Buy a bottle of 'Kick Butt Cab'
(http://www.texashillsvineyard.com/winery2.html) and head
to the Salt Lick (http://www.saltlickbbq.com/) for a taste of Texas hill
country. BTW, the Salt Lick is BYOB.

"Rigaboy" > wrote in message
...
> 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
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