I go Platinum with Valley Mills Vineyards 2022 Carignan, Texas ($32)

by Andrew Chalk

It should be recognized as a bigger thing for Waco, TX than the latest fixer-upper by Chip and Joanna Gaines that a local winery could be winning serial Platinum medals (this wine won a Platinum medal at TEXSOM in 2025 and their 2021 Mourvèdre won the same in 2024). Waco, TX would seem to be an unlikely place for award-winning wines to spring from but winemaker Joey Bagnasco keep producing them.

This wine draws you in immediately with a perfumy nose that gets more complex the more you sniff it.

On the palate the notes in the nose are confirmed and additional components discrerned. It is all very complex and balanced with winemaking that keeps the tannins undeniable, but luxuriously pleasant.

Winemaker, Valley Mills Vineyards, Joey Bagnasco

I would drink now or in the next five years but, first, I would take it on a winery visit to Europe and share it with a winemaker of, likely, fresh white wine, maybe somewhere in the Loire region. Barely mentioning its provenence, and earnestly discussing something unrelated (like a new AOP, or something) I bet it would not be five minutes before he wasn't fingering the label trying to grok this enigmatic but stylish find. "Texas!".

Regarding the winemaking, Joey says "that is 89% Carignan from both Lahey and Buena Suerte vineyards (both Texas High Plains). We blended in 9% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Peper vineyard (local / near Valley Mills) to add structure and lengthen the palate, and 3% Grenache to add fruitiness / lift the aroma. Aged for 20 months in mostly neutral barrels (only used about 10% new medium-toast French oak).

2022 was a drought year, so yields were lower than usual, about 4-5 tons/acre in the High Plains and only 1 ton/acre for the local Cabernet."

And on the Carignan grape he adds "I quite like Carignan as a grape with lots of layers: fruity, spicy, earthy...".

This is one of the pantheon of New Texas Wines that can be served to any wine lover, without apology. And, at $32 it is very reasonably priced.

TASTING NOTES

NAME:	Valley Mills Vineyards, 2022 Carignan, Texas ($32)
	COMMENTS
APPEARANCE
Clarity	clear
Intensity	deep
Color	Ruby with purple rim
NOSE
Condition	clean
Intensity	Medium plus
Aroma Characteristics	Boysenberry, blackberry, roses, cedar, mushrooms, rosemary
PALATE
Sweetness	dry
Acidity	Medium plus
Tannin	High/Smooth
Alcohol	Medium plus
Body	Medium plus
Flavor intensity	Medium plus
Flavor characterstics	Boysenberry, blackberry, roses, cedar, mushrooms, rosemary, bay leaf, pencil lead, cinnamon
Other observations
Finish	Long
Quality Assessment	Outstanding.
Bottle aging	Suitable

Sample