail.com.
Owner/Winemaker David Kuhlken has a very nice selection to sample, consisting of a 1st vintage 2014 Vermentino (grapefruit & florals – $30), a 2nd vintage 2014 Viognier Reserve – Bingham (honey, rose, peach, vanilla, toast – $40), a 2014 Texas Dry Rose (Tempranillo/Mourvedre proprietary blend – dry with a crisp pear 7 cherry taste – $30). The two reds are a 2012 Texas Valhalla – a blend of Montepulciano, Aglianico and Tempranillo (plum, strawberry, spice, and light chocolate – $40), and the spectacular 2013 Tempranillo Reserve (tobacco, cherry, blackberry, and dark chocolate – $50). The next taste was a 2014 Moscato, a light off-dry dessert wine at 3% residual sugar (peach, green apple, apricot, pear – $30). Finally, they shared their Stonewall Holiday Glogg. Based on a Swedish recipe, this spiced tawny-style Port was served with a ginger cookie, and would be great mulled (nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves – $20). One tip about Pedernales’ Wine Club is that the prices remain constant at $69 or $79 per quarter. Many other clubs will fluctuate their price based on wine prices. Many thanks to Victoria for her expertise (as well as a winery tour) and to newcomer, Jose for his assistance!
