I like that Mott tastes the wine occasionally too. You should keep getting him involved.

QOTD: I’ve had a handful of American wines from smaller production states. I’d say the 2002 Barboursville Vineyards Cabernet Franc Reserve and the 2004 Childress Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Select were decent. The ’02 Cab. Franc threw a whole lot of sediment when we had it earlier this year and that kind of threw me off. Plus it paled in comparison to the 2002 Lang & Reed.

mott didn’t pan up to the jersey when you scored the wine 85!

Too bad that none of the Texas wines from today scored higher. I’m a major fan of American wines from up & coming states, or made from American or hybrid grape varieties. So it’s no surprise that I often try to see if there are any Texas wines that I can try. Only found one, back around 1984, but it was totally non-memorable.
Anyway, on to the Question Of The Day. My fave American wine from an Other state, comes from Paw Paw Michigan. It’s St Julian Solera Cream Sherry, made from 100% Niagara grapes. Said to be the best cream sherry from outside Spain (and better than many made there), a claim I easily believe.
This evening, I just opened a bottle of Duplin Winery’s Scuppernong, from Rose Hill North Carolina, which I found to be actually quite pleasant. A little bit of that metallic foxy thing, but a lot more mango goodness. Not at all cloying or unpleasant. I’ll be buying more of it, fer sher.
Back about 5 years ago, I managed to score some Missouri wine, an old vine Marechal Foch, that was to die for. Unfortunately, the tasting notes seem to have died, so it’s impossible to recall the winery. Drat!
Finally, I’ve got high hopes for the St James Winery Reserve Norton that arrived via UPS this morning from central Missouri. It comes extremely highly recommended, having won a lot of awards at various wine competitions. I can’t wait to try it — but feel a spate of California Zinfandel and Austrian Gruner Veltliner and Oregon Pinot Noir and Western Cape Pinotage and Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc fever coming on that’ll mean the Norton gets to sit in the rack till July, at the earliest.

I recently had a Texas wine named Llano. it was a red blend.

Wasn’t the best but definitely passable, especially with food.

Great show Gary. I wish I could make it to the 500th episode. Lets do another bar in the city sometime! Was so much fun last time.

QOTD: The Pearmund Malbec from VA.

I’ll be heading to Houston, TX for my annual reunion. I plan to hit two wineries in the Houston area: Circle S Vineyards in Sugarland & Haak Vineyards in Santa Fe. If I had more time and gas money, I’d go into Texas Hill country to visit the wineries up there.
Don’t bash TX to harshly. It was a Texan, Thomas V. Munson, who saved the French wine industry by grafting Vitis vinifera onto resistant native rootstocks from Texas to fight the phylloxera epidemic of the late nineteenth century.

QOTD: Another Texas wine: Llano Estacado Gewurztraminer.

Sorry but never tried any wine from other than these states (as far as I know)

QOTD….Oliver winery in Indiana. Friend bought a bottle of their Riesling and it rocked. Maybe my expectations were low but it was very very tasty.

QOTD….Oliver winery in Indiana. Friend bought a bottle of their Riesling and it rocked. Maybe my expectations were low but it was very very tasty.

QOTD: L. Mawby Blanc de Blanc from Leelenaw Peninsula!

In Michigan of course..

QOTD: Flat Creek Estate Super “Texan”. I haven’t had a lot of Texas wine, but this Sangiovese was the best. Had fun one year helping pick it in the vineyard! Too bad it wasn’t in the tasting today.

Gary-I agree /w/ you totally-fr. san antonio, texas-the texas wines are young, thin and awkward!!!!! they can only improve???? with time???? texas needs to grow more varietals that are from hot climates-Spain, Southern France, etc.

Gary!
Ive been to Becker Vineyards in the Hill Country of Texas. They have Lavender Fields behind the vineyard…its gorgeous…
Lovely people, who seem dedicated to wine making…But as beautiful as it is there, I do agree with your opinion of the wines..
QOTD: Tuff question! Ive had good wine from AZ & FL vineyards, but I cant say they have been “favorites”

Just a thought or two on Texas wine, for Texas wine-drinkers. Or Michigan wine for the locals there (or New Mexican wine for New Mexicans…). There’s a bigger picture than just finding the best QPR in a wine. I can buy an average wine, for $8 that came all the way around the world at a very large ecological expense (and if I pay $8 for it in Texas, I can only imagine what the poor grower in Australia got for his efforts) OR I can pay $9 or $10 for an average wine that was grown, harvested, produced, bottled and sold by a family farm 100 miles from my home. For pasta or chicken any-night dinner, I’m likely to pay a dollar or two more and support the local farmer. Also – Texas laws prohibit the distribution of Texas wines out of state – so the local producers really only have one market.
Several comments were on Fall Creek and why I didn’t send those to Gary – last I visited Fall Creek (8 years ago, granted) they had lost ALL their vines and were sourcing 100% of their fruit – primarily from Calif. So that’s not Texas wine to me. Maybe they’re using Texas grapes now, I don’t know. I like the Messina Hof barrel select cab too (someone mentioned)- but Gary would have probably found it disjointed, oak-monstered-out and “fake-fruit”. Just the whole palate thing – I like the 2 Hill Country wines. I like the Becker Claret better than a $40 French Bordeaux I drank last night.
For people who say “meh” to their local wines, or think they’re overpriced and under-delivered, remember that there’s a global impact to your consumption choices. I buy $2 a pound cabbage from a local farmer even though the cabbage from Mexico – in the grocery store – is 40 cents a pound. It all matters.

QOTD: I didn’t drink it, but my sisters did and they liked the Cabernet from Ste. Chapelle in Idaho.

QOTD: Gruet sparkling wines from New Mexico.

I live in CA. France and Spain give me all I need outside of this state. Why bother with the provinces?

Gary, I have lots to say about Texas wines, but it is late!
I am glad you found some pleasure in the Viognier it is one of the better varietals that grows in the state, you (and anyone else) should try and find the Brennan Vinyards Viognier as they won several awards at the Houston rodeo. Also i am a big fan of the High Planes region of Texas. The production of these wines are located around the city of Lubbock (home of Buddy Holly) and include some of the best wines in the state (in my opinion). Llano is the largest (and several people have mentioned this winery) and do quite an acceptable job with their wines, but the real treats come from Pheasant Ridge (a small estate vineyard)and Caprock Winery. This Texas show hit close to home for me, thanks for being honest with your opinions as always.

QOTD: Caprock – Merlot – 2005 from Texas is one of my favorite wines ATM!

QOTD: Easy: I gotta REP. my home state of Little Rhody with my choice- 2005 Sakonnet Vineyards Vidal Blanc (dry). Talk about sour patch kids sweet-and-sour action with practically 0% residual. RI style…

QOTD: NJ Alba makes a decent Chambourcin and Virginia makes some good oily Viognier and unoaked Chard–the winery’s name escapes me at the moment. The Reds are not really there yet in either of NJ and VA.

QOTD: (2) Forgot to mention Idaho–St. Chapelle–good everyday Cab. I think you carry it at WL. Not too difficult to get and some of their other varietals are also good. They seem to have the Reds down compared to most. Not sure if the grapes are sourced completely from the State of Idaho.

Barboursville, Jefferson, Veritas, Keswick, Horton, and are doing wonderful things with Chambourcin, Petit Verdot, Cab Franc, Viognier and Norton varietals.

If you get the chance, try Barboursville’s ’04 Octogon, Barbera Reserve or Nebbiolo Reserve. You could do an entire show on that winery.

Agree with DCSeven – the Charlottesville region in VA is really starting to crank out some decent efforts. Some that come to mind:
Barboursville Octagon, Veritas Reserve Chard, Cardinal Point A6, Oakencroft Viognier…

Paul in VA
noazdad