TX Locations number 6 Wine Review

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

The Locations series from Dave Phinney are a complex assortment of wines. The brand was founded on the principle of making the best possible wine from a given country or location. Laws that inhibit the ability to blend the best fruit across appellations prompted Dave to think outside the box. Simplicity, complexity, and fun are the hallmarks of this theory. This worldly collection is worthy of a sip from any inquisitive wine consumer. In the world of wine, “location” is everything. Sunlight, rain, wind, humidity, altitude, soils, etc. These are the foundations of terroir, which is a sense of place. Winemaking starts in the vineyard, and each vineyard or AVA speaks for itself in every bottle we open. Why should we let wine laws get in the way of amazing wines that represent a certain country or region?

The TX Locations wine is part of this fun compilation of wines. Dave, alongside Kim McPherson of McPherson Cellars, have sought to make the best possible wines to represent Texas under the Locations brand. They seek out high quality fruit, and select the best possible grape varieties that represent Texas as a wine growing region. The Texas High Plains AVA is the obvious choice for sourcing some of the best fruit in Texas, so Locations returns with yet another bottling. This bottling is labeled number 6, which I presume is the 6th version of TX Locations produced. I tasted number 3 years ago, and still have a few bottles in my cellar to see how it ages.

This particular bottle is produced under the same focus as previous releases. Awesome fruit from the Texas High Plains AVA, and high-quality winemaking to come together and showcase some of the best Texas has to offer. Once the cork is removed from the heavy glass bottle, the wine pours into the glass a pale ruby. The nose comes alive with notes of red fruit, baking spices, herbs, Spanish cedar, and white pepper. The palate hints of red berries, blackberries, herbs, and spices. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, with moderate tannins and medium plus acidity. The wine finishes with a gentle roll off the back of the tongue.

Specifications:

• TX Locations number 6
• Winemaker(s): Dave Phinney, Kim McPherson
• Appellation: Texas, Texas High Plains AVA
• Grape varieties: Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Carignan, and assorted Bordeaux varieties
• Barrels: 10 months in neutral French oak
• Clarity/brightness: Clear/bright with no detectable flaws, and no evidence of gas or sediment
• Tannins: Medium
• Acidity: Medium plus
• Alcohol: Medium plus
• Finish: Medium
• Alcohol by volume: 14.5%
• Retail price: $24.99 per bottle at the time of review

From what I can tell, all releases of the TX Locations have been limited to sourcing grapes from the Texas High Plains AVA. Although this is the premier region for growing wine grapes in Texas, I do wonder why fruit is not being sourced from multiple AVAs from within the state? This concept is really the principle of Locations, so it would seem appropriate to blend across multiple wine growing regions in Texas. I do hope to see more of that in the future as it should add to the diversity of the wine as each version is released.

The quality of the wine is high, and I predict it will age well over the next 3-5 years. This wine would pair well alongside pork ribs laid atop a bed of quinoa. You might even try a teriyaki dipping sauce as a side.

Sip, savor, and enjoy my fellow aficionados.