More to be thankful for...

More Great Press for TexaCali Wine Co. Fans! December's Wine Enthusiast Magazine gave the following high scores to Pellegrini Family Vineyards of Sonoma! Cheers - Ali

91 Pellegrini 2007 Olivet Lane Vineyard Estate Bottled Chardonnay (Russian River Valley); $24. The vintage was great, the vineyard is in a great part of the valley, and the wine is wonderful. It's ultrarich in tropical fruit, buttered toast, buttercream and spice flavors, but perfectly balanced with acidity and minerals.

91 Pellegrini 2007 Olivet Lane Vineyard Estate Bottled Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley); $35. A gorgeous, lush Pinot Noir, simply irresistible for drinking now, but ageable. Shows rich, ripe cherry, raspberry, currant, chocolate and anise flavors, accented with spicy sandalwood. A bit primary and fresh in its youth, and should develop bottle nuances through 2013.

90 Pellegrini 2006 Cloverdale Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley); $28. Where the winery's Merlot is lovely now, this '06 Cab needs a few years in the cellar. It's tannic, giving an astringent tug to the blackberries, cherries, red currants, cocoa and herbs. Should soften by 2011, but if you drink it now, give it a good airing.

90 Pellegrini 2006 Cloverdale Ranch Merlot (Alexander Valley); $24. Great job in a soft, fruity, dry Merlot from this veteran producer. Shows an elegance in the finely ground tannins and deft integration of oak. With complex flavors of herbs, blackberries, violets, spices and wood char, it's just lovely now.

90 Pellegrini 2006 Milestone (Sonoma County); $45. A Bordeaux blend, it's quite shut down in tannins now, and not showing its best despite impressively ripe, rich blackberries, black cherries, currants and touches of chocolate, dried herbs and tobacco. Needs time. Give it through 2010, and it could blossom impressively beyond that.

90 Pellegrini 2007 Eight Cousins Vineyard Zinfandel (Russian River Valley); $26. A lovely Zinfandel, mainly for its beautiful texture. Shows classic flavors of peppery spices, wild berries, currants, tobacco, bacon and tobacco, but it's those fine tannins, lively acids and deft touch of oak that make it so balanced. Now-2013.

(Picture 1. Olivet Lane Display at Whole Foods Plano in 2007, Picture 2. While driving South on Olivet Lane 2 weeks ago, Pinot Noir Vineyard on the right, Olive trees and 8 Cousins Vineyard on the far left.)