The post Review of Spicewood Vineyards The Good Guy 2012 appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.
Spicewood, Texas, is a quiet little town off Highway 71 in the Texas Hill Country. A few miles journey off the highway on 409 takes you to Spicewood Vineyards. Rows and rows of lush vines, fresh air, and wide open spaces welcome you to your destination. Edward and Madeleine Manigold founded Spicewood Vineyards in 1992. After winning a silver medal immediately with their very first Chardonnay, the Yates family took over and have grown the estate into a world class winery. The property has expanded over the years including a larger winery attached to the original building, more estate vines, and a traditional underground cellar that can store up to 400 barrels.
Ron Yates
If you ever have the pleasure of meeting the president, Ron Yates, you will never forget him. He practically has Tempranillo flowing through his veins! Is that a blood type by the way, type Temp positive? Ron wasn’t necessarily into wine or winemaking growing up, but an opportunity to attend school in Spain laid the foundation for the man he has become today. He saw how well the beloved warm climate grape did in Spain, and when he looked around he thought, man this grape would thrive in central Texas. His epiphany was dead on, and when he landed back on U.S. soil his mind was already made up…he was going to make wine, and he was going to make brilliant Tempranillo!
The wine I am reviewing is The Good Guy. There is a very special meaning behind the naming and tribute of this wine. Ron’s grandfather, Tommy Joe Yates, was the inspiration behind this spectacularly crafted wine. As far as the detailed backstory about how the “Good Guy” name came about, that is best told by Ron himself, which means you need to pay Spicewood Vineyards a visit very soon. But if you are unable to visit, we have you covered here with audio of Ron telling the story. Enjoy!
The Good Guy is a special wine club wine that will be released in early October 2014. This wine is a solid representation of not only what will grow well in central Texas, but what can be done with multiple varietal blending. This is one of those OMG wines from start to finish. Here is the run down my friends.
Once I twisted the cork away from its duty of guarding the precious liquid, I poured it slowly into the stemmed crystal cavern. In the glass this wine exudes a dark ruby center with a glowing magenta rim. Thick legs run slowly down the glass showcasing the sound structure. The nose is extremely complex. Notes of cherries, plums, blackberries, tart raspberries, fresh and dried gorgeous violets, as well as tiny hints of cinnamon and dill from the barrels tickle the senses.
The palate is much more straightforward and is more about the black fruits and fresh violets. The one thing that stands out to me more than anything else is the ample retained acidity of this wine. With every sip my mouth is watering, which is a characteristic I love in a wine. I cannot stress enough how important it is to maintain good levels of acids to not only give the wine structure and midpalate, but to offer cellaring potential. Tannins alone cannot provide enough to make for an age worthy bottle of wine, and there are far too many wines out there that lack solid levels of acidity on the palate.
Specifications:
- Spicewood Vineyards The Good Guy, 2012 vintage.
- Winemaker: Todd Crowell
- Appellation: Texas Hill Country AVA, Spicewood Vineyards
- Varietals: 30% Tempranillo, 30% Graciano, 30% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Barrels: 12 months in 40% new French oak and 60% neutral French oak
- Clarity/Brightness: Clear/bright with no detectable flaws and no gas or sediment
- Tannins: Medium plus
- Acidity: Medium plus
- Alcohol: Medium
- Finish: Medium plus
- 13.5% alcohol by volume
Overall, The Good Guy is a well-rounded medium to full-bodied red wine. It is great enjoyed on its own or paired with a wide variety of foods. Head over to Spicewood Vineyards and tell them the folks at Texas Wine Lover sent you. This wine is well worth joining the wine club for in addition to many other award winning wines.
Sip, savor, and enjoy my fellow aficionados.
The post Review of Spicewood Vineyards The Good Guy 2012 appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.