Wine Club Release – Apr-2025
Texas Wine Collective – Carl’s Corner
Wine Club Release – Apr-2025
The subject today is the TWC April Wine Club Release with pickup events scheduled on Sundays, April 6th and April 13th. There will be two sessions each Sunday, 11:00-1:30 or 2:30-5:00, with opportunities to taste all the wines in this allocation, enjoy selected food bites paired with the wines, enjoy live music to enhance the experience.
Check the website – www.texaswinecollective.com to make reservations (required to participate in the food and wine pairings). Four adults per wine club membership are allowed to join the fun.
Texas Wine Collective Wine Club Release – Apr-2025
Allocation Selection: R=Red, M=Mixed, W=White, S=Sweet
Each TWC Winery partner presents a white wine in this allocation.
Brennan Vineyards Muscat of Alexandria 2024 Texas W
Grape(s): 90% Muscat of Alexandria, 2.5% Viognier, and 2.5% Semillon from Newburg Vineyard, 10 miles south of the winery in Comanche, plus 5% Muscat Blanc from Reddy Vineyard, Brownfield, TX, Terry County.
Mechanically harvested fruit: Muscat of Alexandria 18oBrix, Viognier 22oBrix, Semillon 21oBrix, and Muscat Blanc 26oBrix. Fruit was directly pressed and fermented cool in SS tank at 55oF for about 12 days each. The various cuvées aged in SS tank for about 6 months (only Viognier went through malolactic transformation). The cuvées were blended and bottled @ 11.0% ABV, 0% RS (dry)
This wine is white gold in color with a slightly green rim. The aromas are gardenia and orange blossoms, sweet green melon, and freshly cut hay. The flavors are key lime curd, cantaloupe, golden apple, and honeyed cucumbers. The finish is clean with a lean palate feel and slight crispness. Pair with cheese fondue, cornmeal crusted fried summer squash or okra served with garden herb ranch, grilled tilapia, pesto-based pasta dishes, and spring fruit salad with poppy seed dressing.
Lost Oak Winery Trebbiano 2023 TX High Plains W/M
Grape(s): Trebbiano 100% sourced from Diamante Doble Vyd, Tokio, TX, Terry County.
Machine harvested fruit was directly pressed and the juice fermented cool (56oF) in SS tank for 28 days; aged 5 months in SS tank; bottled @ 13.7% ABV, 0% RS (dry).
This dry white wine has a delightful sunny hue and starts off with aromas of light tropical blossoms. Melon, and pineapple on the nose. The palate is rich with pomelo, honeydew melon, and sun-ripened citrus fruit flavors. The finish is bright and lingering. Trebbiano is an Italian white wine grape that in other parts of Europe, especially France, is known as Ugni Blanc where it is typically used to distill into grape spirits for Cognac and Armagnac (Brandy) production. Although it makes for a balanced and refreshing single varietal wine, its characteristic crispness also makes it an outstanding blender for other varieties that could use a lift in acidity and brighter fruit. In Texas, Trebbiano is gaining in popularity because it produces higher yields with good acidity and is relatively drought and freeze tolerant. Pair with aged white NY cheddar, parmesan crisps with prosciutto, soy ginger pasta bowl, mustard potato salad with bacon, and apricot marzipan honey thyme tart.
McPherson Cellars Chenin Blanc 2023 TX High Plains W
Grape(s): Chenin Blanc 100% sourced from Russell Lepard Vineyards, Brownfield, TX, Terry County.
Fruit was mechanically harvested at 23.5oBrix, directly pressed, and fermented approx. 28 days at 57oF in SS tank. The wine was aged 6 months in SS tank and bottled @ 12.9% ABV, about 0.2% RS (essentially DRY).
Chenin Blanc is one of the world’s most widely planted grape varieties and is a staff favorite at TWC. Chenin Blanc wines are famous from the Loire Valley in France – dry, semi-sweet, dessert sweet, and sparkling. From marine-influenced regions in South Africa, Chenin Blanc is also known as Steen. And Chenin Blanc has developed a stellar reputation on the High Plains of Texas with over 45 years of growing history. This wine leads with fruit aromas and flavors of yellow pear, sun-kissed lemon, and honey glazed pineapple with notes of crystalline honeycomb and candied ginger. Kim McPherson and Spenser Igo have created a delicious wine that is rich and concentrated with a bright dry palate lift at the finish. Serve with simply prepared seafood, avocado stuffed with chicken salad, white pizza pie with prosciutto and figs, baked poultry or pork, and lemon cream pie for dessert.
Each TWC Winery partner also offers a red wine in this allocation.
Lost Oak Winery Cabernet Franc 2023 TX High Plains R/M
Grape(s): Cabernet Franc 85%, Reddy Vyds, Brownfield, TX; Cabernet Sauvignon 5%, Bingham Family Vyds, Meadow, TX; Cabernet Sauvignon 5%, Triple D Vyds, Tokio, TX; Cabernet Sauvignon 5%, Lahey Vyds, Brownfield, Meadow, TX; all Terry County
Machine harvested fruit; destemmed and crushed; cuvées fermented an avg. 10 days in SS tank at 60-85oF; wine pressed from the skins and aged 9 months in used American and French oak barrels; cuvées blended and bottled @12.9% ABV, 0% RS (dry)
Cabernet Franc is a major black grape variety planted worldwide. It is principally grown for blending with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in Bordeaux style wines, but can also be vinified alone, as in the Loire Valley's Chinon region, some East Coast wineries (NJ, NY, VA), in Washington’s Columbia Valley, and here in Texas, as well. Cabernet Franc could be considered the “vineyard-hopping daddy grape” of Bordeaux as DNA typing has confirmed it as a parent of 4 other varieties, Merlot, Malbec, Carménère, and the world’s most widely planted grape, Cabernet Sauvignon (cross with white grape, Sauvignon Blanc). Cabernet Franc is lighter than Cabernet Sauvignon, contributing finesse and lower tannins in blends. This wine delivers aromas of baking spices, raspberry, blueberry, and a hint of wet slate. Fruit flavors on the palate include black currant, rhubarb, cranberry, and strawberry with hints of mahogany and tea leaves on a med-tannin finish. Pair with sweet and sour pork, albondigas meatballs, calamari with aioli sauce, salmon sushi, grilled pork tenderloin with scalloped potatoes, and black forest cake with Chantilly cream.
Brennan Vineyards 27 Counts 2023 TX High Plains R/M
Grape(s): Tempranillo 31.5% from Rowden Vineyards (Brownfield, TX), Tannat 18.5% from Reddy Vineyards (Brownfield, TX), and Sangiovese 50% from Lahey Vineyards (Brownfield, TX, Terry County)
Mechanically harvested fruit: Tempranillo 26oBrix, Tannat 21oBrix, and Sangiovese 22oBrix; fruit was destemmed, crushed, fermented in bins (Temp and Tannat) or SS tank (Sangio) for 8-11 days with daily punch downs / pump overs. The wines were pressed to used American oak barrels for malolactic transformation and aged an average 13 months. Cuvées were blended and bottled @ 13.2% ABV, 0% RS (DRY)
This wine is a part of the Brennan Vineyards ‘The Grape Frontier Collection’. 27 Counts refers to the number of murder indictments saddled on infamous Texas gunslinger J.W. Hardin, who spent some time in Comanche,TX, where he reportedly killed a deputy sheriff. This blend is youthful and elegant with a bright ruby berry hue. Aromatics of spices, fresh cherry, raspberry, and plum with a hint of slate and soft green herbs. On the palate, some notes of rhubarb mingle with cherry, cranberry, and strawberry flavors. The bright fruit morphs into tea leaves, ripe tomato, and soft woody (mahogany) notes with moderate tannins on the finish. Pair with sweet and sour pork, roasted albondigas meatballs, grilled pork tenderloin with scalloped potatoes, bacon-wrapped dried figs or dates, and black forest cake with Chantilly cream.
McPherson Cellars Montepulciano Block Series 2022 TX High Plains R
Grape(s): Montepulciano 100%, sourced from the Home Block of Steve and Cindy Newsom Vineyards, Levelland, TX, in Hockley County northwest of Lubbock.
Fruit was mechanically harvested at 24.3oBrix , crushed, fermented 9 days in SS tank at 60-85oF with overall 18-day skin contact. After pressing, the wine was aged 14 months in French oak barrels (20% new) and bottled @ 13.6% ABV, 0.3% RS (dry)
This is another in McPherson Cellars’ Block Series of wines harvested from a specific parcel of vines with superior quality fruit. Montepulciano originated along the eastern Adriatic coast of Italy and grows well in the warm, dry, sunny Texas High Plains. Montepulciano is a workhorse variety in Italy, often used as a blender. It fits nicely into McPherson Cellars’ portfolio of Mediterranean grapes. Kim McPherson and Spenser Igo take advantage of the rich flavors, deep color, moderate tannins, and natural acidity to produce this easy-drinking red with aromas and flavors bright red sour cherries and rhubard with hints of wet asphalt and freshly cracked black pepper. Oak aging brings soft, vanilla cream notes and the finish shows gentle dusty tannins. This pairs with herbed cheese and bacon stuffed mushrooms, caprese skewers (cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, basil leaves, and balsamic drizzle), sausage white pie pizza, spaghetti Bolognese, and grilled chicken or pork.
The Sweet wines in this release are all fun offerings as aperitifs or pairing with spicy cuisine.
Brennan Vineyards Comanche Rose 2023 TX High Plains S
Grape(s): Muscat Blanc 97%, Mourvèdre 3%, sourced from Reddy Vyds, Brownfield, TX, Terry County.
Machine harvested Muscat fruit at an average 22oBrix was directly pressed and fermented cold for about 25 days in SS tanks. The cuvée was aged in SS tank for about 6 months before blending with Mourvèdre, sweetening, stabilizing, and bottling @ 13% ABV, approx. 3% RS (semi-sweet).
The wine is pale dusty rose in color with aromas and flavors of mandarin oranges, orange blossoms, honeydew melon, and ripe peaches. The mouthfeel is light and refreshing with subtle sweetness on the palate. This well-balanced wine with soft acids on the finish pairs well with BBQ chicken or pork, grilled or baked oysters, creamy soft cheeses, and moderately spicy fare like curry, Thai, or Mexican.
La Diosa Sangria Blanca N.V. High Plains (by McPherson Cellars) S
Grape(s): This blend of several grape varieties all sourced from Texas High Plains vineyards is a BLANCA version to complement the normal La Diosa Red Sangria.
Machine harvested fruit was fermented cold and aged 6-8 months in SS tank (no malolactic transformation); blended, sweetened, stabilized, and bottled @ 13.0% ABV, 3.5% RS (moderately sweet)
The McPherson tech sheet suggests that if Forrest Gump was a wine drinker, he would probably enjoy this wine, saying that “warm spring / summer days and sangria go together like peas and carrots.’ This sassy sweet wine will make you think about warm spring and summer days with each sip, and yet it drinks well in any weather. Perfumed aromatics rise from the glass and balanced acids refresh the palate. Enjoy it right out of the bottle or add some chunks of fruit (apple, pineapple, grapes, kiwi, etc.) for an enhanced Sangria experience. Lots of tropical fruit aromas and flavors along with apple, pear and melon. Serve chilled for a refreshing aperitif or pair with mandarin orange and candied pecan green salad, spinach artichoke dip, red beans and rice with andouille sausage, Fischer & Wieser Raspberry Chipotle Sauce over cream cheese, and lemon strawberry pie.
Texas Wine Collective Sweet Muscat 2022 TX High Plains S
Grape(s): Muscat Blanc 100% sourced from Lahey Vineyards, Brownfield, TX, Terry County.
Mechanically harvested fruit at 22.2oBrix was directly pressed and the juice fermented cool at 56oF for 25 days; aged in SS tank; sweetened, stabilized and bottled @ 12.7% ABV, 4.2% RS (moderately sweet).
This delightful sweet wine was developed by Kim McPherson and Spenser Igo under the TWC label. Most Muscat Blanc wines are produced in sweeter versions, like this one, which makes for an interesting comparison with the Brennan Vineyards Dry Muscat of Alexandria. Pair this with baked apples stuffed with pecans, raisins, and cream cheese, chicken or pork tamales, honey glazed ham, buffalo wings, BBQ ribs with grilled sweet potatoes, and churros with dulce de leche caramel sauce.