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Wine Recommendation
Stone House Vineyard
2003 Claros(Texas Hill Country)
In Texas, the Norton grape is normally best used for Port-like wines, where the sugar can help hide some of the less attractive aspects of its personality. Even the better ones mask a foxy aroma that few winemakers can defeat.
Aussie transplant and vineyard owner Angela Moench sought out a fellow Aussie, winemaker Craig Parker (the winemaker at Flat Creek Estates and Parker Wines) to develop a high quality bottle of dry red wine. This Hill Country vineyard rests along the shore of Lake Travis, just north of Austin, and Angela and Craig baby it from veraison through bottling.
Gentle basket pressing accentuates the pleasant plum-prune-dried apricot aromas and keep any bad parts of the grape under control. Nicely balanced, you can barely taste the alcohol, and there’s enough acidity to keep the palate interested after several sips. The flavors start with plum jam and carry through to a little hint of bright red fruit for spicing, finishing with mint, chocolate and a tiny touch of eucalyptus. Stone House Claros has won awards in San Francisco, San Diego as well as all over Texas.
Reviewed December 13, 2006 by Wes Marshall.
The Wine
Winery: Stone House Vineyard |
The Reviewer
Wes Marshall
Wes Marshall is the wine writer for the Austin Chronicle where his column turned into the inspiration for a book, “The Wine Roads of Texas,” which in turn has now become a three-part PBS documentary. His never-ending search is for value wines – be they $10 a bottle or $100 – which he defines as tasting better than most other wines at twice the price. As wines become more homogenized, he has been a keen advocate of appellation-specific flavors and aromas, and always marks up for luxurious mouthfeel. |