The Star of Texas 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon

While spending the weekend at Messina Hof Winery & Resort as guests of the  Bonarrigos, we were offered a private tour with Merrill and Paul. The 45-minute tour was low keyed and fun with plenty of time to taste recently pressed grape juice that was in the tank for only one day to more mature wines that were almost ready for bottling. We enjoyed taking photos of participants with the Bonarrigos. The participants included Melba Allen from France, Allison Markin from British Columbia and Tom Plant from California.

Terry & Kathy on their 42nd anniversary

This day was our 42^nd wedding anniversary. This private tank and barrel tasting with friends was a wonderful way to celebrate. We tasted several wines from tanks. Paul turned on the tank’s spigot to release the juice or wine. A Blanc du Bois was cold stabilizing. It had plenty of flavors and good acidity. The wine will eventually go through a secondary fermentation and made into a sparkling wine. Another notable tank tasting was the 2014 Tempranillo. The juice was only in the tank for one day; so much of the sugar was not fermented. It was quite sweet and very fruity. Even as grape juice, it was delicious.

We also tasted some wines from barrel in the barrel room. Paul used a thief to take some wine out of the barrels for tastings. The Merlot was a favorite and will be a wine to watch when released. While in the barrel room plenty of photos were taken. Tasting from tanks and barrels is different then tasting finished wines. You have to taste the wine as it is now and forecast how it will turn out in the future. It is fun to taste this way and think about what it will become.

Paul sampling from a tank

Just before the tasting we gathered in the tasting area and had a glass of wine suggested by Merrill.

Merrill and Paul Bonarrigo in Bryan, TX

Paul using a thief to remove wine from an oak barrel

Paul and Merrill with Tom Plant of WINEormous

Paul and Merrill with Melba Allen from The Wine Profilers

Paul and Merrill with Allison Markin from All She Wrote in British Columbia