Ratings Explained
84 & Below – Not Posted ‘cause we won’t drink it
85 + A good wine. Buy if the price is right
90 + A very good wine, in our humble opinion
95 + An awe inspiring wine – Possibly life altering
All wine reviews are based solely on the personal tastes of the authors.
Disclosure: Samples are designated by an “S” beside the wine reviewed.
We’re still objective. Robert Parker doesn’t buy his wines either
Nothing really special here but not bad either. A pleasant Cabernet that will not overpower your meal at a good value price. Rich and fruity, blackerry and spice with mild tannins. At under $20 go for it… A decent “go-to” Cabernet
BoxCar Chardonnay by Red Car Wine Company is a very well-made example of a mid-weight CA Chardonnay. The use of only 10% new oak moderates the oak flavors and allows the creaminess to rise to the top. Nice tropical and apple flavors with a touch of straw and minerality. The well integrated flavors are big enough to stand on its own but still pair well with food. Think grilled chicken rubbed with lemon pepper.
An excellent example of what will someday prove to be the red wine grape of Texas, Tempranillo. We loved the Fall Creek Vineyards ’08 but the’09 Tempranillo is even better. Grapes from the Salt Lick Vineyard behind the famed Austin Salt Lick BBQ restaurant consistently perform. Great flavors of rich dark cherry with a hint of smokey richness and soft tannins make this a delicious food friendly wine. The soft tannins create an approachable wine from the moment the cork is popped. Limited production, this Tempranillo is available from Fall Creek Vineyards and will be in a few selected Austi and San Antonio eateries.
William & Chris, a Texas Hill Country winery, is best known for their red wines but this crisp, golden and utterly dry Sémillon proves they can create great white wines, too. Think of a hot summer afternoon under shady Texas oaks or overlooking the lake while sipping a chilled glass filled with flavors of lemon grass and honeydew complimented by a lush mouth-feel. Now that’s a pretty Texas picture.
This new offering from Sequana and winemaker James MacPhail is a blend of their Russian River single vineyards. It is very approachable and food friendly with flavors of bright red fruits including raspberry, strawberry, red cherry, with a touch of spice and cola for intrigue.
