Wine Club Release – Feb-2025
Texas Wine Collective - Carl’s Corner
Wine Club Release – Feb-2025
The subject today is the February Wine Club Release with pickup events scheduled on Sundays, February 9th and February 16th . There will be two sessions each Sunday, 11:00-1:30 or 2:30-5:00, with opportunities to taste all the wines from this release, enjoy selected food bites paired with the wines, plus live music to enhance the experience.
Check the website – www.texaswinecollective.com to make reservations (required to participate in the wine and food pairings). Four adults per wine club membership are allowed to join the fun.
Texas Wine Collective Wine Club Release – Feb-2025
Allocation Selection: R=Red, M=Mixed, W=White, S=Sweet
Each TWC winery partner offers a white wine in this release, all lovely, easy drinking wines.
Brennan Vineyards Pinot Gris 2023 TX High Plains W/M
Grape(s): Pinot Gris 100% sourced from Reddy Vineyards located east of Brownfield, TX, in Terry County.
Mechanically harvested fruit at 21oBrix was pressed and fermented cool at 55oF for about 30 days. The wine was aged in SS tank for about 6 months without malolactic transformation before bottling at @ 12.4% ABV, 0% RS (dry).
This wine is light-to-medium bodied with a rose gold hue in the glass and fruit aromas of apricot, persimmon, and orange marmalade. Flavors include nectarine and Granny Smith apple with subtle notes of brioche toast and elderflower blossoms. The finish is clean and slightly crisp with an overall medium weight on the palate. Pair with bacon wrapped quail, cheese fondue, cornmeal crusted fried summer squash or okra served with garden herb ranch. This also pairs well with fruit salad with poppy seed dressing, garlic and burrata shrimp pasta, prosciutto-wrapped melon, and southern fried pork chops with white gravy.
McPherson Cellars Verdelho 2023 TX High Plains W
Grape(s): Verdelho 100% sourced from Texas High Plains vineyards.
Fruit was mechanically harvested at 22.5oBrix, pressed, and fermented approx. 28 days at 57oF in SS tank. The wine was aged 6 months in SS tank and bottled @ 12.5% ABV, 0.4% RS (essentially DRY).
Verdelho is a grape variety best known from sun-kissed vineyards in Portugal. It grows well in warm, sunny regions like the Texas High Plains. Kim McPherson and Spenser Igo exploit this grape grown in Texas to develop a wine with radiant straw yellow color, aromas of tropical fruit, and flavors of ripe citrus and guava. With a light-to-medium body, this wine offers floral and herbal notes that add complexity leading to a refreshing, crisp finish. Serve with simply-prepared seafood, baked poultry or pork, classic chef or cobb salads, white pizza pie with prosciutto and figs, and lemon cream pie for dessert.
Lost Oak Winery Viognier 2023 TX High Plains W
Grape(s): Viognier 100% sourced (57%) from Diamante Doble Vyd, Tokio, TX, and (43%) from Bingham Family Vyds, Meadow, TX, both in Terry County.
Machine harvested fruit was pressed and fermented cool for 28 days; aged 5 months in SS tank; bottled @ 14.8% ABV, 0% RS (dry).
This grape variety originated in the Rhône Valley of southern France and has now spread to many regions around the world. It survived near extinction after WWII when a younger generation appreciated its merits and greatly expanded vineyard plantings. It tends to have generous floral characteristics and grows well in warmer regions, like the Texas High Plains. This wine has an inviting straw color with aromas of delicate flowers, pear, golden apple, and a hint of citrus. Pear flavors carry over to the palate and mingle with star fruit, honey crisp apple, and ananas melon. The bright and complex finish lingers with mandarin orange and more pear notes. Serve this with baked brie and apples, prosciutto wrapped honeydew melon, or honey glazed salmon with baked orzo, tomatoes, and feta cheese. It also pairs well with sushi, shrimp alfredo, baked chicken, and poached pears with vanilla ice cream for dessert.
This Red wine allocation also includes one offering from each TWC winery partner.
McPherson Cellars Dolcetto Single Block Selection 2020 TX High Plains R
Grape(s): Dolcetto 100%, Oneway Vineyard, owned by the Greer and Heflin families located near Floydada, TX, in Floyd County northeast of Lubbock.
Fruit was mechanically harvested at 24oBrix and fermented 9 days in SS tank at 60-85oF with overall 23-day skin contact. After pressing, the wine was aged 14 months in French oak barrels (21% new) and bottled @ 13.7% ABV, 0.2% RS (dry)
This is another in McPherson Cellars’ Block series of wines harvested from a specific parcel of vines with superior quality fruit. Dolcetto originated in Italy and grows well in the warm, dry, sunny Texas High Plains. This little-known variety conjures thoughts of the old country with aromas of dried cranberry, fresh-baked almond cake, and spicy black olives. Classically styled with a lighter body, suede-like feel on the tongue, and fresh yet earthy notes that warm the palate. The flavors include Amarena cherries, No.2 pencil shavings, and baking spices. Pair with smoked poultry, cream of porcini mushroom soup, spaghetti Bolognese, and cheesy ravioli. This Dolcetto will chase the winter blues alongside forkfuls of pasta puttanesca pulled straight from a cast iron pan.
Spaghetti alla puttanesca – a pasta dish invented in the Italian city of Naples in the mid-20th century made typically with tomatoes, olives, capers, anchovies, garlic, peperoncino, extra virgin olive oil, and salt.
Brennan Vineyards Mourvèdre 2022 TX High Plaiins R/M
Grape(s): Mourvedre 100% sourced from the Texas High Plains. This variety needs plenty of sun, is sturdy in windy conditions, and thrives in hot, dry weather. Good for Texas!
Mechanically harvested fruit at 24oBrix was fermented in bins for 8 days with daily punch downs, then pressed to barrel for an additional 8 days to finish malolactic transformation. The wine was aged 7 months in used American and French oak barrels; bottled @ 13.5% ABV, 0% RS (DRY)
This wine is youthful and elegant with a vibrant hue of pale ruby. Aromatics of sugared strawberries and raspberry compote alongside notes of perfumed violets, poenies, and antique mahogany wood. The flavors are racy and vibrant with tart red currants, red cherries, and wild plum seasoned with hints of pipe tobacco, buttered brioche toast, and nutmeg. This medium-bodied wine has smooth, silky tannins and well-balanced acidity at the finish. Pair this with roasted duck or smoked chicken, wood-fired pizza, bacon-wrapped dried figs or dates, and bacon-wrapped venison or pork tenderloin.
Lost Oak Winery Tempranillo 2023 TX High Plains R/M
Grape(s): Tempranillo 100% sourced from Triple D Vineyards, Tokio, TX (79%), and Bingham Family Vineyards, Meadow, TX (21%), both in Terry County. Tempranillo grows well at higher altitudes with lots of sun and in soils rich in limestone – great variety for the Texas High Plains.
Machine harvested fruit; cuvées were fermented avg. 10 days in SS tank at 60-85oF; wine pressed from the skins and aged 9 months in mostly American oak barrels (8% new), blended and bottled @14.0% ABV, 0% RS (dry)
Tempranillo has many names, like Tinta de Toro, Tinta Fina, Ull de Llebre, Cencibel, Tinta del Pais, and Aragonez in various Spanish regions and usually Tinta Roriz in Portugal where it is an important blending grape for Port wines. It is the primary variety in Rioja and Ribero del Duero regions and is the 3rd most widely planted wine grape in the world. It is usually bottled as a varietal Tempranillo but can often be blended with Grenache (Garnacha) and Carignan (Cariñena or Mazuelo). This Tempranillo has a bright red hue with aromas of dark cocoa, toasted coconut, red currants with a hint of white peppercorn. Lively flavors of purple plum, bramble berry, and baking spices. The plum fruit lingers on the finish with hints of leather to accompany classic chalky, dusty, gentle tannins. Pairs well with smoked gouda and plum jam crostini, chorizo-filled dates wrapped in bacon, chips and salsa fresco, carnitas, carne asada, Korean BBQ, baked potatoes stuffed with pulled pork and muenster cheese, and for dessert, a dark chocolate croissant.
The Sweet wines offered are all fun offerings as aperitifs or pairing with spicy cuisine.
Brennan Vineyards Three White Chicks 2023 TX High Plains S
Grape(s): Muscat Blanc 42%, Viognier 42%, and Pinot Gris 16% sourced from Reddy Vyd, Brownfield, TX, Terry County.
Machine harvested fruit at an average 22oBrix was pressed and fermented cold for about 25 days in SS tanks. The wines were aged in SS tanks for about 6 months before blending, sweetening, stabilizing, and bottling @ 13% ABV, approx. 3% RS (semi-sweet).
The wine is pale gold in color with aromas of gardenia and orange blossoms, honeydew melon, and nectarines. These aromas follow through to flavors on the palate creating a perfectly sweet, light, refreshing mouthfeel. The wine is well-balanced with soft acids and a lip-smacking finish. Pair with BBQ chicken, spicy grilled or baked oysters, creamy soft cheeses, arroz con leche, and slightly spicy fare like curry, Thai, or Mexican.
McPherson Cellars La Diosa Sangria N.V. High Plains S
Grape(s): This is a blend of several grape varieties all sourced from Texas High Plains vineyards.
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 “summer and sangria go together like peas and carrots.’ This sassy sweet wine will make you think about summer with each sip, and yet it drinks well in any weather. Enjoy it right out of the bottle or add some chunks of fruit 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 and candied pecan green salad, spinach artichoke dip, red beans and rice with andouille sausage, Fischer and Wieser Raspberry Chipotle Sauce over cream cheese, lime tart, and lemon strawberry pie
Lost Oak Winery Dolce Rouge 2023 TX High Plains S
Grape(s): Merlot 60%, Cabernet Sauvignon 31%, and Petit Verdot 9% sourced from Reddy Vineyards, Brownfield, TX, Terry County.
Mechanically harvested fruit was fermented cool and aged 11 months in SS tank. The cuvees were blended, sweetened, stabilized and bottled @ 14% ABV, 3.5% RS (moderately sweet).
This blend is specifically designed for those who prefer their sweet wines to be RED. The color, bouquet, and flavors for this wine come together from the blending process. Dolce Rouge is big and wild from its almost purple hue to its smooth finish. Aormas of Strawberry, brown sugar, and subtle spices are in abundance. The flavors are candied plum, dried fig, and a hint of blood orange on a relatively full-bodied, lingering, rich finish. Pair 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, grilled cheese on sourdough bread, candied bacon, churros with chocolate sauce, or make Red Sangria (see the Lost Oak website for the secret recipe).