This past week my wife Andrea and I met up with our good friends The Lohr’s for a wine dinner at Tavola in The Woodlands. The dinner featured wines from Xwinery. An excellent evening with friends, we made our way through the five course meal, enjoyed every sip and savored every bite.
Tavola is a little unkept secret in The Woodlands. Actually, it’s just outside the area down 2978 a few miles from where The Woodlands parkway dead ends. The service is casually unrefined but the folks are nice and the food is great. Best of all, they don’t maintain a Texas liquor license so it’s BYOW. No paying 2 or 3 times retail for wine here. A definite foodie bonus.
The wines from Xwinery were excellent and paired well with all the dishes. I’ve reviewed three of the five wines in separate posts so be sure to follow the links below to get more info. Xwinery had a great story to tell. Apparently the owner/winemaker Reed Renaudin had written a thesis paper back when studying at UC Davis. The paper generically referred to a Winery X. Somehow the paper landed in the hands of a generous investor. A few phone calls later and the concept of Xwinery was born. I love a great American wine story.
The three wines I’ve reviewed include:
Of the three my favorite was the Chardonnay, followed closely by the Pinot, and finally the Syrah. Best packaging goes to the Syrahtica. Be sure to check out the label in the review.
Finishing off the evening we sipped something new that I’ve never had before, a Malbec inspired Vodka from Primo Vodka out of Argentina. The President of Primo Emil deBalthazar was on hand to share his passion for spirits. He explained the distillation process of this interesting post-dinner appertif with great passion. Made you want to take a trip down to see his operation.
To end the evening in typical wine dinner fashion the distributor Avante Beverages held a drawing to win wines from the evening. At the beginning of the evening, having told our friends of my recent lucky streak winning a Chardonnay magnum during our last wine dinner, I hit the jackpot again and was presented with the line up of wines to choose from. I picked the Syrahtica. Seriously, it’s hard not to dig the provocative label even though I liked the Chard and Pinot better.
Recently had this Syrah paired with the 5th course of a 5 course wine dinner at Tavola in The Woodlands. The fifth course was fresh berries with zabaglione.
This desert was simple and refreshing filled with blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries, a one to one match to Syrahtica’s fushion of fruit. My favorite nuance of this wine? Take a closer look at the bottle.
Tasting Notes
Sight: Clear, day-bright, ruby red leaning towards purple, with medium concentration and medium plus viscosity.
Nose: A clean, medium intensity wine with a notes of ripe blueberry and blackberry and a tickle of pepper.
Palate: Dry, medium body, confirming blueberry and blackberry with underlying anise. Medium plus tannin and alcohol with medium acidity contributing towards a lingering finish.
- Vineyard Sources: 90% Lake County, 10% Carneros
- Blend: 100% Syrah
- Stats: Alcohol 14.5%
- Cooperage/Fermentation: N/A
- Price: N/A
Location
Recently had this Pinot paired with the 3nd course of a 5 course wine dinner at Tavola in The Woodlands. The third course was penne tossed in mascarpone cream sauce with cremini mushrooms, asparagus, sundried tomatoes and walnuts.
This dish was good but the asparagus was a little overdone though this may have been intentional to mask the harshness typical of this veg. In this pairing the Pinot was the star showing dried cranberry, red raspberry and balanced acidity.
Tasting Notes
Sight: Clear, star-bright, ruby red, with medium concentration and medium plus viscosity.
Nose: A clean, medium plus intensity wine with hints of dried cranberry, raspberry, and a hint of hay.
Palate: Dry, medium body, confirmation of dried cranberry and raspberry. Medium tannin and acidity with medium plus alcohol and a plush finish.
- Vineyard Sources: 100% Truchard in Carneros
- Blend: 100% Pinot Noir
- Stats: Alcohol 14.5%, pH: 3.54, TA 6.8 g/L
- Cooperage/Fermentation: 12 months in 30% New Oak, 90% French
- Cases Produced: 784
- Price: $25-$27
Location
Recently had this Chardonnay paired with the 2nd course of a 5 course wine dinner at Tavola in The Woodlands. The second course was an antipasti-capensant in proscuitto with jumbo sea scallop served over oven roasted tomatoes in a creamy saffron sauce.
The succulent scallops and saffron sauce paired well with the pear and butteriness of this excellent Chardonnay. What stood out was the nice underlying acidity that enhanced the flavors from the dish. Excellent food wine but should stand alone just fine on a warm Summer day.
Tasting Notes
Sight: Clear, star-bright, straw/yellow, with medium concentration and medium viscosity.
Nose: A clean, medium intensity wine with a hint of lemon, pear, pineapple and a slight hint but not overbearing oak.
Palate: Dry, medium body, confirmation of the fruit from the nose with the addition of caramel. Medium minus tannin with medium alcohol, medium plus acidity creating a nice finish.
- Vineyard Sources: 83% Sangiacomo in Sonoma and 17% Truchard in Napa (love the Carneros split)
- Blend: 100% Chardonnay
- Stats: Alcohol 13.9%, pH: 3.77, TA 6.4 g/L
- Cooperage/Fermentation: 10 months in 33% New Oak, 95% French and 30% malolactic fermentation
- Cases Produced: 1,000
- Price: $19-$21
Location
Tags: California, Carneros, Chardonnay, Napa Valley, Pairings, Sangiacomo Vineyard, Sonoma, Tastings, Truchard Vineyard, Wine
Food, Tastings | TD Williams | 
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Back to school and I’m ready for Recess! This is a fabulous yet inexpensive red super blend from Paso Robles, California. Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Touriga Nacional, Pinot Noir, Grenache, Gamay Noir, Mourvedre, Cinsault, and Counoise. Sort of a Rhone Bordelais blend if you will.
Tasting Notes
Sight: Clear, star-bright, ruby red, with medium concentration and medium viscosity.
Nose: A clean, medium intensity wine with bright raspberries, dried strawberries with a hint of chocolate. Neutral/old oak.
Palate: Dry, medium plus body, confirmation of the fruit from the nose and the hint of chocolate. Medium minus tannin with medium alcohol, medium plus acidity and nice a finish. Medium plus complexity (there’s a lot going on with all those varietals).
- AVA: Paso Robles
- Vineyard Sources: HMR Estate, Viking Estate, Bobcat Estate, Bailey, Glenrose, Shelly, Halter Ranch
- Harvest data: September 5th through November 6th, Alcohol 14.5%, pH 3.59, TA 6.15 g/l, Brix 25.5°, Yield 2 tons/acre
- Fermentation: 5 ton open top fermenters, indigenous yeast
- Cooperage: Barrel aged 26 months in French oak – 10% new, Bottled February 26th – March 10th, 2009
- Varietals: Syrah 32%, Cabernet Sauvignon 17%, Zinfandel 16%, Touriga Nacional 9%, Pinot Noir 7%, Grenache 6%, Gamay Noir 5%, Mourvedre 5%, Cinsault 2%, Counoise 1%
- Cases Produced: 3,514
- Price: $15 – $17
Location
Wow, I can’t believe it! After several years of dreaming about being in the wine business, I’ve landed a job! OK, to start it’s only a few days next month on Saturday afternoons, but I’m “in the business”. Very Cool.
Where will I be working? Vino 100 in The Woodlands. Andrea and I have been going there since they opened almost two years ago. We’ve met a whole host of new friends and learned a ton from their wine classes. I hope in the future I can teach there too.
I’m very grateful to Kelly Messenger, Vino 100′s owner, for giving me a shot. I really look forward to working there and helping folks learn about and enjoy wine.
So, if you’re in The Woodlands on Saturday Sept. 5th or the 12th, please stop by Vino 100 between 3:00pm and 7:00pm and say hello!
Vino 100 – The Woodlands
This is nice Chilean Chardonnay from the Bio Bio Valley. You can pick this up for around $13. A lighter styled Chardonnay in acidity and oak than those found in Northern California.
Tasting Notes
Sight: Clear, star-bright, straw in color with medium concentration and medium minus viscosity.
Nose: A clean, medium intensity wine with a hint of lemon, green apple, and slight hints of melon. Slight white flower with hints of vanilla suggest some new oak.
Palate: Dry, medium minus body with yellow apple and melon on the palate. Low tannin with medium alcohol, medium plus acidity and lingering finish. Medium complexity.
- Estate vineyard fruit from the Bio Bio Valley
- Alcohol 13.5%
- Price $13
Location
Tasted a great wine from Benovia Winery, the 2007 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. It’s a blend from Benovia’s estate blocks and selected small growers. Benovia is owned by Joe Anderson, Mary Dewane, and winemaker Mike Sullivan.
Tasting Notes
Medium clear, medium plus concentrated purple/ruby color with medium plus viscosity. Moderately intense aromas of raspberry and dried cherry with slight hints of vanilla suggesting a blend of new and old oak. On the palate dry with medium body confirming vanilla-infused cherry. Juicy acidity and mild tannins on the finish. Medium to medium-plus complexity.
- Vineyard Sources: Petersen, Dutton Manzana, Martaella, Martinelli, Lingenfelder
- Harvest data: September 10th through October 15th, Alcohol 14.4%, pH 3.67, TA 0.59
- Fermentation: Cold soaked for 8 days, indigenous yeast fermentation lasted for almost two weeks
- Cooperage: 45% new French Oak
- Cases Produced: 1022
- Price: $25-$30
Location
Heck, why not? Friends will know that over the past few months I’ve been slowly turning up the volume on my wine hobby. Most recently I bit the bullet and signed up for the Court of Master Sommeliers Introductory Course and Examination. To my own surprise, I met the standard and passed the examination. I had a blast for two days leaning a ton about wine including coaching on sensory evaluation from several Master Sommeliers. I had wanted to take this course for several years to see if all that I had read and learned about wine could be put to the test. I had such a blast I’m now studying for the Level II Certified Sommelier exam.
For a little personal wine history, going back about ten years ago I was traveling for a project for my company that took me out to Cisco Systems in San Jose. At the end of our trip we had an extra ‘Travel Day’ so my colleagues and I headed up to Napa Valley. Thank goodness we had a designated driver ’cause we hit 17 wineries in one day (seriously). I’ve been hooked ever since. I had drank wine leading up to that trip but mostly didn’t have a clue with regards to quality or complexity. After that trip I got hooked on big, fruit-forward, high-alcohol Cabernet Sauvignon blends. I’m over those now but still enjoy them from time to time. I’ve learned a lot since then.
Over the past three or four years I’ve made an attempt to taste and pair wines from around the globe. The more I ‘travel’ to different countries through wine the more I learn and the more I enjoy all types of wines. The wine world is huge! I’ll tell you though, learning from a group of Master Sommeliers will humble you real quick. What I learned the most is how much I didn’t know. I also learned how down to earth these folks were. They stressed on more than one occasion that their goal was to NOT to create wine snobs. If you’ve ever met Guy Stout, MS, you’ll know what I mean when I say down to earth.
So in sync with my Twitter and Facebook accounts (http://twitter.com/tdwine and http://facebook.com/tdwine), I’ve started a wine blog under…you guessed it, TDWine (http://tdwine.com). I plan to catalogue my wine journey to share my enthusiasm, tastings, pairings, and recommendations as I learn all I can about wine. My ultimate goal is to make wine more approachable for friends and colleagues and be down to earth in the process. Heck, ‘down to earth’ is an important descriptor of many great wines!
Let me know what your tasting and let me know if I can recommend a wine for you.
