It’s been a while since I’ve had the opportunity to visit the northern regions of Texas near Amarillo and on the rim of Palo Duro Canyon that I’ve previously referred to as the “Texas North-Forty”, idiomatically speaking. The term north forty is taken to mean the 40-acre section of land, located in the northernmost part of a farm or ranch. In my usage, it’s any place remote and it applies well to Canyon, the home of Monty Dixon’s Bar Z Winery.
While not having actually visited Dixon’s Neo-Quonset winery recently, I did have the occasion to taste a little of his wine this month. I came away from the experience pleased particularly with his Texas north-forty winemaker interpretation of some Newsom Vineyard-grown 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Dixson’s Cabernet is intriguingly aromatic giving up notes of macerated ripe cherries, cedar, wet earth, and mint. On the palate, the texture if soft and silky with fine granular tannins providing structure. The finish lingers on notes of black cherries, minerals, and earth. Other Bar Z wines to try are its Lil’ Hoss (another Cabernet Sauvignon) and it’s Cabernet Franc.
Dixon likes to call his Bar Z Winery “a hidden panhandle gem” that overlooks the rim Palo Duro Canyon. He revels in using high-quality Texas-grown grapes like those in this wine from Newsom Vineyards in Plains, Texas, and letting them take their time in the barrel to achieve a mature character that Dixon personally appreciates.
You might not be on your way by car to or from Colorado which brings you near Bar Z Winery. Like 90% of the people in Texas, please be assured you can pay a visit virtually via the Internet at: https://www.barzwines.com. You can also get a dose of Monty Dixon’s winemaking philosophy by clicking the link below:
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