Cohete Rojo is Spanish for "Red Rocket" (in the sense of fireworks). The 2004 vintage produced about 96 cases of a "Cohete" that has it all - terroir, interesting, individualistic fragrances, as well as a fruit level that brings finesse and elegance in the balance. The cépage here is Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Tannat and Alicante Bouchet. Amply colored and possessed of fruit, this is nonetheless a classic example of a terroir driven wine (as opposed to the venerable "fruit bomb" of the so-called "international style".) A whiff leaves one to wonder more than "Is this red or black fruit?" It's both, but the wine's complication does not end there. Reminding perhaps of a fine Provençale red, the nose is earthy with an iron character, almost a scent of gunpowder. Floral notes of honeysuckle, magnolia and sandalwood chime in, leaving a combined smell that we've come to refer to as "pipeclay". Imagine an old iron pipe uncovered in moist red clay rich in minerals. "Floral minerality" is the shorthand description we've given it on the back label.

The "Prestige" is the regular "Cohete", except aged in 100% new French oak. This lends a tinge of roasted coffee grinds to the nose. Some tasters would perhaps find the new oak has lent more "grip" and mouth feel. We view that as simply a matter of preference. One barrel (close to 25 cases) was made.

The three-and four-year-old estate Syrah vines at LD3 Ranch Vineyard produced about 50 cases of this Syrah, all aged in 100% new French oak. This is very terroir-driven wine, perhaps more so than the "Cohete" (which has about 15% of this Syrah in it). After opening up in the glass a bit, the nose reveals scents of leather, sourdough and pan toasted herbes de Provence-or, as simplified by the back label, Texas Hill Country "garrigue." Elegant in its expression, there's an oily yet somewhat "pinot" feel in the mouth (as the case with some of the Michel Ogier Cote-Roties from the mid-late 80's and early 90's). Of all our reds from the 2004 vintage, this is probably the least ready to drink. We think it will continue to improve in the bottle, especially given its commendable natural acidity.

Each year, depending upon the vintage and our reaction to it, we hope to make some version of a “La Rosa”. In certain years, like 2004, we might bleed of some of the wine destined to be a red--a saignée or a “true rosé.” In other years, as in 2005 , the “La Rosa” will be a lighter style red wine by design. The cépage for the “Estate Bottled” 2005 is Norton, Black Spanish, Syrah and Tannat (all from LD3 Ranch) and touch of Viognier blended in a racking. A wine does not have to be full-bodied to be full-flavored and this 2005 La Rosa is a good example of that. Somewhat of a surprise, the nose is pinot noir-like, laden with scents of earthy cherry and watermelon rind (a desired nuance we feel was lent by the smidgen of Viognier). Not the crispy, cranberry soda pop-like style, this is a substantial, very versatile wine with food.

Made from juice bled off early on in the fermentation of a red wine and then fermented separately, our "La Rosa" is a "true rosé." The cépage here is about 70% Malbec, with the balance being Cabernet Sauvignon and Alicante Bouchet. Earthy and shy at first, the nose quickly spans into aromas of cantaloupes and strawberries, yet the body exudes richness and viscosity.

Pétard (French for firecracker) is an exclamatory expression chanted by many a French taster when delighted by a wine extroadinarily explosive on the palate. The cépage here is 100% Blanc du Bois from LD3 Ranch Vineyard. As with the 2004, this wine was fermented on natural yeasts in a 50-gallon, stainless steel barrel. It cleared up beautifully on its own, so we bottled it straight off the lees without ever having to rack it. The resulting wine is as interesting as it is refreshingly different.

Petard (French for firecracker) is an exclamatory expression chanted by many a French taster when delighted by a wine extroadinarily explosive on the palate. The cépage here is 88% Blanc du Bois from LD3 Ranch Vineyard and 12% Viognier from Granite Hill Vineyard. Fermented dry in a 50-gallon stainless steel barrel, this "off the beaten path" white wine, with its remarkable natural acidity, is as captivatingly interesting as it is rare. Having entered their fourth leaf, the estate Blanc du Bois grapes at LD3 Ranch have an earthy, spicy-citrus taste, evidencing their partial Muscat parentage. Though no doubt coming through in the wine, those aromas and flavors are both broadened and lifted by intermingling notes of Graham Crackers (coming, in part, from the lees), pineapple, Meyer lemon, banana - even Key Lime pie. Viognier often has a touch of orange peel in the nose and the addition of a little here may have been what "Meyerized" the lemon note. These nuances are constantly evolving and interchanging in the glass, a sure sign of a wine that is alive, showing multiple dimensions of personality. Only 22 cases were made and have already been allocated to restaurants in Houston, Austin, San Antonio and other parts of the Texas Hill Country.

Aged nearly a year in new French oak, the "Troubadour" is probably the most "fruit driven" wine in our stable for 2004. The cepage is 67% Merlot (400 block) and 33% Malbec (Prototype block), all from Granite HIll Vineyards. In 2002, we made a 100% Malbec from fruit coming from the same Granite Hill Vineyards "Prototype block." In Tom Stevenson's book "Wine Report 2005", Master of Wine Doug Frost tapped it as one of the top ten most interesting wines from the "Other U.S. states" category (the east and west coast states being treated separately) and likened it to the best the Cahors region of France might offer. With the same sourced Malbec playing more than a nominal role in the 2004 Troubadour, we find a similar parallel to Cahors. Having no Bordeaux aspirations, the wine presents itself individualistically with a lovely, natural ruby-purple robe. The nose exudes black cherries and, more deeply, blackberries, with notes of iron, gunpowder and roasted nuts. The new oak influence is finely woven into the wine, lending a sense of balance and another dimension of interest, without domination. The finish is long, lingering and something a conscientious taster will appreciate. We made about 118 cases of this one.