Ed,
Thanks for the report. I'll be in the Texas Hill Country early this April
and look forward to trying some of the wines you reported on.
Any restaurants or places to eat that you would recommend.
Cheers,
Rick



"Ed Rasimus" > wrote in message
...
> Unlike "jumbo shrimp" or even "military intelligence", I can now
> assert that "Texas wine" is not an oxymoron.
>
> The previously announced visit to the Texas Hill Country took place
> this past weekend, and I'm willing to confess astonishment and very
> pleasant surprise at the offerings of Texas wines that I encountered.
>
> I'd previously tasted some wines grown in the Denison region, which
> despite the historical link to the Thomas Munson research that saved
> Europe from Phylloxera, were not very good.
>
> I started out in Fredericksburg (without benefit of local advice) at
> the Fredericksburg winery in the heart of town. Lots of varietals
> offered, with apparently knowledgable staff pointing out the alignment
> from dry to sweet and mandating "no dry to be tasted after sweet..." I
> started at the dry flight, since I don't particularly like sweet(ish)
> wines. Alas, the cabernet sauvignon was a wine that would make Mogan
> David Concord look good. Watery, pale, sweet. The Pinot Noir was a bit
> better, sort of like a diluted Kendall-Jackson. There was a dry rose
> of cabernet that was almost drinkable. Bad start.
>
> Then was a visit to Torre di Pietra, about half-way between
> Fredericksburg and Stonewall. This looked almost too contrived--stone,
> Burgundy-style winery building, fields of vines arrayed behind, fire
> in the fireplace, and tables arrayed for sipping and talking either
> inside or out. Minor off-putting moment with a $5 charge for five
> tastes, but them's the rules.
>
> Very nice array of varietals. Cabernet, Malbec, Mourvedre, Gewurz,
> Chard, Fume Blanc, etc. No Pinot, but that was reasonable. Some
> unusual grapes such as Touriga Nacional, Carignan and Grenacha. Some
> blends focussed on style, such as a five grape Spanish style they call
> Parada. Also some very pleasant sippers--a red called "Red Flirt" and
> a white called "Dirty Girl".
>
> Good news. The wines were excellent, with the exception of the Gewurz
> which somehow managed to capture the essence of gas-station restroom
> disinfectant. But,other than that, I found the reds almost uniformly
> impressive, particularly the Mourvedre. Came away with a
> case--Mourvere, Parada and Touriga Nacional.
>
> Next stop, the following day, was Becker. These folks had been
> mentioned here as worth visiting. Good advice!!! Another attempt at
> faux-Burgundy stone manor, warm and inviting. Broad range of varietals
> and again no Pinot Noir--a wisdom that Fredericksburg Winery would be
> wise to note.
>
> A great cabernet sauvignon they call Iconoclast--at about $10 a
> bottle, it is a real find! Surprisingly their whites really won my
> favor. They were already sold out of their '05 Chard--which I'd
> enjoyed the previous night at our small hotel for dinner (Rose Hill
> Manor in Stonewall--of which more in another post). But, they still
> had a Reserve Chard which reminded me a bit of Schug or Neyer in
> style.
>
> Then a delicate Chenin Blanc, clear, crisp, green apple and pear with
> the cleanest finish I think I've ever experienced in a dry white. Also
> a Viognier--maybe I'm becoming a convert.
>
> Overall Becker showed me some really fine wines--products that
> wouldn't be embarrassed in a blind tasting next to CA, OZ or Euro
> offerings.
>
> The Lagniappe:
>
> Talking with the folks who run Rose Hill on our departure the next
> morning about wines and wineries in the area, they offered me a bottle
> of a wine produced by the winemaker at Grape Creek Vineyard (a stop
> for next visit). This one was an '04 Cabernet/Syrah blend (74/26%)
> labeled "Quivis". It indicates they are in Lubbock TX, but don't look
> for them online (yet.)
>
> The wine was deep, dark, more brown than red. Wonderful huge nose of
> black cherries, deep spices and maybe a tinge of cedar. Huge mouthful
> of fruit and spices with some of that toastiness from judicious use of
> oak. Well balanced, very viscous, long legs, and extended finish. Just
> released, but without any sense of immaturity. One of the best wines
> I've had in a very long time! (If I were looking for comparison in my
> recent encounters, I'd say Cakebread '01 Cab, or Monte Bello '92 as
> the sort of wine this was.)
>
>
> Ed Rasimus
> Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
> "When Thunder Rolled"
> www.thunderchief.org
> www.thundertales.blogspot.com