I am returning to the blog. My worked quickly filled November and December. However, my three short weeks of vacation has begun, so I am returning to these pages. And it so happens, that the following post is another return.
The clouds seemed to break for us, as we sat down at the
picnic table to drink wine and catch up. A chilly breeze blew along the open
fields in Mason County. The collection of buildings around us were
transforming, slowly developing from dream into reality. This day was very
different from the day in early June when I first stepped foot here. As 2014
draws to a close, I see growth and a bright future for
Fly Gap Winery.
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| Mason Punch and Johnny Rojo |
In June, Brock Estes allowed me to see his dream. We road
through the hills along sandy, red dirt roads to see a place ripe for new life.
When we finally arrived at the location that would soon be his winery and tasting
room, I looked out on a clean block that would one day become a statue. The
production facility had no siding, just an ever developing foundation of
concrete vats that, one day, would flow with Mason County grapes. The future tasting
room was filled with a collection of many pasts, not yet ready to become a
future. The cellar was a roof and three walls with a rough dirt floor. But, I
knew that this was only the beginning.
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| Concrete Vessel, June 2014 |
Just six months later, the form has begun to take shape. It is
rough yet, but it shows signs of what is to be. The production facility now has
siding and is better prepared to protect the wine. Boxes of the newest wine fill
the space. This wall of white cardboard holds something precious: Brock's first
100% Mason wine and the first to be bottled on the premise. The cellar dives
deep into the red earth, on schedule to begin its next phase. The tasting room has
begun to let its memories go, and in it is the future back bar.
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| Production Facility, December 2014 |
Despite the cold breeze, Brock, my husband Sean, and I sat
outside to take everything in. We sipped on the last release – Johnny Rojo –
enjoying its growth since the late summer. This wine has begun to mature. It
has relaxed into itself, softening its rougher edges and growing more
harmonious. This wine lulled us into forgetting that it was December, its
warmth a relaxing touch.
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| Mason Punch, front |
And we tasted the newest wine – Mason Punch. This wine is special.
The four previous wines, though made from Texas fruit, do not bear the name Fly
Gap. These four wines are Dank. The Fly Gap name is reserved for those wines born
in Mason County. Mason Punch is only the first. But it is young, much like the
ever changing landscape of the winery. On that day, a youthfulness, new spring
life, moved through the blend of 44% Touriga and 56% Tempranillo. The dusky terroir was
quiet, and the fruit engaged in a frenetic dance. In the bottle, a dream is
taking shape. But much like the world around it, it is finding its way.
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| Mason Punch, back |
The sun moved across the sky; we were reminded that it was
the shortest day of the year. We let the day slip by: witnessing a dream take
shape does that. So we gathered up our wines – the maturing Johnny Rojo and the
youthful Mason Punch – and set out into the setting sun.
Note: We all noticed a greenness to the newest wine, indicating
that it may yet be too young to drink. However, there is a lot of potential, so
we brought a few bottles home and plan to let them age a bit.
