Best Texas Wines

The best Texas wines of 2015: dry rosé and Blanc du Bois

Here are the best dry rosé and Blanc du Bois of 2015.

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This is the fourth and final installment of the best Texas wines of 2015, in which we’ve revealed the top bottles as determined by Texas Wine Journal. This last list looks at the best dry rosé and Blanc du Bois.

Texas Wine Journal relies on consensus, rather than the opinion of a single taster, to make objective recommendations. Wines are scored from 75-100 and rated as average, good, very good, excellent, and extraordinary. Only wines scoring 80 points or higher are published.

For our lists, we took the top three most highly rated of all the wines scored last year. We started with Viognier and Syrah, moved on to white blends and red blends, and then got to Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo.

There are more to explore that rank among the best of the year on the TWJ website.

DRY ROSE

Brennan Vineyards, Mourvedre Rosé, 2014
88 points, $20
“Too dangerous to drink alone,” writes Jim Cubberley, who likes this rosé’s fragrant aromas of strawberries and blackberries, surprising medium body, and fresh texture in the mouth. “Simply one of the tastiest Texas dry rosés I’ve had this year.”
Where to buy: Spec’s, H-E-B, Central Market

Calais Winery, La Cuvée De Gaston, 2014
87 points, $30
“A Texas nod to Provence, this rosé shows a beautiful balance of red fruit — Bing cherries and strawberry — with a vivacious underpinning of chalky minerality and acidity,” notes Margaret Shugart.
Where to buy: This one is sold out, but La Cuvée De Gaston 2015 is coming in May.

Lewis Wines, Mourvedre Rosé, 2014
87 points, $30
Mark Rashap notes “very delicate aromas of orange peel, wild berries, and roses” on this wine reminiscent of a Provence rosé. “Very pleasant wine to have with oily fish, creamy cheese, or anything carrying vinaigrette,” he adds.
Where to buy: This wine is sold out.

BLANC DU BOIS

Haak Vineyards & Winery, Blanc du Bois Madeira, 2013
91 points, $40
Oscar Montes Iga says this wine, an “iconic Madiera-styled Blanc du Bois,” has flavors of molasses-covered dried peaches and apricots, with walnut and pine nut, “to accent any cheese course.”
Where to buy: Spec’s, Kroger, Total Wine, Whole Foods, H-E-B

Lewis Wines, Swim Spot, 2014
87 points, $14
Jim Cubberley gushes, “This a must-have by the case” and a “perfect summer wine for Texans.” It has a super light body, and it’s dry but not bracingly so — a cross between an expensive vinho verde and Austrian Gruner Veltliner.
Where to buy: Winery only.

Haak Vineyards & Winery, Estate Blanc du Bois, 2015
86 points, $19
“Looking for something fresh, juicy, light, and summery? This dry Blanc du Bois really hits the mark,” says Jim Cubberley, who also calls Haak “one of the best Blanc du Bois producers in the state.”
Where to buy: Winery only.

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LOADS OF FUN

Chicks member Emily Strayer opens laundromat coffee cafe in Texas

Photo courtesy of\u00a0SOAP Laundry Lounge

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The Chicks' Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist Emily Strayer is opening an unusual coffee bar concept: Called SOAP Laundry Lounge, it'll be a swanky laundromat and coffee bar opening in San Antonio.

According to a release, it'll open on December 4.

Strayer grew up in Dallas. She and her husband, musician Martin Strayer, are often on the road, but they purchased the building as a long-term investment in their adopted hometown. She envisioned the spot as both a neighborhood amenity and a community hub.

“SOAP was born from the idea that everyday tasks can be enjoyable,” Emily says in a statement. “I wanted to create a space that’s not just functional but inspiring, a place that brings people together and helps elevate how we live, even in the simplest moments, like laundry.”

The laundromat portion of the 5,500-square-foot building will feature 64 slow water, energy-saving machines — 28 washers and 36 dryers — outfitted with the Aquawing Ozone Laundry System, a hospital-grade sanitization technology that kills 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses.

In addition to self-service, SOAP offers a wash-and-fold option starting at $4 per wash. The laundromat uses a card-based payment system, which allows customers to load funds via cash, card, or EBT. The cards can be used throughout the concept, including the coffee bar.

The menu includes espresso drinks, teas, lemonades, and pastries alongside a few seasonal favorites like a Mexican mocha and a peppermint cold brew. With the complimentary WiFi, the concept almost functions like a coworking space.

Dallas is no stranger to laundromat-combination businesses: In the 90s, it was home to a beloved lounge in Exposition Park called Bar of Soap, which was a combination laundromat and punk rock bar, hosting both local and national name-brand touring bands.

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