Carl’s Corner – Texas Wine Collective Wine Club Release – Apr-2024
The Texas Wine Collecitve Wine Club pickup events are scheduled on Sundays, April 14th and April 21st, with two sessions each Sunday, early from 11:00-1:30 and later from 2:30-5:00 pm. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste the wines in this allocation (see below), several paired with delicious food bites. And there will be live music to enjoy.
Four adults per wine club membership are allowed to join the fun, so invite friends to come along. Reservations are required - please register on the website – www.texaswinecollective.com.
Allocation Selection: R=Red, M=Mixed, W=White, S=Sweet
Brennan Vineyards Muscat of Alexandria 2023 TX High Plains W
Grape(s): Muscat of Alexandria 100%, Newburg Vyd, Comanche Cty, TX
Fruit was mechanically harvested, pressed, juice was fermented cool at 52oF, aged in SS tank, bottled @ 11.4% ABV, 0% RS (dry)
Winemaker Kevin Spivey has produced this light and delicate wine with a white gold color and slightly green rim for warm weather sipping and picnic fare. Aromas of gardenia, orange blossoms, green melon, and sweet hay waft from the glass. The fruit flavors of key lime, cantaloupe, and honeyed cucumbers dance across the palate with a hint of minerality and a slight briny note. Pair this with ceviche of tilapia, pesto-based pasta dishes, turkey club salads or sandwiches, and enjoy a glass after spring gardening.
McPherson Cellars Viognier 2022 TX High Plains W
Grape(s): Viognier 100%, sourced from Texas High Plains vineyards
Machine harvested fruit; pressed and fermented cold over 1 month in SS tanks; aged for about 9 months with lees stirring in SS tanks; blended and bottled @ 13.8% ABV, 0.3% RS (dry)
Winemakers Kim McPherson and Spenser Igo do a great job with Rhône white grapes and this dry, crisp, refreshing Viognier is no exception. From its origin in the hilly northern Rhône Valley, Viognier has truly found a home on the High Plains of Texas. Aging in SS helps spotlight aromas and flavors of peach, apricot, pear, melon, honeysuckle blossoms, and pineapple. Pair this wine with bacon spinach artichoke dip, grilled sea bass, baked oysters on the half shell, cheese enchiladas with avocado cream sauce, and peach-apple bread pudding.
Lost Oak Winery Viognier 2023 TX High Plains W/M
Grape(s): Viognier 100%, sourced 57% from Diamante Doble Vyds, Tokio, TX, and 43% from Bingham Family Vyds, Meadow, TX, all Terry County
Mechanically harvested fruit was pressed and the juice fermented at cool temperature in SS tank; cuvées were aged 5 months in SS tank before blending and bottling at @ 14.8% ABV, 0% RS (dry)
Go to Story Viognier traces its origins to the northern Rhône Valley in France. After becoming near extinct in the 1960s, dedicated young growers revived old hillside vineyards and brought Viognier back to life. It is gaining in popularity across the wine world, and certainly has found a home in Texas where our sun-filled, warm growing season fits the variety. This wine has a light straw color with aromas of white flowers, pear, golden apple, and hint of citrus. Flavors include pear, star fruit, honey crisp apple, and ananas (musk)melon. The rich finish lingers with mandarin orange and ripe pear notes. Pair this with baked brie crostini, prosciutto wrapped honeydew melon, honey glazed salmon and baked orzo with tomatoes and feta, and poached pears with vanilla ice cream.
Brennan Vineyards Tempranillo 2021 TX High Plains R/M
Grape(s): Tempranillo 100%, sourced from vineyards in Tokio, Terry Cty, TX
Fruit was mechanically harvested and fermented in SS tank at 65-85oF; aged 24 months in used American and French oak barrels. The final blend was bottled @ 13.1% ABV, 0% RS (dry)
The Spanish-origin Tempranillo variety has become extremely popular in Texas. This wine has a deep garnet color and offers aromas of stewed strawberries, black plums, and rhubarb with nuances of cigar box and sweet hay. The flavors include blackberry, black cherry, prunes, and vine ripened cherry tomatoes with a hint of pipe tobacco. There are smooth dusty tannins on the lingering finish. This pairs well with mesquite grilled steak, loaded baked potatoes, beef or chicken fajitas, and dark chocolate covered coffee beans and Gruyere cheese for a late-night snack.
McPherson Cellars Petite Sirah Block Series 2021 TX High Plains R
Grape(s): Petite Sirah 100%, from Crookhouse East Block of Farmhouse Vineyards, Brownfield, Terry Cty, TX
Machine harvested fruit was crushed, cold soaked for 3 days, fermented in SS tank at 60-83oF over 8 days with overall 25-day skin contact; aged 14 months in French oak barrels (18% new); bottled @ 13.5% ABV, 0.2% RS (dry)
Go to Story Petite Sirah is a small, black grape that tends to give deeply colored, purple-tinted juice with plenty of tannins. The grape originated as a cross between Syrah and Peloursin in the Rhône Valley of France where it is usually called Durif. There are aromas of blueberry cobbler and brambly blackberry. These are echoed on the palate with baked dark berry fruit compote and a hint of cracked black pepper. From the oak comes dark Madagascar vanilla notes and a waft of woodsmoke. The wine has a velvety texture on the palate with warm, rounded tannins at the finish. Pair this with charcuterie platters, goat cheese and fig jam bruschetta, grilled bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin, brisket mac and cheese, and blackberry cobbler.
Lost Oak Winery Meritage 2021 Texas R/M
Grape(s): Cabernet Sauvignon 33%, Triple Diamond Vyds (Diamante Doble Dos), Tokio; Merlot 33%, Diamante Doble Vyds, Tokio; Petit Verdot 17%, Sprayberry Vyds, Midland; and Caberent Franc 17%, Burning Daylight Vyds, Rendon, Tarrant Cty, TX
Machine harvested fruit; cuvées fermented separately an avg 10 days in SS tank at 60-85oF; wine pressed from the skins and cuvées aged an average 20 months in oak barrels (10% new French); blended and bottled @14.9% ABV, 0% RS (dry)
Winemakers Jim Evans and Angela Chapman have produced several Meritage blends over the years and this one is decadent and bold with aromas of dark berries, dried cranberries and notes of leather and cedar chest. Flavors include Bing cherries and mulberries with soft baking spices and green peppercorns. The finish offers ripe and rounded tannins with notes of tea leaf and tobacco. This pairs well with French Comte cheese, mushroom and caramelized onion focaccia, red wine braised lamb shank, grilled steaks, and dark chocolate with sea salt.
Meritage is a combination of “merit” and “heritage” that is a trademark of the Meritage Alliance. The term is used for red or white wine blends crafted from traditional noble Bordeaux varieties.
Lost Oak Winery Gewurztraminer 2023 TX High Plains S
Grape(s): Gewurztraminer 100%, Diamante Doble Vyds, Tokio, Terry Cty, TX
Mechanically harvested fruit was pressed and fermented cold in SS tank; aged 4 months in SS tank; sweetened, stablilized, and bottled @ 13.0% ABV, 1.0% RS (slightly sweet)
Gewurztraminer (guh-voorts-trah-mee-ner) is best known in Germany and the Alsace region of eastern France. It can produce bone dry whites to super-sweet dessert wines. Gene Estes, Lost Oak’s founder, spent time in Alsace and learned to love both Riesling and Gewurztraminer. The wine has a soft honeysuckle hue with aromas of clove and baking spices. Flavors of tangerine, ruby red grapefruit, nectarine, and pineapple wash over the palate. The hint of sweetness makes for a delightful soft finish with just the right amount of crispness and finishes with a classic note of lychee fruit. Pair this with quiche Florentine, naan bread and roasted red pepper hummus, tuna poke bowl, pineapple pork stir-fry over brown rice, grilled duck breast, and baklava with honey.
Brennan Vineyards Comanche Rose 2023 TX High Plains S
Grape(s): Muscat Blanc 97%, Reddy Vyds, Brownfield, Terry Cty, and Mourvèdre 3%
Machine harvested fruit was fermented at cold temperature for 30 days and aged in SS tank (no malolactic transformation); Mourvèdre was blended to give that soft pink color. The wine was sweetened, stabilized, and bottled @ 13.0% ABV, about 4% RS (sweet)
This soft, well-balanced wine has a lovely dusty rose color with aromas of mandarin oranges, orange blossom, and fresh, ripe peach. The peach flavor with a hint of citrus follows with a pleasantly sweet, refreshing feel on the palate. Pair with spicy cuisine – Thai, Indian, or Mexican, creamy Brie cheese, chicken or pork BBQ, and lemon cake or cookies. Chill for fun, easy sipping.
Texas Wine Collective Sweet Muscat 2022 TX High Plains S
Grape(s): Fruit sourced from Lahey Vyds, Brownfield, Terry Cty, TX
Machine harvested fruit was pressed and fermented for 25 days at 56oF in SS tank; aged in SS tank (no malolactic transformation); the wine was sweetened, stabilized, and bottled @ 12.7% ABV, 4.2% RS (sweet)
This light, easy-drinking wine by McPherson Cellars offers aromas and flavors of mandarin oranges, jasmine blossoms, and ripe white peach. Flavors on the palate include peach, soft pineapple, and hints of green melon. This wine also pairs well with spicy cuisine – Thai, Indian, or Mexican, soft cheeses and dried fruit on your charcuterie platter, spring fruit and pecan salad, and ginger snap cookies.