Drumroll please… And the winner of the gold medal is….
In my previous post, I extolled my new-found excitement for Texas Wines and the Texas Wine Club. What I did not share with you is the results of our comparative tasting – primarily because you absolutely need to book a tasting and try for yourself! I will, however, share with you some thoughts to take with you for any wine tasting or wine comparison you may experience. Especially when you have a pre-conceived notion on which wine or wines you will like the best!
My first request is to enter into the experience with an open mind. In this case, everyone who attended the Texas Wine tasting comparative experience had tasted some really bad examples of Texas wine in the past. Flabby, hot (high alcohol), flavorless, unoriginal, bland, boring, nondescript, swill. However you want to describe them, they left an indelible mark on your memory and not a good one. But let’s ask ourselves the harder question. Have you ever had a terrible wine from Napa Valley? France? Spain? Italy? I’m quite certain the answer is yes! Regardless of where in the world you find wine, there will be amazingly magical wines and absurdly horrible wines. Yes my friends, that’s the cold hard truth.
So again, my plea. Keep an open mind! In the case of Texas Wine Club, the wines club members will experience are not trying to reproduce or mimic their old would cousins. Over the past decade, Texas has lured some of the best wine makers in the world, has found it’s identity in the terroir the enormous state provides and has entered into the age where it’s wines can stand up to those perceived by wine fanatics and experts as the best in class worldwide. How can this be you ask? Here are a few pointers on wine to take with you into any experience.
What does it take to win a gold medal?
Location, location, location. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. When it comes to wine, location matters! Often referred to as “terroir”, the climate, sunshine, rain, altitude, latitude, soil, slope and proximity to water all influence wine’s style from vineyard to bottle. Many wine regions have had a bumpy start by trying to grow varietals which simply do not make sense based on the location’s terroir.
Warm climate varietals will not ripen if the climate is too cool. Cool climate varietals will ripen too quickly and result in flabby, dull and hot (overly alcoholic) wine. For example, Texas excels in warmer climate varietals such as Tempranillo, Roussanne, Tannat and varietals favored in similar terroir such as the southern Rhone Valley in France and Rioja in Spain. Cooler climates in Oregon favor varietals from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to Pinot Gris which need longer growing seasons with warm days and cool nights to achieve the best style.
Let the grape speak. While a little oak, a little malolactic fermentation (think creamy, buttery) and a little lees (aging of wine on dead yeast cells from fermentation) can add just the right softness or nuance to a wine, too much can ruin a good wine. The best wine makers let the grapes, thus mother nature’s gift, speak for itself. As a result, wines made from the same grapevines and by the same winemaker year in and year out can taste dramatically different based on differences in temperature, rainfall, sunshine and other aspects of terroir. My opinion, this is the magic in winemaking!
Sometimes repetition leads to the gold
Big brands = consistency. If it’s consistency you’re looking for head to the big brands. Many wine consumers get overwhelmed at all the choices in a large box wine and liquor store and head to the same bottles day in and day out. While I personally prefer new experiences in every bottle, I totally understand this can lead to utter joy or massive disappointment! If you’re not in the mood for a surprise, shop the middle shelf, brand names of your varietal of choice and year in and year out you’ll have the same experience. No shame in knowing what you want!
Translating this to wine tasting experiences, don’t be afraid to ask your tasting guide whether the wines you like will have a good amount of consistency vintage to vintage. If not, I’ll go back to my previous ask – keep an open mind when the next vintage releases!
Wine clubs, whether for a specific vineyard or winery, or as in Texas Wine Club where a variety is curated for wine club members, are great ways to ensure you always have a next shipment of your favorites on the way or have an exploratory experience in every shipment. So get out there and get tasting my friends! You never know when you’ll find your next favorite bottle of wine!
Cheers!
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