I tasted William Chris Lost Draw Vineyards Texas High Plains Mouvedre 2017 at a WineAmerica Hosted by Michael Kaiser tasting at the Eastern Winery Exposition 2020 in Lancaster, PA. William Chris is the collaboration of two men: Bill Blackmon and Chris Brundrett.
Bill Blackmon holds 30 years of winegrowing experience in Texas, having planted and managed several of the state's earliest and finest vineyards in both the High Plains and the Hill Country. Beginning in the late 1970s, after graduating from Texas Tech with a degree in agriculture and economics, Bill worked with some of the early wineries in the Lubbock area. In the following decade, he planted and managed vineyards in the High Plains, including the Hunter Family Vineyard. In the 1990's he moved to Fredericksburg to plant some of the first vineyards in the Hill Country, including this company's estate vineyard in Willow City, Granite Hill Vineyards.
Chris Brundrett has established a career in the Hill Country as one of the state's fastest rising young winegrowers. While earning a horticulture degree from Texas A&M, Chris spent time in the Hill Country, acquiring experience in the winery and the vineyard. He then quickly proceeded to take on head winemaking responsibilities for several wine labels, managing vineyard properties in both the Hill Country and the High Plains. In 2017, Chris was honored with the Oustanding Alumni Award from Texas A&M University. The following year, Wine Enthusiast Magazine tapped him as a winemaker that is changing the face of American wine.
As you know, I LOVE vineyard designate wines. Lost Draw Vineyards, established in 2010, is owned and farmed by the Paddack and Timmons families. The wine is 100% Mouvedre. According to the website, "After harvest, the wine was fermented in oak fermenters. Then 50% of the wine was aged in new, large-format oak fermenter for 10 months before being transferred to neutral oak barrel for an additional 12 months. The other 50% was aged in neutral oak barrels for the full 22 months." The winery produced 1,082 cases.
William Chris Lost Draw Vineyards Texas High Plains Mouvedre 2017 was an absolute winner. A big dark wine, with plum, dark cherry, and hints of lekvar. Beautiful spice and a smooth midlle were impressive. Super complex and layered. As absolutely as lovely a Mouvedre as I have ever had. Really breathtaking! A beautiful wine.
Congrats to William Chris!