Round Rock Wine Bar

08/19/2026

07/09/2026

Friday evening at the Round Rock Wine Bar. The primary theme was 2016 Burgundy rouge.....but when you start having fun with various preferences, it adds to the tasting nuance. We started with two styles of Franciacorta (a Satèn and a Brut), opened a Chablis, then on to three appellations of 2016 Burgundy rouge, and followed with a Sardon del Duero. There actually was a NV bubbles (not shown) that ended the evening - a NV Ployez-Jacquemart.
The Chablis was "iffy" at best. The color was a deep yellow, the wine had seen its prime. Half the bar did not like it, half did tolerate it. I finished what was left.
Wines:
- Cuvée Monogram Franciacorta Satèn NV.
- Cuvée Monogram Franciacorta Brut NV.
- J. Moreau & Fils, Chablis, 1er Cru Vaillons 2020.
- Louis Latour Mercurey 2016.
- Louis Latour Nuits-Saint-Georges 2016.
- Aurélien Verdet, Vosne-Romanée, Vieilles Vignes, 2016.
- Abadia Retuerta Selección Especial, Estate Grown Sardon del Duero, 2011.

06/18/2026

Tomorrow, Friday evening, we'll be doing our very first Canadian Wine Tasting at the Round Rock Wine Bar. The wines we'll be showcasing are from the Okanagan Valley in British Colombia - my old home turf (I'm also a Canadian who grew up in Vancouver, BC, and have been to this wine region many times).
The primary winery we'll be showcasing is Mission Hill. The last time I had tried a Mission Hill wine was in 1983/1984 and I believe it was an impressive Pinot Gris.
Wine lineup:
- Fool's Mate Chardonnay, 2022.
- Cabernet Franc, Terroir Collection, 2022.
- Oculus Red Wine (Bordeaux blend), 2020. This wine won a platinum award at Texsom. It is the only 100 point wine in BC for the 2020 vintage).
- Martin Lane, Fritzi Vineyard, Riesling 2023 (not shown). British Colombia, much like the Finger Lakes district in NY, make great "cool-weather" wines, especially Riesling.
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05/29/2026

A Castello Banfi tasting by Erika Ostrander of Maverick distributors at the Round Rock Wine Bar yesterday evening. This Tuscan Winery from Sant'Antimo makes the gamut in great Tuscan wines, from Brunello di Montalcino to IGT Super Tuscans. The Poggio All'Oro Brunello di Montalcino Reserva 2015 was the wine of the night. The Riserva wines are typically made in the best vintages and this wine proved that point. Excptional vintages in Tuscany (besides Montalcino) are 2016 and 2021 but the 2018 Excelsus IGT (Merlot and Cab Sauv blend) drank very well.

05/28/2026

Just opened this at the RoundRockWineBar. Mario Perelli-Minetti Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2008. This is a seriously beautiful Cab Sauv!
Deep purple color, almost incandescent, deep red edge.
Aromas of dried purple flowers, prunes, black plums, cassis, barnyard red clay, sweet cigar smoke, chocolate.
On the Palate, it opened a bit tight. Decanted it for about 15 minutes with a vigorous shake. It is absolutely divine. A full, rich, quintessential Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon. Black cherries, blackberries, dried cranberries. Finished with cocoa, beefy yet matured tannins and hints of sweet to***co.
What a great wine!

05/28/2026

Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay 2023.
Just received it at the Round Rock Wine Bar; showing it this evening.
Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay is from the cooler parts of southern Napa Valley (American Valley and Carneros). Estate Grown and biodynamically farmed. Barrel fermented in restrained oak (French oak and foudres), it does not undergo ML fermentation to avoid the "buttery, vanilla" profile.
Profile:
Aromas of sweet lime, lemon curd, white peach and star fruit.
A tropical citrus palate layered with toasted almonds, crisp acidity and vibrant minerality.
Clean finish with lingering acidity and a hint of cedar.
Retail pricing shows to be from $46 to $58.
We have it on special for under $40.
Come over and try some this evening.

05/21/2026

Happy Hour Wine Tasting today from 5pm to 7pm. For wine enthusiasts, the theme this afternoon is Italian wines; we will be showing four wines from Piedmont, Italy where distinguished, complex yet enjoyable, long lasting wines made from Nebbiolo, the predominant red grape varietal from Piemonte.
WInes that we will show:
- Cigliuti Langhe Nebbiolo 2023.
- Giovanni Corino Langhe Nebbiolo 2021.
- Principiano Ferdinando Langhe Nebbiolo 2022.
- Principiano Ferdinando Serralunga Barolo 2021.

We will also have available various beers and spirits and our Happy Hour prices.

05/08/2026

Last Friday at the Round Rock Wine Bar. A great set of Burgundy wines representing all the best of Burgundy - Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
-Louis Latour Château de Blagny Meursault Blagny 1er Cru Meursault 2016. The color was a darker than I expected, golden hay, but the wine was full, rich and mature with the tertiary characters in full bloom (white flowers, hints of lavender, ripe yellow apple, bees wax, allspice, salinity, chalky minerality. This wine felt like it was at its peak with a few good years left.
- Jean-Claude Ramonet Chassagne-Montrachet Rouge 2019. This has to be a very understated wine. People do give this wine enough credit. Although Chardonnay is the primary varietal grown in ths appellation, what Pinot Noir grown is excellent; sadly, one does not get a chance to try it often enough in our neck of the woods. But, when you start with a great vintage and add the best winemaking group in the business to the formula, you cannot miss. This wine was and is still very young; it started tight and closed. A decant with a brisk shake got the ball rolling. Within an hour, it was singing. Highly recommend a Pinot Noir from this vintage and from this appellation.
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05/08/2026

Tomorrow, Friday evening, at the Round Rock Wine Bar. The theme is "SYRAH". We'll be trying the varietal from N. Rhone, N. California, Washington and Australia. Should we get a good turnout (8 maximum), I'll also open a Hermitage Blanc, to boot.

To Start:
- Domaine Georges Vernay, "Christine Vernay Maison Rouge" Cote Rôtie,
2016.
- Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Maison Bleue, 2010, or
- Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle, 2016.
- D'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz, McLaren Vale, 2002.
- K Vintners Powerline Estate Syrah, Walla Walla WA, 2014.
- Davis Family Vineyards, Guyzer Block Syrah, Russian River Valley, 2008.