Kyle Groombridge

WSET Level 3 / Dallas Area rep with Victory Wine Group / Passionate about learning, teaching, and all things funk.

629 wines • 152 followers • 108 following

Calais Winery

Botrytis Texas Chenin Blanc 2015

Kyle Groombridge

9.5

Kyle had this 7 years ago

with Matt, Jen and 1 other

Stephen, Shay and 41 others liked this

Stephen Pierron

@Shay A wow! I am definitely going to have to check them out for sure. I'm not a huge fan of Texas wines, but this winery has caught my attention. I love Cab Franc and haven't tried that varietal from Texas yet. I've had mostly sangiovese, tempranillo, merlot, and Cab Sauv. I'm surprised his winery hasn't grabbed too much attention....perhaps he just depends on the wine member lists? I've never seen his wines anywhere. I'm amazed by how many wines he offers based on their website.. kind of crazy.

Shay A

@Stephen Pierron : As a wine enthusiast, it can be difficult to get in to TX wines, but over the last few years, the quality of certain producers has definitely improved. In my opinion, TX does whites (Sauv Blanc, Albariño, unique white varietals), Rosés, and only a few red varietals well (Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Spanish/Italian varietals). They need to avoid the sexiness of Napa famous varietals as they don’t do well here. I believe the best red wine coming out of TX is CL Butaud’s Tempranillo. Randy Hester, of Lightning Wines in Napa, moved back to TX to create a TX project. It’s a must try. As for Ben’s wines, he definitely doesn’t distribute much (if at all?) @Mark Flesher is quite knowledgeable about Ben, so maybe he can chime in.

Mark Flesher

The best TX wines for the most part ARE the ones you cannot find anywhere. Calais, Kuhlman, Inwood Estates, Alexander, Fall Creek (Meritus) and a few Kiepersol wines are fantastic. The TX wines you find in stores are for the most part overextracted, harvested usually too early purely based on Brix than the ripeness of the fruit, made from bulk fruit, and have a tart and vegetal note on account of a combo of the above. I'll just come out and say it, but many Texans will support Texas even if drinking water is a more palatable substitute just because it is 'Texas.' This is a very proud state. The quality of the wine has therefore improved slowly IMO, but a few DO get it. It will probably take a while, but Ben Calais, Benedicte Rhein, and Sergio Schile have learned from the Jim Johnsons and Oberhelmans of the Texas wine past and are pushing forward the future of Texas wine, even though the bulk producers do quite enough to push it back.

William Chris Vineyards

Pétillant Naturel Rosé Blend 2017

Kyle Groombridge

Kyle had this 7 years ago

with Mike

Shay, Sean and 4 others liked this

Drappier

Zéro Dosage Brut Nature Champagne Pinot Noir

Kyle Groombridge

9.3

Celebrated the last day of my old Job and the beginning of a new adventure with a delish bottle of bubbly and some close friends. I usually subscribe to more Blanc de Blanc styles of champagne, but this Blanc de Noirs is killin it. Brut nature, old school champagne house and it shows - beautiful autolysis bready yeasty aromas with a gorgeous baked caramel apple thing going on on the palate. Love this sexy beast. — 7 years ago

Kimberly, Riddley and 11 others liked this

Shay A

@Kyle Groombridge : No more Total? What’s the new adventure?

Kyle Groombridge

@Shay A Yessir! Finished with Total last week, started with Victory Wine Group, a small distributor yesterday! Wine distribution

William Chris Vineyards

Pétillant Naturel Rosé Blend 2017

Kyle Groombridge

9.3

This is silly - funky natty pet-nat rose from right here in Texas. Loads of raspberry, mulled berries, spice, and cream. Delicious and gulpable. Off-dry. I’ll tell ya what - this is the first Texan winery to really turn my head and catch my attention.. their whole lineup was solid. Definitely worth checking out, but this was the star. — 7 years ago

Shay, Riddley and 4 others liked this

Matthew Dickson

William Chris is the only Texas winery I regularly buy from. That pet nat is a regular in our house!

Marqués de Cáceres

Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2012

Kyle Groombridge

9.2

This thing has no business being $17. Smoke, charcoal, chocolate, toasty oak, vanilla, and cinnamon.. this is Tempranillo turned up to 11. Still beautiful acidity and color, dense texture with some gripping tannins. I’d give this 5 more years to settle down or decant overnight.. but she’s a beaut for the modest price tag. — 7 years ago

Stephen, Saman and 3 others liked this

Barnett Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

Kyle Groombridge

Kyle had this 7 years ago

with Mike

Shay, Sean and 4 others liked this

Ermitage du Pic Saint Loup

Tour de Pierres Coteaux du Languedoc Pic St. Loup Grenache Blend

Kyle Groombridge

8.9

Fun little wine - gamey earthy nose with blueberry, high toned red fruit and distinctly “grapey” notes. The palate has high acid, salinity, and more purple fruit. This wine screams for food. Great for the price however. 50 Syrah, 40 Grenache, 10 Mourvèdre — 7 years ago

Riddley, Mike and 3 others liked this

Château Benoit

Arbalest Red Bordeaux Blend 1915

Kyle Groombridge

9.1

Dang that’s juicy. Rockin Red fruit and a garrigues-esque herbaceous quality that is beautifully knit. What a deal, nice job Benoit. — 7 years ago

Kimberly, Sean and 8 others liked this

Domaine Paul Buisse

Les Parcelles Marc Dupas Muscadet

Kyle Groombridge

8.9

Nothing crazy, but exactly what Muscadet should be.. bright, lime zest, minerals, a touch of cream but more just refreshment factor. Nice wine and varietally correct. — 7 years ago

Stephen, Sean and 1 other liked this

Besserat de Bellefon

Cuvée des Moines Brut Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay

Kyle Groombridge

9.5

Definitely my new favorite champagne. I’ve had two different times now and both times have turned my head and made me think about it for days after. So much complexity and purity here - toasty creamy mousse, meyer lemon sorbet, overripe apricot and marmalade, hint of clove and banana bread, honeysuckle and honey too. The aromatics are haunting. Beautiful texture. It’s got it all. — 7 years ago

Mike, Shay and 7 others liked this