Marker Cellars Winery

 If you know your native Texas plants, you'll likely recognize the stalk of Little Bluestem grass used on the Marker Cellars bottles.  Sitting just north of Decatur, and a few miles from downtown Alvord, you'll find Marker Cellars Family Winery in amongst the native plants and grasses on a beautiful piece of Texas property.  The tasting room sits at the front of the winery, and also has an expansive patio.  

We visited on a pleasant day in late May, where sitting on the patio was enjoyable. We were lucky enough to be greeted and served by the winemaker and cidermaker, Mark Germany.  He was happy to share his wealth of knowledge and answer any questions we had, but also gave us time to savor and discuss the wines on our own.  That type of hospitality is always appreciated.  

The tastings are your choice of five wines, so with the two of us, we were able to taste most all of the offerings.  Two whites, six reds, and a blush.  They do offer several sweet wines, and a wine-a-rita that we did not taste.  

To start us off, Mark suggested a cider. They have three choices, all of which have quirky, playful names in homage to musical artists. As a cidermaker, he isn't afraid to step out with new ideas and flavor profiles.  Although I much prefer wine, I could see how sipping a cider on a hot summer day could be the right choice. 

From the cider, we went to the blush, aptly named the Texas Bluestem Blush.  It is a blend of Viognier with a small percentage of Cabernet. It was light and refreshing, but also had a long finish.  They offer both a sparkling and still version.  

The Viognier was a little off-putting on the nose, but tasted well with a crisp and long finish.

The Rousanne had nice tones of melon in both the nose and mouth.  An easy drinker, with a quick finish.

The Mourvedre was very aromatic, but surprisingly light, with a thin taste.  Might be explained with the short, 8 month aging.  Nice wine with a great finish. 

The Syrah was aged 13 months and presented with a beautiful deep color and jammy aroma. The taste was rich, with hints of tobacco.

The Tempranillo had notes of vanilla, oak and smoke in the nose.  Tasted of dark cherry with a dry, peppery finish.

The Merlot stole the show, in my opinion.  Aromas of dark fruit, leather, and a pleasant mustiness. The mouthfeel was leathery, oaky, and super dry.  Aged 3 years to temper the tannic quality, it shows up with a very good balance and versatility.

The Blend was a mix of Cab and Malbec.  In the nose was musty with a sweet underneath.  The taste came as slightly sweet raspberry and fairly dry.  

The Lightning Cab was a little sweet on the nose.  The aging in oak and then bourbon barrels definitely came through in the aroma.  The taste didn't live up to the fullness expected, but could easily be a good dinner pairing. 

Marker Cellars Family Winery takes pride in their Texas roots, and have wines as solid and diverse as the Texas landscape. It is evident that Mark enjoys what he does, and is proud of the finished products. 

Take a drive out towards Decatur, and spend an hour or two at Marker Cellars (and be sure to ask for the piece of chocolate to accompany your tasting!).  You'll be glad you did. 

Cheers, y'all!