Translucent ruby red color; cherry, flowers on the nose; blackberry, red plum, some smoke and spice, finishes with red currant tang on the palate.
Medium-light body, respectful tannin, adequate acidity, round, easy drinker. The bottle and website do not reveal the blend, but this tastes like the Spanish grape tempranillo dominates the effort. The blend formula for Brennan’s “Red” changes vintage to vintage, reflecting which grapes were available—in 2015, for instance, the wine is 100% the Italian grape montepulciano. In this 2013 effort, the blend presents lots of cherry with some sour cherry. It will hang with burgers and grilled meat without the massive oak and tannin of a cab or other big red. Dry but very fruity simulates sweetness and will please range of palates.
Brennan Vineyards is located in Comanche, Texas, 100 miles southwest of Fort Worth and 27 miles northeast of Brownwood. The wine story begins in 1867 when James Madison “Mat” McCrary and his father, Reason P. McCrary, purchased land for the McCrary General Store in downtown Comanche. In 1879 they finished the “McCrary House” on Comanche Creek—today that is the tasting room for Brennan Vineyards. McCrary died in 1932, and his home sat empty for the next 55 years.
The Beard family purchased the McCrary home in 1987 and restored the badly deteriorated structure. In 1997, Dr. Pat and Trelisse Brennan purchased the home as a weekend getaway from Pat’s medical practice in Fort Worth, where he was a nephrologist and chief of staff at Harris Methodist Hospital. Seven years later, the Brennan’s “caught the wine making bug” and began building a winery and event center in the same location of the McCrary House. A short time later, they began producing award-winning wine using grapes grown in Texas, in addition to grapes grown on their own property. Today, they make a dependable, go-to Texas wine that is generally available around the state.
Brennan Vineyards Austin Street Red 2013 is excellent Texas offering made to please many. $15-18
Second photo: Brennan Vineyards entrance
