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. ”
THE WINE
"Valhalla is a mythical hall in Norse mythology where the souls of warriors who died in battle go to spend the afterlife". Kind of a pillagers rest home. Translated into a wine I'm kind of stuck, unless it was the drumroll anticipation the word garnered on the tongue. The actual blend contains no Leif Erikson or Erik the Red (that Eric). Just dolcetto, Montepulciano, and sangiovese. None stick out. This is a very harmonious blend and, at age 12, is fully resolved with softened tannins that have the backbone today for the leg of lamb we ate it with, but are cearly near the point of sublimation. Drink now and enjoy. This is a winner made from good fruit by a good winemaker.
TASTING NOTES
NAME: | Pedernales 2012 Valhalla Blend, Texas |
COMMENTS | |
APPEARANCE | |
Clarity | clear |
Intensity | Medium |
Color | Garnet |
NOSE | |
Condition | clean |
Intensity | Medium plus |
Aroma Characteristics | Plum, prune, cinnamon, allspice, cedar, cloves, leather mushroom, caramel |
PALATE | |
Sweetness | dry |
Acidity | medium |
Tannin | medium/dry |
Alcohol | medium plus |
Body | full |
Flavor intensity | medium plus |
Flavor characterstics | Plum, prune, cinnamon, allspice, cedar, cloves, leather mushroom, caramel |
Other observations | Drink now |
Finish | Medium plus |
Quality Assessment | Very Good. Fully mature, likely at its peak, it has developed a plentiful number of secondary and tertiary flavors that combine and interract to create a memorable nose and palate. |
Bottle aging | Not suitable. |
Sample.
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