Happenings at TWC
Wine Club Release – Nov-2016
Another fun set of wines has been collected for the 4.0 Cellars Wine Club Members in the November, 2016, allocation. At a recent staff meeting, all nine of the release wines were tasted, and everyone was asked to provide their opinion on one or two favorites. Below are some comments based on these staff opinions. Continue »
Nov 9, 2016 at 7:00 AM
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Cinsault – A Blending Specialist
Cinsault (sin-SOH or san-SOH) or Cinsaut (without the “l”) is a common red grape in the Rhone Valley of southern France. Because Cinsault is heat and drought tolerant, it is also important in the southern French region of Languedoc-Roussillon and former French colonies of Algeria and Morocco. The origin of the grape is uncertain, but it likely came from some place along the eastern Mediterranean. Cinsault produces richly colored red wines with a softer, less tannic character, and is often blended with grapes like Grenache, Carignan (care-in-yawn) and Syrah to impart softness, spicy flavors and fresh fruit aromas. Continue »
Oct 26, 2016 at 7:00 AM
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Mistelle of Semillon
The Mistelle Dessert Wine from Brennan Vineyards in Comanche, Texas, is currently available at 4.0 Cellars. This delicious wine is beautifully packaged in tall, colorless 500 mL bottles. Newburg Vineyard, one of three Comanche County estate vineyards for Brennan, is the source of the Semillon fruit that produced this lovely concoction. The wine is relatively high in alcohol, 16%, and carries a balancing 7% level of residual sugar. Armed with this information, you may have already developed a notion of what this wine tastes like and whether you would enjoy it. Before making a final decision, please read on to get the rest of the story behind why Todd Webster, Brennan’s talented wine maker, produced this wine. Continue »
Oct 12, 2016 at 7:00 AM
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Montepulciano - 4.0 Cellars Italian Style
A Montepulciano is featured in the September, 2016, 4.0 Cellars Wine Club release. The wine was made at Brennan Vineyards in Comanche, TX, and is marketed under the 4.0 Cellars label. Montepulciano is the second most planted red grape varietal in Italy. It is growing in popularity in Texas, too. Montepulciano is believed to have originated in the Tuscany region of Italy, but today is mostly found in the regions of Marche and Abruzzo located to the east of Tuscany, across the Appenine Mountain range. Because of its tolerance to heat and dry conditions, Montepulciano is generating interest from Texas winegrowers ranging from the Hill Country to the High Plains. Continue »
Sep 28, 2016 at 7:00 AM
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September Wine Club Wines
There is a lot of fun in store for 4.0 Wine Club Members in this upcoming September, 2016, allocation. All nine of the release wines were tasted at a recent staff meeting, and there was plenty of “buzz” around the room. Continue »
Sep 14, 2016 at 7:00 AM
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How to Keep “Leftover” Wine
What is “leftover” wine? For some, it is hard to imagine such a thing. The best case scenario is not to leave any wine in a bottle. But, if you sometimes find wine left in the bottle(s) after dinner or at evening’s end, what can be done about it? Continue »
Aug 31, 2016 at 7:00 AM
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Blanc du Bois – For the Hot & Humid
Blanc du Bois is a hybrid grape generated by John Mortenson at the Univ of Florida in 1968, by crossing another hybrid, Florida D 6-148 with Cardinal, a CA table grape. The varietal was named for Emile DuBois, a grower who emigrated from France to the U.S. in 1882. It was released to commercial growers in 1987, and has now spread across the southeastern states from Florida to Texas. Hallmark characteristics include crisp acidity, fresh fruit and floral aromas, along with citrusy flavors. Blanc du Bois typically works better in off-dry wines, and has been used to make fortified wines in the style of Madeira. Continue »
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:00 AM
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Mourvèdre – Warm Weather Wonder
Mourvèdre (moor-ved), also known as Mataró or Monastrell, is an important grape in warm weather areas of Europe, especially along the Mediterranean Coast of Spain and France. Also grown in Australia and the U.S., the styles of wine made from Mourvèdre range from rosés to lighter reds, and from dark, full-bodied reds to port-style wines. Continue »
Aug 3, 2016 at 7:00 AM
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Viognier-A Natural for Texas
Viognier [vee-ohn-YAY] has become a key white grape variety in the burgeoning Texas wine industry. Viognier is a naturally low-yielding grape with fragrant aromatics producing lush, full-bodied wines that have helped to fill the market where Chardonnay and other popular white wines have been less successful in the hot, dry Texas climate. Continue »
Jul 20, 2016 at 7:00 AM
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Pink Wines
Warm weather is the time to enjoy pink wines, and Texas is now producing some of the best available. These pink wines can be dry, off-dry (slightly sweet) or medium-dry (even more sweet) to provide great warm-weather enjoyment for picnics, deck-sitting or lazing about the pool area. And, don’t forget, they can take the place of white wines and many lighter reds at the mealtime table. Continue »
Jul 6, 2016 at 9:00 AM
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