The first harvest of Zinfandel, grown in Halfway, Texas, in the early 80's, Paul, dressed in white shorts, white shirt, white socks, and white shoes; drove to Lubbock in a flatbed truck loaded with basket press, pump, and tank. After picking all day with the Bell Brothers, they processed the grapes in Pete Laney's driveway. Pete was the speaker of the house in Texas and a grape grower. He was very supportive of the grape industry and worked to help build it. Paul wanted to show everyone the winemaking process on site. Pete's mother weighed each bucket on a bathroom scale. Paul pressed all the grapes in the basket press and pumped the juice into the tank. Purple juice was everywhere! When the day was done, Paul was covered in grapes and his white outfit was purple. He asked Mrs. Laney if he could rinse off in the shower but she said no and sent him to the swimming pool. He jumped in, shook off the excess water and drove home. To this day they say that there is a purple Zinfandel ring around that pool.

Our Private Reserve Tex-Zin is produced from old vines in Merrill's Vineyard in Halfway, Texas our coolest grape growing region. Our Tex-Zin is big and bold with wonderful spice flavors, a rich depth of color and lovely new oak aroma.

It is Double Barrel Aged - one year in European oak and then one year in new American oak.

This wine is a winner at the New Orleans Wine and Food Extravaganza, the Lone Star International Wine Competition, Tasters Guild International and Texas' Best Wine Competition.

Serve at 65 degrees F.

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