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theCompass mobile application is a winery, brewery, and distillery locator for North America. |
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La Cruz de Comal Winery
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La Cruz de Comal is collaboration between two long-standing friends, California winemaker Tony Coturri and Texas lawyer and wine enthusiast, Lewis Dickson. Nic Coturri, Tony's son, is instrumental to the harvest and crush, as is long-time Houston restaurateur, Bill Johnson, who also helps with sales. We are located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, often referred to as "The Provence of Texas". The small winery and case storage facility buried in the limestone hillside are near the town of Startzville, not far from Canyon Lake. From New Braunfels, the drive takes about 15 minutes.
La Cruz de Comal became a bonded winery in 2004. In 2001-2002, a few precious barrels of authentic Texas wine were made by Tony and Lewis at nearby Dry Comal Creek Vineyards & Winery. We again thank our good friends, Bonnie and Franklin Houser of Dry Comal Creek, for opening their doors to us.
This initial wine was well received by notable restaurants, wine critics and friends. In 2003, just one barrel of red wine (a blend we call Cohete Rojo, Spanish for "Red Rocket") was made primarily from estate grown grapes. Though not sold commercially, it also received high praise following a winemaker dinner at t'afia restaurant in Houston. With the proof in the bottle, we knew where our passions were capable of taking us. La Cruz de Comal produces only authentic Texas wine from grapes conscientiously grown in the Texas Hill Country. We offer the real Texas "terroir" thing: Texas grapes, fermentations on natural yeasts, no additions of acid, sugar, grape concentrate, powdered tannins, artificial coloring agents, reverse osmosis or any other form of hocus-pocus. We have no interest in passing off grapes or wine foreign to Texas as being a product of Texas. Our passion embraces the age-old concept of "regionality" where food, wine and agriculture in general are concerned. We fully expect our wines to have personality and individual character. In many respects, wines and their evolution are like people. The thing that makes people (and wine) interesting is what's different about them, not what's the same. We don't want our wines to be the same as other producers', anymore than we want our wines to be the same year after year. Each wine is different just as each vintage is different. Our goal is not to envision some "Parker 95" benchmark wine and then artificially concoct a beverage in its image. We offer our wines for what they are not, just as much as for what they are. Only through such an approach will authentic wine be produced-- wine that is true to its origin: the very soil, micro-climate and environs from which it came--its "terroir."
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Cohete Rojo "Prestige"
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.
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Estate Syrah
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.
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La Rosa
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.
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