Wine visionary Greg Bruni, now a winemaker at Llano Estacado Winery (Lubbock, Texas), left a lucrative winemaking career in California to pursue the challenge, adventure and creativity of the emerging Texas wine industry. Since com­ing to Lubbock, Greg has been working on building a Texas Rhone-style wine from the ground up. 

One of Greg Bruni’s most successful wine creations is Texas Signature Rhone (a Rhone-style red wine) which according to the Llano Estacado web site has won over fifty-eight awards since 1998.

Grenache Noir, Grenache Gris, Syrah/Shiraz, Viognier, Mourvedre, Roussanne, Carignane Noir, Marsanne, Cinsault Noir, Ugni Blanc, Muscardin, Picpoul Blanc, Picpoul Noir, Bourboulenc, Camarese, Clairette Blanc, Vaccarese, Grenache Blanc, Terret Noir, Muscat a Petits Grains, Clairette Rose, Counoise Noir are all considered to be Rhone Valley grapes.

Greg says, “When I came to Llano Estacado, we were purchasing Carignan, a red Mediterranean varietal only be made into blush wines! Our first Red Carignan was released in 1994 but our first mass release was not until the 1996 vintage was processed. We are now using Carignan grapes in our Passionelle, Llano’s latest proprietary Rhone-style blend. ”  

In addition to Carignan, Llano Estacado is also including other Rhone varieties such as Syrah, Grenache, Viognier and Mourvedre  in Texas Rhone-Style Red.  Llano Estacado is now experimenting with small batch, limited release blended wines using other Rhone Valley grapes, as well.”

Greg says, “The best wines in Texas have not been made yet and when they are, they likely will be blends. The French have made wine in the Rhone Valley for the past millennium based on the the concept of blending and done very well with that.  

Viewed in bright sunlight, this wine’s color reminds me of high quality garnets which it owes to its strong syrah and carignan noir heritage.   Signature Rhone needs to be decanted or at least swirled in the open glass for a few minutes to breath.  I found that extra swirling brought out more 0f the fruitiness and controlled the alcoholic heat of this wine. 

I tasted bright very ripe strawberry, white pepper and mineral aromas combine with the strong aroma of darker ripe fruits such as currents on my palate.  The wine ends smoothly with a tart, polished mineral finish but still tasting of faintly of berries and more strongly dark currents.  The tannins remain remarkably in control without overpowering the ripe berry acidity in this intense, well-balanced wine which is the reason the wine finishes on the pallet quickly leaving the mouth refreshed and ready for the next paring. 

Signature Rhone is still a bit weaker going across the mid-pallet than I had hoped.  This statement only re-enforces how value hunters like myself expect to find an under $20 wine having the flavor range of a $35 wine. 

I first paired Signature Rhone with feta cheese and olives.  Sweet, not the flavor but the experience.  The wine held its own with the high acidity of these foods.  Next I moved on to Genoa Salami and a sharp English cheadder.  This was also a very acceptable paring.  The fruitiness of the wine steps forward and blends with the savory and smoke of the salami making the wine choice seem a natural choice for a picnic or barbeque.    

As with the Cinco Vino Rosso (a comparable style five varietal blend produced by Texas Hills Winery in Johnson City, Texas) try this wine with ripe strawberries or papaya drizzled with well aged balsamic vinegar to enjoy the full flavor spectrum of this blended wine.  You will be able to taste each grape variety in this blend.

At first taste, the wine seemed a little light weighted for my expectations; but it quickly proved to be a perfect addition to any bistro style dish anywhere from sardines over greens to roasted rosemary chicken or goose liver pate’.  This experience points out something I love most about wine tasting.  As hard as vintners try for consistency, winemaking is an artform that conscripts unpredictable Mother Nature as a partner.  The same vinters using the same vines make different tasting wines from year to year.

At $11.50 to $13.00, this is a great wine to buy by the case for family dinners or lunch with dear friends.  Be aware production is limited.  Llano Estacado Winery is located 3.2 miles East of US 87 South  on FM 1585 in Lubbock, Texas.