The Latest Cristaldi Scores
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
Crafted by Kim McPherson, this aromatic blend consists of 80% Muscat, 10% Viognier, 5% Riesling, and 5% Trebbiano. The wine bursts with bright wildflower and honey aromas, complemented by delicate chamomile tea notes.Medium-bodied on the palate, it delivers deep and lasting flavors of lemon oil and chamomile, with just a hint of sweetness on the finish. Elegant and refreshing, this wine is both delightful and incredibly crushable.
The Mountain Lion Reserve Meritage Red from Ranch Wines is as tame as a lion waiting in the shadows. It offers a nice, elegant red-fruited profile with ripe currant and cherry fruits, complemented by notes of tanned leather and white pepper. Burly tannins throughout its medium-bodied expression provide the framework forits mineral-scented finish.
The Longhorn Reserve Shiraz (supplemented with 10% Alicante Bouschet), offers pretty red floral notes that intermingle with crunchy red berry fruit and spices. On the medium-bodied palate, the wine builds with richness and intensity, layered with apple skin tannins and laced with subtle hints of white pepper, sage, and tobacco.
The Blackbuck Reserve Merlot is a nice expression from the Texas High Plains, showcasing the grape’s potential in the region. It features a solid spine of crunchy acidity that enhances its freshness. The wine is framed by crunchy red apple skin notes, plums, and cherry fruit, all contributing to a Merlot that displays real power, intensity, and elegance.
This Sangiovese from Uplift Vineyard is a powerhouse of freshness, elegance, and compact red fruit, with enthralling sweet spices of clove, cinnamon, and coriander. Medium-bodied on the palate, it displays firm tannins and balanced tension, providing structure and finesse. The winery is situated on a stunning 72-acre site, with 55 acres planted as of 2024, in Hoover’s Valley within the Llano Uplift, surrounded by three mountain ranges and the Colorado River. It’s a gorgeous site, imbued with soil that is literally pure beach sand. Winemaker Claire Richardson, along with her full-time vineyard crew, is doing a phenomenal job crafting bright, fresh, and energetic wines that truly capture the essence of this slice of Texan countryside. The consulting winemaker is Jean Hoefliger. Aged 16 months in 15% New French/Hungarian Oak.
The 2023 Uplift Vineyard Malbec is bright, ripe, and tension-filled, offering a fresh profile with firm, fine-grained tannins. It features vibrant candied red berry fruit and violet notes, complemented by integrated Indian spices. The wine boasts terrific balance and freshness, and has a nice depth, richness, and bold florality on the lengthy finish. The Uplift Estate is situated on a stunning 72-acre site, with 55 acres planted as of 2024, in Hoover’s Valley within the Llano Uplift, surrounded by three mountain ranges and the Colorado River. It’s a gorgeous site, imbued with soil that is literally pure beach sand. Winemaker Claire Richardson, along with her full-time vineyard crew, is doing a phenomenal job crafting bright, fresh, and energetic wines that truly capture the essence of this slice of Texan countryside. The consulting winemaker is Jean Hoefliger.
Pristine red fruit and elegant cedarwood spice character build on the medium-bodied palate, with impressive, fine, and stacked tannins that lay a solid foundation for this youthful Montepulciano red. I first tasted this wine as a barrel sample, and over a year, it’s put on some wonderful weight, and the fruit profile has grown with darkness, power, and depth. The winery is situated on a stunning 72-acre site, with 55 acres planted as of 2024, in Hoover’s Valley within the Llano Uplift, surrounded by three mountain ranges and the Colorado River. This particular variety does really well here in Texas because it can take heat, it can take late spring freezes, it can take rain and drought, and still comes out on top. The Uplift site is a gorgeous vineyard, imbued with soil that is literally pure beach sand. Winemaker Claire Richardson, along with her full-time vineyard crew, is doing a phenomenal job crafting bright, fresh, and energetic wines that truly capture the essence of this slice of Texan countryside. The consulting winemaker is Jean Hoefliger. Large oak fermented. Aged 16 Months in 20% new French oak
The Badu, only made in the best vintages, is a blend of 41% Sangiovese, 43% Aglianico, 11% Montepulciano, and 5% Merlot, offering a super attractive red-fruited profile with beautiful black tea nuances and fragrant cedarwood spice. Medium-bodied, it presents apple skin tannins, white pepper notes, and crunchy red fruit, all scented with fresh rose petals and violets that carry through the wine from start to finish. I first tasted this wine in November of 2024, and since then, it’s put on some real weight, depth of fruit flavor, and the finish is long with saline-minerality that is incredibly inviting. Winemaker Claire Richardson, along with her full-time vineyard crew, is doing a phenomenal job crafting bright, fresh, and energetic wines that truly capture the essence of this slice of Texan countryside. The consulting winemaker is Jean Hoefliger. This wine is available in late 2026.
(Barrel Sample) The Vigneron Blend is a bright, spicy, and tension-filled red, offering pure currant and cherry fruits, tobacco, and white pepper spices. Medium-bodied, it builds richness on the palate with assertive, very fine, and balanced tannins that provide structure and depth. There’s been a dynamic shift—a watershed moment—in the production of these wines since Napa-based consultant Jean Hoefliger began consulting with Uplift Vineyard in 2022. The transformation is evident, and this wine is a testament to that evolution, promising an exciting future for these wines.
The 2023 Uplift Vineyard Merlot shows classic varietal character in its spiced plum fruit and gorgeously spicy aromatics. It truly surprises, however, with its tannic intensity and impressively bright acid grip. An exceedingly fresh and layered red. The Uplift Estate is situated on a stunning 72-acre site, with 55 acres planted as of 2024, in Hoover’s Valley within the Llano Uplift, surrounded by three mountain ranges and the Colorado River. It’s a gorgeous site, imbued with soil that is literally pure beach sand. Winemaker Claire Richardson, along with her full-time vineyard crew, is doing a phenomenal job crafting bright, fresh, and energetic wines that truly capture the essence of this slice of Texan countryside. The consulting winemaker is Jean Hoefliger.
Here’s a full-bodied, succulent, and generous Syrah from Tatum Cellars and the Salt Lick Vineyard in the Texas Hill Country. This red presents lovely violets and red berry fruits, with subtle blue fruit undertones, slate, and a touch of salty minerality. Balanced by a long, juicy finish, that resolves its richness of palate fruit.
A 100% Mourvèdre from the Salt Lick Vineyard in Texas Hill Country, this is a muscular and full-bodied red with both red- and blue-toned fruit flavors, and plenty of brown baking spice notes. Robust tannins frame a focused palate with high-toned herbal and rich cedarwood spices that carry through the finish. Polished, expressive and delicious.
The Terra Trails Winery Buena Suerte Vineyards Sangiovese from the Texas High Plains AVA presents a vibrant profile with crunchy, tart red cranberry and strawberry fruit, all laced with subtle vanilla and toffee notes. Medium-bodied, it features firm, taut tannins that are mineral-laced, adding structure and depth.
Sourced from Timmons Estate Vineyard in the Texas High Plains, this medium-bodied Picpoul is straightforward and delightfully easy to drink. It features citrus peel fruit, subtle nutty overtones, and a chalky mineral finish. A refreshing and approachable wine that well aligns with Rhinory’s mission to craft wines that bring people together while supporting wildlife conservation efforts.
The Horn Red Wine Blend, sourced from the Texas High Plains, is a bright, red-toned fruit-forward wine with richly spiced layers of clove, rose petal, and flamed orange zest. These aromas carry through to the medium-bodied palate, where crunchy acidity and apple skin tannins add structure. The finish is smoky, with lingering clove and licorice notes that provide depth and complexity. This is one of the most intricate and intriguing wines from Rhinory that I’ve tasted.
When John Rivenburgh worked for Bending Branch, he pioneered the planting of Vermentino in Texas, establishing it in the High Plains around 2009. This 100% Vermentino is sourced from Canted County Vineyards, co-owned by the Morland and Holiday families. With approximately 1,000 acres under vine, this site has become a vital operation in the Texas wine scene. John champions Vermentino for its resilience in Texas’s climate, its suitability for machine harvesting—essential in the region—and its similarity to Sicilian whites, a personal favorite of his. Crafted similarly to his Picpoul Blanc, the grapes are pressed at the winery in Kerrville, fermented, and aged in neutral vessels for about six months before bottling. This Vermentino is lean, focused, and brimming with high acidity—a real “acid trip.” It delivers a bright squeeze of lemon-lime and lime zest, accented by white flowers, acacia, a hint of Marcona almonds, and Texas purple sage. The zippy, zingy acidity forms a solid foundation for the citrus-driven palate, leading to a long, mineral-driven finish with cool, wet granite character. All too easy to drink.
