Summer Fun at Perissos, New Releases!

The cycle of wine vintages is such an extraordinary thing if you think about it. Something such as wine that is very common, is a commodity that could become a bit boring fairly quickly. However, each new year brings about an awareness of something fresh, something new. I think that is one of the reasons wine tends to draw us in with its beauty and majesty. It is reborn each and every vintage, as to provide our minds and palates with a cyclical cleansing affect. How kind of our little friend called wine to provide us such sustenance for our minds and bodies.

For Burnet, Texas this means Perissos Vineyard and Winery is back at it again with another vintage. Another bottling to please the masses with the vintages’ offering of renewal and palate pleasing fun. I recently tasted some new wines going into the bottle right about now, and as always was not left wanting. I felt I needed to share my tasting experience with you all with a summer 2017 teaser of sorts. I handpicked four wines to talk about as a preview for what’s to come very soon. Let’s dive in!

2016 Racker’s Blend:

Without a doubt, this is a wine released from Perissos every year that is super popular. It is a blend I have found to be very complex and interesting. This particular vintage is a solid red wine that is powerful and full bodied. A rich dark color complements the black fruit notes picked up on the palate. Black currant and pepper are quite prominent. The mouthfeel is rich and textural and it is sure to please the full-bodied Texas wine lovers out there.

Recommended food pairing: Grilled rack of lamb over a bed of quinoa.

2016 Jillianico:

A wine carrying the namesake of one of the Perissos daughters, Jillian, I found this bottling to be extremely complex. A garnet colored wine, the nose and palate literally juggle nuances of cherries, pepper, cola, and a lovely vanilla note. The structure is bold with solid tannins, but the wine is extremely classy. The finish is smooth and lasting.

Recommended food pairing: Lean sirloin steak drizzled with a mushroom sauce with a baked potato.

2016 Roussanne:

I just love this up and comer in Texas. Viognier without a doubt has become the queen of Texas, but sister Roussanne is really making a stand. The 2016 from Perissos is packed full of flavor. I detected citrus and stone fruit, which is artfully shadowed by a potent bouquet of floral notes. There is a creaminess to the palate which is a lovely personality trait of this viscous white wine.

Recommended food pairing: Pan seared chicken breast sliced into strips over Fettuccini Alfredo and Texas toast.

2016 Syrah:

Another grape that has really begun to prove itself over time in Texas is Syrah. A grape variety known to embrace the sweltering summer sun and offer wines so dark you cannot see through them in the glass. The ’16 vintage fits the bill as a standout red variety. The nose and palate are dark and robust. There is also, of course, the predictable smoky/meaty and peppery notes that Syrah is distinctly known for.

Recommended food pairing: New York Strip steaks on the grill, cooked medium, served with skin-on Yukon Gold mashed potatoes.

You can look forward to these four wines among many others to be released at the winery in the near future. Stay tuned to their release schedule for more information on when you can pick up several of these bottles for your own enjoyment.

Cheers, my Texas wine loving friends.