Pedernales Cellars Texas Roussanne 2015 Wine Review

We received the product for review and all opinions are our own.

Roussanne has undoubtedly become a huge success in recent years within the Texas wine industry. Originally hailing from the Rhône Valley of France, it offers a traditionally late bud break which can assist in avoiding damage from late spring frosts. The grape can be quite the diva on the vine though, but with a little attention and care it can produce wines with unique character. Think of Roussanne as the tomboy sister to Viognier. I find it to be just as beautiful on the nose, but a little rougher around the edges on the palate typically.

I was very excited to hear Pedernales Cellars had bottled their very first varietal Roussanne! The winery has been blending it into many of their white wines for years now, and apparently it was time to let it flourish on its own to show Roussanne’s personality as a solo act. As a winery known for award winning Viognier, I expected nothing but stellar results from this bottle of wine. After all, if you can take Grand Gold in Lyon, France with Texas Viognier, surely you can turn heads with a Texas Roussanne. Let’s get right into it!

The bottle is the standard shape and labeling for Pedernales Cellars, only it showcases the words Texas Roussanne now. Exciting huh? Once the cork is pulled, the wine pours into the glass a bright yellow gold. The nose is quite complex offering hints of lemon peel, peach, banana, and grapefruit. The palate is citrus driven with grapefruit being the dominant factor. Notes of lemon, lime, and apricot are also present. The mouthfeel is creamy in texture due to malolactic fermentation on a small portion of the wine during the winemaking process. The acidity is bright and lively at a medium plus. I found the finish to be sensually mellow, and it lingers for some time.

Specifications:

• Pedernales Cellars Texas Roussanne, 2015 vintage
• Winemaker: David Kuhlken
• Appellation: Texas, Reddy Vineyards
• Grape varieties: Roussanne
• Barrels: N/A
• Clarity/brightness: Clear/bright, with no detectable flaws and no evidence of gas or sediment
• Tannins: N/A
• Acidity: Medium plus
• Alcohol: Medium minus
• Finish: Long
• Alcohol by volume: 12.3%
• Cases produced: 500

For those of you who dig Roussanne, this one is definitely worth a try. The wine is balanced, clean, and thirst quenching. We paired it with my wife’s lovely cooking, which was pan seared chicken breast over a bed of quinoa salad. This included quinoa, grape tomatoes, feta cheese, zucchini, garlic, lemon, olive oil, dill, parsley, and black pepper. The pairing was very complementary and the creaminess of the wine’s texture really jived with the feta. I highly recommend this wine to anyone seeking a refreshing Texas Roussanne. Congratulations on your first bottling of this wine Pedernales Cellars. Let’s hope it is one of many vintages to come!

Sip, savor, and enjoy my fellow aficionados.