by Andrew Chalk
The preamble to part one read…
“More people are coming round to the idea that Texas can make good wine as they sample more of it. But the ultimate test of gravitas in, at least red wines, is how they age. How does Texas do in that regard?
To find out, I am doing a series of tastings of Texas wines, all 10+ years old, and assessing how they are doing. I am choosing them based on how their peers in other parts of the world do at the end of their first decade.”
And later added
“Since this vintage is no longer available in the retail market I have helpfully indicated the price as ‘infinity’ in the title, above. ”
One of the original band of Texas winemakers using the right grapes (vinifera), this is Lubbock-based Llano Estacado's flagship wine. Appropriately named after the "Battle of San Jacinto", out of which the independent nation of Texas was born, this decade old wine regards time as just a stage you go through. Still abundently fruity, and structured with enough tannin to suggest it will keep even longer, enjoy this wine with Texas barbecue, AKA brisket, which will emulsify the tannins and will, in turn, have an extra dimension added by the fruit in the wine. Recommended.
NAME: | Llano Estacado 2014 "1836 Red Wine", Texas |
COMMENTS | |
APPEARANCE | |
Clarity | clear |
Intensity | Medium |
Color | Garnet |
NOSE | |
Condition | clean |
Intensity | Medium-plus |
Aroma characteristics | Raspberry, black plum, cedar, mushrooms, cloves, leather |
PALATE | |
Sweetness | dry |
Acidity | medium plus |
Tannins | medium/coarse |
Alcohol | Medium |
Body | Full |
Flavor intensity | Medium plus |
Flavor characteristics | Raspberry, black plum, cinnamon, mushrooms, |
Other observations | |
Finish | Medium |
Quality assessment | VG. Lots of fruit makes the astringent tannins tame. Oak influence and tertiary notes predominate. |
Bottle ageability | Suitable |
Sample.
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