Featured User: Ken Venezio

Ken Venezio is an aspiring wine enthusiast with a passion for family, cooking, music, all sports and a better than average golfer. Ken is a husband, dad, and hard working sales professional that loves to share a well prepared meal that’s been paired with a great wine. Delectable: What sparked your passion for wine? Ken Venezio: My Italian heritage got me started years ago making wine with my uncles and their friends. I quickly moved from the basement barrel to other regions, expanded my taste profile and haven't looked back since. Every bottle unlocks another potential for greatness. D: What wine region are you wild about right now? KV: I always enjoy the Oregon Pinots for their variety and ability to pair with almost every meal. D: What is the most unusual wine you’ve ever tried? KV: 100% Roussanne from a Frenchman producing wines in the Texas Hill Country . D: What is your golden rule for wine? KV: Drink what you like. Wine is like music. There are no rules for what gives you enjoyment. Be your own judge and jury. When your mood changes, try something new. D: Say you’re not allowed to have wine, what is your second option? KV: I'm afraid I'd be in therapy, but I do enjoy an occasional Extra Añejo tequila . D: Choose a movie, book, quote, or song and pair it with a wine KV: The Godfather: Any 2010 Barolo Cannubi . Opens to a soft floral nose and gradually builds in complexity through a long finish. The Godfather II: Penfolds Grange Bin 95 . Grabs your attention from the first sip and continues to power punch you for the next 3 hours. D: If you were a wine, what wine would you be? KV: I’d be an easy drinking Barbera or a Cab Franc . Blends well with others, easy on the palate and very little drama.

Robert Biale Vineyards

Black Chicken Napa Valley Zinfandel 2016

9.2

I'm a former club member and love all of Robert Biale wines. The Black Chix is a perennial fav. Loads of upfront mocha and spiced cinnamon. More fruit forward than most zins but a nice mix of structure and balance with subtle tannins. 2016 drinking well. Paired with a chicken parm. Why not!!!!! — 7 years ago

Shay, Dawn and 14 others liked this

Department 66

D 66 Côtes Catalanes Grenache Blend

9.1

Inky purple in the glass with loads of jam, figs, black fruits and blackberry on the palate. This is a big bold wine of mostly Grenache. Nice long finish where you might get some fennel or anise. — 7 years ago

Shay, P and 3 others liked this

Component Wine

Sémillon

9.0

Attended a Component wine tasting with winemaker/ owner Michael Kennedy. Our team all loved the Semillon. Totally unique wine. Crisp, elegant and refreshing as a stand alone Semillon. — 7 years ago

Severn and Ron liked this

Hall Wines

Bergfeld St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

9.3

Inky garnet in the glass. Loads of chocolate and blue fruits on the nose. After a 1 hr decant, this wine shows it's strength. Big and bold juicy cab with loads of plum, cinnamon cloves and spices. The tannins give it a bite, but they're silky smooth. Paired with a Java rub Filet. Great drink from Hall. — 7 years ago

Shay, P and 6 others liked this

Two hour decant. OMG. This is a fabulous drink. Tannins have softened to allow the blue fruits and spice move forward. Yummy.

Sounds delicious!🍷

Morlet Family Vineyards

Coup De Coeur Sonoma County Chardonnay 2015

9.4

Another beautifully produced wine from Luc and team. Nose of orchids and honeysuckle with loads of lemon and apricot on the palate. This wine has great balance and structure. Layer upon layer of fleshy melons and fruits. Mild acidity with a long finish. — 7 years ago

Shay, P and 4 others liked this

Hall Wines

Eighteen Seventy-Three Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

9.5

Just a bomb of a Cab. Uber complex with loads of blackberry and blueberry. You can't ignore the beautiful floral finish. The bottle age really helped this finish out the tannins. Glorious. — 7 years ago

P, Billy and 6 others liked this

Gary Farrell

Russian River Selection Chardonnay 2016

9.0

You might get a cantaloupe or melon nose but this opens to Meyer lemon, apple and mango. It is definitely acid-driven on the palate. Nice drop from Farrell. Not as buttery as I like but a good drink. — 7 years ago

P, Dawn and 4 others liked this

State of Mind Wines

An Oregon LS Vineyard Chardonnay 2017

9.0

This is obviously a Chardonnay from Oregon. Not a Pinot. Attended a tasting with Vintner Michael Kennedy and this one got my attention. He's trying to refocus on what Oregon chardonnay can offer. This wine delivers that uniqueness. Traditional citrus, apple & pear but with a hint of oak. Coravin'd a glass so we'll give this a few months to mellow. I'll come back on this one. — 7 years ago

Shay, Dawn and 4 others liked this

I attended with Claire at the Fort Worth location. I have a couple lockers there. Are you a Classic member?

I attend the Southlake events. She's a gem of a friend.

@Ken Venezio : Yes, she truly is!

Silenus

Merlot 2012

9.0

Very drinkable Merlot that won't break the bank. Notes of spice, milk chocolate and plenty of cherry. The bottle age has softened the tannins enough to enjoy with a lot of different food pairings. We paired with a marinated lemon chicken and it held up against the acidity of the chicken. Nice long finish. — 7 years ago

Dawn, Ron and 2 others liked this

Michele Chiarlo

Cipressi Nizza Barbera d'Asti 2016

9.2

I tried for a year to find the 2015. No luck. This is the 2016 and it's a glorious Barbera. Nizza DOCG. Smoky and slate on the nose. Full of flavor with a mouth coating burst on the palate. Just enough acidity to make this a great pairing wine. Tobacco, red fruits, cherry. Yummy goodness and great value from M Chiarlo — 7 years ago

P, Dawn and 3 others liked this

Nice descriptive review. Cheers!🍷

Nickel & Nickel

Truchard Vineyard Chardonnay 2018

9.0

Vintage 2018 that offers plenty of tropical fruits and citrus in the glass. Pear and white plum, peaches with medium acidity and weight. I'm going to give the rest of this another year and see how it matures. — 7 years ago

P, Shay and 5 others liked this

Nice photo. Cheers!🍷

Round Pond Estate

Reserve Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

9.1

This reserve Cab opens with loads of spice , dark raspberries, a bit of floral and licorice. Tannins are silky. This Reserve has loads of texture and will outshine the normal estate bottling. Would benefit from a few hours of air. — 7 years ago

Shay, P and 6 others liked this

Purple Hands Winery

Stoller Vineyard Pinot Noir 2015

9.1

Beautifully floral Pinot from Cody and team. Shows an expressive cherry and dark berry opener. A bit of herbal undertone. A year of bottle age really helped this. — 7 years ago

Dawn, P and 1 other liked this

Orin Swift

Mercury Head Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

9.4

It's been years since my last MH Cab and this still delivers. Open to ripe plums, black cherry and blackberries. I also get a lot of lavender. This wine is Full-bodied, with great structure and a long licorice finish. — 7 years ago

Trixie, Shay and 5 others liked this

Hall Wines

Ellie's Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

9.3

Decanted an hour. This is a flavor bomb. On the nose it's that brand new violet Crayola crayon out of the Mega 64 pack. Bursts of blackberries and cherries on the palate. Crazy long finish. A bit dusty and leathery and a wonderful cab from Hall. — 7 years ago

P, Shay and 5 others liked this

Nice. Opened the ‘12 earlier last week.

Thoroughly enjoyed the 2011. It's a beautiful place Cab maybe a bit too violet, but loved it.

Cheers! 🍷

Belle Glos

Clark & Telephone Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017

9.0

Easy drinking Martini clone Pinot. Spicy, cinnamon and licorice on the nose with loads of cherry, black raspberry and cedar on the palate. This is a good value, go to, everyday Pinot — 7 years ago

Shay, P and 9 others liked this

Tenuta di Renieri

Riserva Chianti Classico Sangiovese 2013

9.1

Tried this a few months ago and the alcohol dominated. It's mellowed quite nicely and the alcohol takes a second fiddle to the smoother tannins. Nice fruit balance of a classic Sangiovese. — 7 years ago

P, Trixie and 2 others liked this

Davey Family Wines

Estate Grown McLaren Vale Shiraz 2015

9.1

Maybe one of the best value Shiraz on the market. MV Shiraz with notes of tobacco, cedar and a slightly spicy finish. Tannins are nicely complemented with some structure. I'd easily buy this again. — 7 years ago

P, Trixie and 2 others liked this

Sounds delicious! A good Shiraz is enjoyable.

Patz & Hall

Sonoma County Pinot Noir 2016

9.3

Elegant wine with loads of cherry. Both on the nose and through the palate with a nice balance of texture and oak. Highly recommended. — 7 years ago

Shay, P and 3 others liked this

WALT Wines

The Corners Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2014

9.2

Beautiful Anderson Valley Pinot. Corners has great pedigree and this wine delivers. Loads of raspberry and cherry on the palate. This wine gained a perfect tannin structure with a little bottle age. Yummy. — 7 years ago

Shay, Dawn and 4 others liked this