Perfect start for California/Texas line

By Dale Rice
Austin American Statesman
June 17th, 2004

There's a new California wine with an unusual pedigree: It begins life and matures on the West Coast, but it is refined and finished in Texas.

The brainchild of Chad Auler, son of Fall Creek Vineyard owners Susan and Ed Auler of Austin, the Perfect 10 wines roll into the marketplace this month.

Both the Blonde -- a Monterey chardonnay -- and the Brunette -- a Paso Robles merlot -- have so much going for them that one national retailer offered to take all that Auler could produce.

Thankfully, he declined.

Consequently, the wine will be available in local wine and grocery stores, as well as on the wine lists of Central Texas restaurants, and I predict it will be exceedingly popular.

First, the wine will sell in stores for $10 a bottle, a price that is easy to consume for many wine drinkers. Second, both the Blonde and the Brunette, which are finished off at the Fall Creek facility in Tow, taste like they should come with a higher price tag.

Unlike the typical California chardonnay, with its heavy oak flavor, this Blonde wears more of a fruity, Burgundian style. It has a wonderful bouquet, with barely ripe pineapple and papaya notes in the nose and on the palate. Tasting it with a duck spring roll and a zesty sauce, the wine stood up well to the spice.

The Brunette featured good acidity and a nice structure, with a pronounced spiciness. Auler envisions it will work well with barbecue. It certainly holds its own with beef tenderloin with a spicy Argentinian chimichurri sauce.

As mother and son vintners tasted it for the first time with food, it was easy to see that both were pleased with the results. And they should be.

Auler should be delighted that his first big foray into the wine business has turned out so well. And his mother, I know, is proud of that success.

A Perfect 10 is off to a perfect start.

Where to drink it: Reed's Jazz and Supper Club, 9901 N. Capital of Texas Highway; Cool River, 4001 W. Parmer Lane; P.F. Chang's (downtown location); Roaring Fork, 700 Congress Ave. and Louie's 106, 419 Colorado St.

Where to buy it: World Market, Twin Liquors (all locations), Reuben's (all locations) and some H-E-Bs