At #WBC11 – Try Some Wines from The Other 46, Including Four from Texas

At #WBC11 – Try Some Wines from The Other 46, Including Four from Texas

One of the sessions at the 2011 Wine Bloggers Conference in Charlottesville, VA  this week is “The Other 46 Tasting” to he held Friday night at 9-11 pm. Why is it called “The Other 46”? Well, there will be no California, Oregon, Washington, or New York wines allowed. Instead, expect wines from Loudoun County Virginia, Maryland, Missouri, Texas, Indiana, Ohio and more.

VintageTexas will be pouring the line-up of Texas wines. It will include a Texas four-pack: two Viogniers and two Tempranillos. I’ve already had lots of interest by email and Tweets from people who have heard about Texas wines, but can’t easily get them outside of Texas. Here your chance.

The Texas line-up for the Other 46 Tasting includes the following wines:

Brennan Vineyards, Viognier 2010

Vineyard and or appellation designation: Texas

Alcohol (%): 14.1%

Residual Sugar (%): 0.75%

Harvest parameters and winemaking, fermentation, barrel techniques: Grapes harvested August, 2010 at 24.5 Brix, fermented at 52 degrees with Anchor, Vin 13 yeast over one month. The wine is unoaked.

Wine description: This Viognier features aromas and flavors of white peach, honey, citrus and some apricot. It is more “French” than our previous vintages and features some mineral components.

Talking points: Viognier is well established as a grape that does well in Texas. Brennan Vineyards Viognier has been recognized in national and international competitions for its excellence.

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McPherson Cellars, Viognier 2010

Vineyard and or appellation designation: Texas

Alcohol (%): 13.8

Residual Sugar (%): .8

Harvest parameters and winemaking, fermentation, barrel techniques: Brix at Harvest – 24.2, Skin Contact – none, Yeast – Rhone 4600, Fermentation – 4.5 weeks at 52˚, Oaking – none

Wine description: Vibrant aromas of grapefruit and lemon blossom and hints of ripe pear, green apple, and tropical fruit.

Talking points: McPherson’s Viognier pairs perfectly with grilled fish and chicken; cream based soups and sauces, and a hot summer day.

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Lone Oak Winery, Barrel Reserve Tempranillo, 2008

Vineyard and or appellation designation: Post Oak Vineyards – Texas

Alcohol (%): 13% by volume

Residual Sugar (%): 0.5%

Harvest parameters and winemaking, fermentation, barrel techniques: Harvested August 14, 2008.  Fermented with D-254 using the “small lot” technique.  Maceration period was 10 days.  Aged in new American Oak for 30 months.

Wine description: Nice color with aromas of vanilla, blackberry and cherry with a hint of leather.

Talking points:  Harvested from Estate grapes at Post Oak Vineyard on the grounds of Lone Oak Winery.  Bottled April 9, 2011.  Very limited production – 75 cases.

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Llano Estacado Winery, Cellar Select Tempranillo, 2009

Vineyard and or appellation designation:  Newsom Vineyards Texas High Plains

Alcohol (%):  13.0

Residual Sugar (%):  .04

Harvest parameters and winemaking, fermentation, barrel techniques:  Brix @ harvest 23.2 %, pH 3.74, acidity 0.57 g/ml (as tartaric acid), 16 months in 59 gallon oak barrels.

Wine description:  This wine possesses rich tannins with a bouquet displaying notes of red berries, plums, cedar and tobacco.

Other desired talking points:  Silver Medal winner, International category, Lone Star International Wine Competition.

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Please come to The Other 46 Tasting at The Wine Bloggers Conference  9-11 pm Friday, July 22, and try some truly unique Texas wines. If you can’t make it, you can follow the frolic on Twitter using the hashtag #WBC11 and an occasional #TXwine.

Texas wines will also be represented in another Wine Bloggers Conference event – the LIVE Wine Blogging Event being held at 4:20 pm eastern time, Friday July 22, 2011. Llano Estacado Winery is a sponsor of the event and has made arrangements to have its Viviana (premium aromatic white blend) poured in this fast paced, frenetic event often called the wine tasting equivalent to speed dating. See: https://vintagetexas.com/?p=5142.