Castle Oaks Winery

You know, there's nothing quite like being at one winery and having another one recommended to you.  And then, when you go to the second winery, they tell you how great the one you just came from is.  That, friends, is pretty awesome, and that's exactly what happened at Castle Oaks Winery in Athens.  We'd been at 3 P's in a Vine because they opened first, and the owner told us we needed to head up the street and have a sip at Castle Oaks.  As we pulled into the facility, we were immediately impressed with the sweet buds on the vines, and the facility boasted a huge iron gate that led into a covered patio and into what looked a bit like a castle door. The tasting room had an elegant bar and a gorgeous, antiqued buffet behind it that was made just for the space.  

Castle Oaks offers a lot of wines, and we might have tried all of them, so I'm going to touch on the high points.  There were four reds that stood out on the day.  First, their Royal Red.  This blend features the black Spanish grape, which we learned was brought over for the monks that didn't like whit.  They used it for their sacrament - and now we know the Lord appreciates good wine. See? The Royal Red was actually sipped from the Chalis at First Baptist Athens, and I just hope that the preacher noticed and appreciated the deep cherry notes and easy finish as much as we did. 

The II Knights is a Cabernet/Malbec blend, and it was challenging to pinpoint a single smell.  We picked up hints of leather and it was a little musty, but it had a hearty, smoky richness and a wonderful finish. Brought home a bottle of this one! 

The Cab Sav came next, and we were happy with its fullness, especially the full berry undertones and slightly sweet lingering finish.  It was rich and would pair nicely with a smoky, hearty cheese.  One final standout was the Petite Syrah, which I especially liked because it's extra dry and really musty in the nose.  Definitely the chewiest of the reds we tried there, but the grapes came from Cali, so even though it was produced and bottled here in Texas, it's not all the way Texan. We'll forgive it this one time. :-) 

Y'all, Castle Oaks has some nice wines, but the people are even nicer.  Benita, the owner, came in about mid-tasting and stood behind her bar and talked to us like we were her next of kin. She laughed at her own jokes and started many a sentence with, "Now, just let me tell you a little story..." and like anyone with any sense, we listened.  She told us about all sorts of things, including the monks and the chalis, and boasted about her products, pouring us a little taste of this and that all the while.  

It's just impossible to ignore the richness of the people and the wine out in Athens.  Definitely worth a visit next time you're out that way!

Cheers, y'all!