ON TEXAS WINE: Do They Age? Part 25, Bending Branch Winery, 2011 Tannat, Texas (∞)

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 WINERY

Bending Branch has a claim to be not only the first tannat in Texas, but to have executed so well on it that it inspired other wineries to make it as well. Certainly, it is now established as one of the grapes that does best in the Texas terroir. 

THE WINE

At 14 years this wine is fully mature. The flavors in the mouthfeel are totally resolved. The tannins are soft, and velvety. And the fruit is still potent enough to make this wine a very pleasant drink. I drank it with ribeye, and a red wine sauce that used this wine, accompanied by a medley of earthy mushrooms. That must have been one of many enjoyable combinations as I would highly recommend it.

Pepper Steak With Red Wine Sauce, Onion Slices, Brocolli

Medley of Mushrooms Doused in Fennel Microgreens from Kasturi Farms