What could possibly be more exhilarating than tasting newly released red wines from a Texas winery…tasting barrel samples of up and coming wines! It is such a romantic, and oh so thrilling experience. The sexiness of the oak barrels and the sound of unfinished wines being delivered from the wine thief into a glass. Ah, life is good folks.
I was at Perissos Vineyard and Winery last week for a professional tasting of their 2014 red wines. When I arrived, Seth and Laura Martin had prepared sample bottles filled with purple goodness from the barrels, along with some awfully tasty snacks for palate cleansing. For those of you who have never visited the winery and have yet to meet Seth and Laura, you are overdue for a meet-up with two wonderful people and a very lovely family. We enjoyed great conversation before and after the tasting, and we trotted the estate vines, which were being bird netted that particular day. The fruit was looking very healthy as we tasted grapes along the way. I want to share with you just a few examples of the wines I was fortunate to sample that day.
2014 Malbec, Estate Vineyard:
This wine was one of my personal favorites of the bunch, as it offers such unique character. It pours ruby red with a magenta rim into the glass. The wine explodes with luscious jammy notes on the nose. Blackberry jam, cherry cobbler, and baking spices, then, blackberry and raspberry jam on the palate, finishing with a nuance of bacon fat on the back end. The structure is robust on the front palate, offering velvety tannins and a soft lingering finish.
2014 Rackers Blend, Estate Vineyard:
A staple for fans of Perissos wines, this vintage does not disappoint. The wine pours into the glass a dark ruby red. The nose is very complex and offers teases of ripe cherries, herbs, black pepper, and saddle leather. The palate is just as complex tossing around flavors of cherries, strawberry pop-tart, and herbs. The structure is full bodied with well integrated tannins and a pleasant finish. As for the blend, you will have to visit the winery and find out for yourself when the wine is eventually released! I know, such a tease, but anticipation is one of life’s great pleasures.
2014 Petite Sirah, Estate Vineyard:
One word… ink! This baby sports its true color in style, pouring inky and opaque into the glass. The nose tickles the senses with a fruity concoction of pomegranate, blackberries, and black cherry. The palate leaves nothing lacking with notes of blackberries, black cherries, and a grilled meat nuance on the back palate. The structure is hefty, but not overdone. The tannins are powerful, while remaining balanced within the body of the wine.
It was a difficult decision to choose only three wines to share with you, because all of the others were right on par with these wines. All I can say is keep an eye peeled for several very high quality wines from the 2014 vintage. You will not be disappointed, as I most definitely was not.
Cheers!
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