Texas Wineslinger is in Georgia Now, But Still Drinking Texas Wine

Texas Wineslinger is in Georgia Now, But Still Drinking Texas Wine

by Russ Kane, VintageTexas.com

Many of you likely know that earlier this year my wife and I moved to the Metro Atlanta area in Georgia. This is the primary reason for my recent lack of wine writing on VintageTexas. It took us full-time for three months to get packed and moved. It was another five months to get things out of boxes and set-up, and work on interior decorating and landscaping the yard around a new house.

Well, get ready as this is my first stab at getting back into blogging again.

First off, believe it or not, I’m still drinking Texas wine, albeit in Georgia. Now from outside the state, I’m not finding Texas wines available in retail in the Metro Atlanta area. Please advise if you know of any sources of supply. However, no fear…

I found that I can get Texas wine shipped to me here in Georgia directly from at least some Texas wineries. For my first try at shipping Texas wines to me, I figured that I’d go to an ex-Georgia resident. You know him. Dr. Bob Young, owner of Bending Branch Winery in Comfort, Texas.

Luckily, I tried to do this just in time before the weather in Texas and most of the southern states had become set ablaze in summertime heat. I’m glad that I did it because it worked pretty darn slick. I ordered and received three bottles of Bending Branch wine. Well, what did I order, you ask?See below.

2023 Estate Picpoul Blanc, Camledge Vineyard

In the process of consumption… This Picpoul Blanc (Texas Hill Country AVA) has great acidity yielding a crisp, food-friendly wine. Yet, it exudes quality, balancing acidity with ripe fruits (pear, green apple, lemon, pineapple, and melon), a hint of floral, and a clean layered finish. Thanks to my Coravin, I can really draw out this tasting.

2020 Petite Sirah, Newsom Vineyards

Sorry, already consumed… The Petite Sirah grapes for this wine came from Newsom Vineyards, one of the most respected growers in the Texas High Plains AVA. The wine is rich in aromas and flavor yet offers finesse on the palate gained from 74% Flash Détente and 26% traditional whole berry maceration. It is also pleasingly tannic and carries dominant notes of blackberry, plum, blueberry, with a dash of pepper, and sometimes wet earth.

2020 Tannat, Tallent Vineyards

Saving this for last… This one is a real winner on many fronts: Double Gold/Top of Class – 2025 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo International Wine Competition; Platinum/Class Champion/Texas Class Champion – 2025 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Vine 2 Wine International Wine Competition; Silver – 2025 Houston Rodeo Uncorked!

This wine emanates from Tannat grapes grown in the Hickory Sands District (now an AVA). Drew Tallent’s grapes always show complex aromatics, robust flavor, and luscious character. Since I’ve tastes this wine before, from memory I’ll give it descriptors of having thrust and power from bold tannins tamed by more than 24 months in one-third new French oak. Yet, even with this aging it derives juicy fruit notes of black cherry, blackberry, accompanied with sage and smoke.

All-in-all, getting Texas wine shipped was pretty cool… both literally and figuratively. I had it shipped via 2-day air for $30 and when I opened the package here in Georgia, the bottles of Bending Branch’s wine were barely above cellar temperature. It was also cool to receive Texas wines and share them with my new found wine friends in Georgia.