The Texas Wine Journal's Texas Wine Talk & Tasting - Houston - September 13th

We had the opportunity to attend The The Texas Wine Journal's Texas Wine Talk & Tasting at the S. Voss Whole Foods in Houston.  The event was lead by Daniel Kelada, the Tasting Director of The Texas Wine Journal.  These events are being done quarterly and road show style, with sessions in Austin, Houston, and Dallas.  The format is "Texas Verses The World" featuring 2 flights with each flight having 2 Texas wines and 2 wines from other prominent wine regions.  The tastings were done blind with Daniel giving some tasting tips while talking about the Texas wines and growing regions and how they compare to the other wines and growing regions.  Daniel did a great job sharing is knowledge while guiding us through the tastings.

Now onto the wines.  The first flight featured all Viognier wines.  It was interesting to see and taste the differences between these white wines; the type of fruit flavors, body, acidity, and minerality.  For example, The Brennan Viognier showed more ripe stone fruit while the Cline Family Cellars showed more citrus notes with a lighter body.  The second flight was all Syrah/Shiraz wines.  There were pronounced differences in these wines as well.  The Lost Oak Shiraz showed lots of dried dark fruit, while the Barossa Valley Estate Shiraz had a pronounced spiciness enhanced by its aging in American Oak.  This was a very enjoyable and informative event, so be on the look out for the next series that is scheduled for early December.  You can follow The Texas Wine Journal on Facebook to keep up to date.  I've heard they're planning for all Tempranillo wines at the next series, so it will be one not to miss!

Flight One: Viognier

Brennan Vineyards, Texas (Comanche County), Viognier, 2015

Llano Estacado, Texas, Mont Sec Vineyard, Viognier, 2014

Cline Family Cellars, North Coast, Viognier, 2015

Nicolas Perrin, France, Viognier, 2014

Flight Two: Syrah

Lost Oak Winery, Texas, Post Oak Vineyards, Shiraz, 2015

Arche, Texas (Saint Jo), Estate Syrah, 2014

Nicolas Perrin, Cruzes Hermitage, 2013

Barossa Valley Estate, Barossa Valley, Shiraz, 2013