Cicada Cellars (website) is located in Stonewall, Texas. You can’t miss the mural on the side of the building. Just popped in one afternoon for a tasting of their reds.
The Tasting
The 2019 Tempranillo smelled of vinegar and cherry. And I didn’t find this Tempranillo to my liking. The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon had a gassy scent and good berry flavor, but overall didn’t make much of an impression on me. The 2019 Merlot had a spicy/fruity scent and a good berry flavor. I’d pair this with meatloaf. The 2019 Cherrynose is a blend of Tempranillo and Malbec. It was nice with a good berry flavor, followed by some spice and tomato leaf. A bottle came home as a gift for a friend who is fond of both varietals. The 2019 Bourbon Barrel No. 3 is a blend of Petite Syrah and Malbec. It’s aged for 6-8 weeks in Garrison brothers bourbon barrels after aging for 18 months. It smells like a floral cherry cobbler and was spicier that expected. This would go well with Brian’s bacon wrapped dates or John’s smoked stuffed jalapeños – or just a good steak.
Final Thoughts
Maybe it was just an off day but out of all the tastings during my trip – this was one of my least favorites. Maybe it was just because the stools in the tasting room were uncomfortable. However, I did bring back a bottle of the 2019 Bourbon Barrel No. 3 to try with either the bacon wrapped dates, stuffed jalapeños, or a steak. However, maybe I’ll try it with all three.
