Becker Vineyards Iconoclast Fascination Red Wine 2013: Plenty of dark fruit, plum, smoke, spice, oak; cab-merlot-zin blend makes
for smooth drinker with laid-back tannin and mild acidity that will be liked by those who do not like bold reds. Becker is excellent Texas maker; this wine is made in Texas, but almost certainly not with all Texas-grown grapes (or any Texas-grown grapes). The giveaway is the “For sale in Texas only” note on the label. Federal law requires label to indicate place where grapes were grown, but a winery is exempt from the requirement if the wine is only sold in state where it was made. Fascinating loophole, and doesn’t take away from the fact the wine is nice for price, simple, easy drinker. Fascination was vinted and bottled in Stonewall, Texas, but the grapes only got to Texas as soon as they could. $11