by Andrew Chalk
The preamble to part one read…
“More people are coming round to the idea that Texas can make good wine as they sample more of it. But the ultimate test of gravitas in, at least red wines, is how they age. How does Texas do in that regard?
To find out, I am doing a series of tastings of Texas wines, all 10+ years old, and assessing how they are doing. I am choosing them based on how their peers in other parts of the world do at the end of their first decade.”
And later added
“Since this vintage is no longer available in the retail market I have helpfully indicated the price as ‘infinity’ in the title, above. ”
THE WINE
At a private tasting 15 years ago William "Bill" Blackmon revealed to me cabernet sauvignon as the secret weapon of William Chris Vineyards. A long vertical sretching back over a decade showed Bill's skils with the grape. Alas, they have not exploited it more in the years since. This wine was likely a star in its youth but has now receded to where it should be drunk soon. The fruit has almost gone and tertiary notes predominate, that nonetheless hint at a earlier complexity.
TASTING NOTES
NAME: | William Chris 2014 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Granite Hill Vineyards, Bell Mountain, Texas |
COMMENTS | |
APPEARANCE | |
Clarity | clear |
Intensity | medium |
Color | garnet |
NOSE | |
Condition | clean |
Intensity | medium plus |
Aroma Characteristics | Blackberries, plum, cloves, baking spices, cedar, thyme |
PALATE | |
Sweetness | dry |
Acidity | medium |
Tannin | medium/green |
Alcohol | medium plus |
Body | full |
Flavor intensity | medium plus |
Flavor characterstics | cooked plum, cloves, baking spices, leather, mushroom, cedar, thyme |
Other observations | |
Finish | Medium plus |
Quality Assessment | Good, but past its best. Fruit has faded. Some structure. Was likely fairly complex neaer its peak. Drink now. |
Bottle aging | Not suitable.. |
Sample.
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