Mosketto Sparkling Wines ($12 each)
Looking for sweet, low-alcohol, refreshing wines? Here they are!
The market for low alcohol, sparkling wines has been gaining momentum for a few years now and the demand for all types of sparkling -- white, rosé or red -- has never been more popular with people choosing wines that are lower in alcohol but still high in flavor.
These Moskeeto wines are refreshingly sweet with pleasant bubbles, and have the ability to match the flavors in food that can't always be achieved with dry wines.
These easy-sipping, low-alcohol Frizzante (i.e., lightly sparkling) wines are from the Piedmont region of Italy. The white is made from the Moscato grape while the red is made from Brachetto. The rosé is a blend of these two grapes.
These three Mosketto wines are traditionally made, naturally carbonated, delicious and versatile. And, at just 5% alcohol by volume, these wines are light and refreshing.
These Mosketto wines are imported by Mack & Schühle, The Wine and Spirits Family.
Serve cold and enjoy!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Donna White, Donna White Communications
2016 Silvia Cellars Three Barrels Red Blend ($28)
The inspiration for Silvia Cellars began in 1885 on a family owned vineyard in Sicily. Striving to create quality wine for his dinner table, Nonno Silvia shared a passion for vendemmia (harvesting) of his vines with the members of his family. Over a century later, Antonio Silvia carried on his Grandfather’s legacy by starting his own winery with the same values. Silvia Cellars, a family owned winery, was born from the desire to capture the best of California appellations from seeking growing sites that fit their Sicilian winemaking style.
This is Silvia Cellars third vintage of the Three Barrels red blend. It’s produced from 60% Syrah, (Sonoma and Mendocino), 20% Zinfandel (Dry Creek) and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon (Suisun Valley).
Fermentation occurred with 80% in oak (50% of which is new French and American Oak) and the remaining 20% was fermented in stainless steel tanks.
This Silvia Cellars Three Barrels Blend is medium purple in color and has notes of black cherry, plum and jam on the nose. On the palate it’s well balanced, mildly tannic and has a long finish that highlights its oak aging.
This is yet another fine example of an affordable and attainable wine that fits right in as a Behind the Cork™ wine of the week.
You can find Silvia Cellars wines on https://silviacellars.com
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Antonio Silvia, Managing Director of Silvia Cellars LLC
2017 Silvia Cellars Three White Barrels ($20)
The inspiration for Silvia Cellars began in 1885 on a family owned vineyard in Sicily. Striving to create quality wine for his dinner table, Nonno Silvia shared a passion for vendemmia (harvesting) of his vines with the members of his family. Over a century later, Antonio Silvia carried on his Grandfather’s legacy by starting his own winery with the same values. Silvia Cellars, a family owned winery, was born from the desire to capture the best of California appellations from seeking growing sites that fit their Sicilian winemaking style.
This is Silvia Cellars second vintage of their Three Barrels White blend. It’s produced from 65% Sauvignon Blanc, 18% Viogner and 17% Semilion. The wine is then fermented in 50% stainless steel and 50% in oak.
This Three White Barrels blend is pale yellow in color and has notes of tropical fruits, pineapple, lime and citrus on the nose. On the palate it has a rich and creamy front-end that trails off into some refreshing acidity and a long finish.
This is yet another fine example of an affordable and attainable wine that fits right in as a Behind the Cork™ wine of the week.
You can find Silvia Cellars wines on https://silviacellars.com
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Antonio Silvia, Managing Director of Silvia Cellars LLC
2013 Dry Creek Old Vine Zinfandel Reserve ($35)
The inspiration for Silvia Cellars began in 1885 on a family owned vineyard in Sicily. Striving to create quality wine for his dinner table, Nonno Silvia shared a passion for vendemmia (harvesting) of his vines with the members of his family. Over a century later, Antonio Silvia carried on his Grandfather’s legacy by starting his own winery with the same values. Silvia Cellars, a family owned winery, was born from the desire to capture the best of California appellations from seeking growing sites that fit their Sicilian winemaking style.
This Silvia Cellars Old Vine Zinfandel is produced from vines that are more than 50 years in age and in some cases, more than 90 years old. It is comprised of 90% Old Vine Zinfandel 5% Petit Syrah 5% Carignane. The Zinfandel in this wine comes from a blend of 87% Dry Creek valley grapes, 6% from Alexander Valley and 7% from Mendocino County. It was aged 14 months in American and Hungarian oak, 15% of which was new oak.
This Zinfandel is medium purple in color with aromas of dark red fruit and soft floral perfume. On the palate it’s very smooth with low tannin and peppery hints. It’s finish is most notable being long and complex with notes from the oak aging.
You can find Silvia Cellars wines on https://silviacellars.com
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Antonio Silvia, Managing Director of Silvia Cellars LLC
2019 Art of Earth Montepulciano d’Abruzzo ($12)
This Art of Earth Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is a certified Organic wine. And it’s a 2019. Those two factors make this a very unusual wine. In a good way!
First, this Art of Earth is a wine made from organic grapes. This is a small but growing category of wine. This means there were no synthetic pesticides or herbicides used in the vineyard. Yeast and any other agricultural ingredients used in winemaking aren’t required to be organic, but have to be produced without excluded methods (like genetic engineering). Finally, sulfites may be added to these wines.
Secondly, this is a 2019 vintage. Yes, it’s a less than one year old red wine. Unusual.
On the nose this Art of Earth Montepulciano d’Abruzzo has aromas of bright red fruits. Namely cherry and raspberry. Not surprising for a very young wine. On the palate it’s got very firm tannins. Again, not surprising for a very young wine. But then it’s got this big berry flavor, good acidity and a seemingly strong oak influence. But I had to question myself - a wine that’s less than one year old with strong oak influence? It wasn’t until well after tasting this wine that I reviewed common characteristics of the Montepulciano grape. It was then that I discovered that it is well known for having a ‘smoky sweet finish.’ Exactly! That’s what I was experiencing!
So, if you can’t tell by now, this was a surprisingly good wine. And at a price of $12, a perfect fit for a Behind the Cork™ wine of the week feature. If you can find this one pick up a bottle or two. I think you too will be favorably surprised. Cheers!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Donna White, Donna White Communications
2019 Barone Montalto Pinot Grigio ($12)
This Barone Montalto Pinot Grigio is from the Valle del Belice in south-western Sicily, Italy.
It is produced from 100% Pinot Grigio that is fermented for 15 days at 13-15°C. Maturation is conducted in stainless steel tanks to preserve its bright fruit flavors for two months prior to bottling.
This Barone Montalto Pinot Grigio is straw yellow in color. The bouquet is full of citrus fruits, pear and green apple. On the palate it is bright and refreshing with medium acidity that yields a long, easy finish.
This is yet another fine example of an affordable and attainable wine that’s perfect to be featured as a Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!
For more information on this and other wines from Barone Montalto visit https://www.baronemontalto.wine
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Donna White, Donna White Communications
2015 Beronia Rioja Reserva ($19.99)
Here’s yet another returning star to Behind the Cork™ - the Beronia Rioja Reserva.
As we learned in last week’s post, “Reserva” means that a Rioja wine must undergo a minimum of three years of aging with at least one year in barrels and six months in the bottle. This one from Beronia spent 19 months in French and American oak barrels and completed its aging in the bottle for a minimum of 17 months prior to be released.
Produced from 95% Tempranillo, 4% Graciano and 1% Mazuelo, this Beronia Rioja Reserva is deep ruby in color and has aromas of dark fruits and spices. It is easy on the palate with light tannin, good flavors of fresh dark fruits such as black cherry, balanced acidity and has a nice long finish.
This Beronia Rioja Reserva fits right in with the Behind the Cork™ theme of being an affordable and attainable wine that you will enjoy. Cheers!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Rebekah Polster, Donna White Communications
2012 LAN Viña Lanciano Rioja Reserva ($19.99)
The grapes used in the production of this Rioja Reserva come from a selection of vines of more than 30 years of age located in LAN’s Viña Lanciano estate. It is produced from 90% Tempranillo, 8% Graciano and 2% Mazuelo.
It is fermented in small stainless steel tanks with long macerations and continuous pumping-over of the must to achieve better color extraction. It then undergoes Malolactic conversion in French oak barrels sourced from the Tronçaise forests.
For a Rioja wine to be categorized as a Reserva, it must undergo a minimum of three years of aging with at least one year in barrels and six months in the bottle. This Viña Lanciano Rioja Reserva spent 14 months in Tronçaise French oak barrels and eight months in Russian oak barrels from the Caucasus. That was followed by 20 months in the bottle.
This Viña Lanciano is a bright garnet color. It has aromas of black fruits (blackberry, blackcurrant) and vanilla. On the palate it is big on the front-end with ripe tannins, good acidity and a long finish that emphasizes the vanilla flavors from the oak aging.
This wonderful LAN Viña Lanciano Rioja Reserva is recommended with stews, smoked and spicy dishes, meat carpaccio and mature cheeses. Enjoy this one between 62 and 64º F. Cheers!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Stefanie Schwalb, Gregory+Vine
2019 Domäne Wachau Grüner Veltliner Federspiel ($14.99)
Grüner Veltliner is Austria’s most important grape variety. And this one is from the famous Wachau Valley noted for its steep terraced vineyards.
The word Federspiel in this wine’s name identifies it as one of three categories of wines from the Wachau Valley. Federspiel wines have a maximum alcohol content of 12.5% and Chaptalisation (The process of adding sugar to fermenting grapes to increase the final alcohol level) is strictly forbidden. The word Federspiel is derived from falconry which was a very popular leisure time activity among the nobility in Medieval times.
This wine is produced from 100% Grüner Veltliner grapes that are fermented in stainless steel tanks in order to preserve the fresh fruit flavors of the wine.
It is a bright yellow-green in color. On the nose it has vibrant aromas of green apple, citrus and cut grass. On the palate it is light and refreshing with crisp acidity and a long finish with hints of citrus.
Chill this one to 48 degrees F and enjoy with lighter fare such as fish, seafood and poultry or with the traditional Austrian cuisine of ‘Wiener Schnitzel.’ Cheers!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Rebekah Polster, Donna White Communications
2012 LAN Rioja Reserva
Recently I featured LAN Rioja Crianza as the Behind the Cork™ wine of the week. Now we step it up to the LAN Rioja Reserva.
This Rioja is from vineyards in the Rioja Alta and Alavesa subzones with an average age of vines
being more than 25 years.
This LAN Rioja is produced from 92% Tempranillo and 8% Mazuelo grapes. It is fermented in stainless steel tanks, and undergoes three weeks of maceration with frequent pumping-over to ensure a good color extraction. It is then aged for 18 months in hybrid barrels of French and American oak. LAN Reserva then remains another 20 months in the bottle to complete its rounding off.
The LAN Rioja Reserva is a medium ruby red in color with black cherry, black berry and raisin on the nose. It’s big on the front end with bright fruit flavors, jammy cherry, low acid and a hint of chocolate on the delicate finish.
Chill this LAN Rioja Reserva to 63 - 66 degrees F and enjoy with bold cheeses, grilled meats or just by the glass. Cheers!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Stefanie Schwalb, Gregory+Vine
2019 Beronia Rosé ($12.99)
Here’s another returning star to Behind the Cork™. This Beronia Rosé is from the Rioja region of Spain. It is produced from 70% Tempranillo and 30% Garnacha.
Both the Tempranillo and Garnacha grapes underwent cold pre-fermentation maceration for several hours to extract as much of the primary aromas as possible.
Next, they underwent static debourbage at 41 degrees F. This is a process in which the must of a wine is allowed to settle before racking off the wine, thus reducing the need later for filtration or fining.
Finally, alcoholic fermentation took place and the wine rested in the bottle for at least two months before being released to market.
The resulting wine is bright pink-orange in color, has bright floral aromas of rose petals. On the palate it’s light and refreshing with flavors of candied cherries and citrus. This is a dry rosé that’s perfect as the days get warmer and outside activities are in full swing.
Enjoy this Beronia Rosé with or without foods. Cheers!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Rebekah Polster, Donna White Communications
2016 Bodegas LAN Crianza
This Bodegas LAN Crianza is from Spain’s famous Rioja region that is best known for its Tempranillo that is a full-bodied wine that is typically high in tannin.
The winery’s name LAN represents the initials of the DOCa provinces Logroño (which today is Rioja), Álava and Navarra.
This LAN Crianza is produced from 95% Tempranillo and 5% Mazuelo that were selected from 10 to 20-year-old vines.
The de-stemmed grapes were lightly crushed and fermented in stainless steel tanks. Maceration occurred in contact with the grape skins for 15 days along with pumping the juice over the cap of grape skins daily for develop maximum color and aromatic extraction.
This Bodegas LAN Rioja wine is labeled as “Crianza.” One of the translations of the word “Crianza” is ‘aging.’ And, indeed, this style of Rioja is required to be aged for one year in oak. This LAN Crianza was aged for 14 months in combined American and French oak barrels followed by 9 months of rounding in the bottle prior to release.
On the nose this wine has notes of black cherry and plum along with floral notes and spice. On the palate it’s fully-bodied with big dark fruit flavors, mild acidity and highly tannic.
Chill this one to 60-64 degrees F and give it plenty of time in a decanter to help soften the tannins. Then, enjoy this big red LAN Rioja with pasta, pizza, poultry, or grilled red meat. Cheers!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Stefanie Schwalb, Gregory+Vine
2017 The Federalist Cabernet Sauvignon ($25)
In the spirit of American craftsmanship, this unique Cabernet Sauvignon from The Federalist represents the bold American tradition of aging in charred bourbon barrels.
This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is from Lodi California.
On the nose it has bold aromas of berries, black cherry and plum. And, you can’t miss the smoky aroma imparted by bourbon barrels.
On the palate this Cab has bold flavors of fig, coco and spices. Its tannins are mellow and finishes with sweet caramel. Oh, and did I mention the bourbon barrel aging? The six months this Cabernet spends aging in the bourbon barrels really adds bold notes.
If you love a full-bodied wine this one goes beyond with its bourbon barrel aging. This big one was excellent with a juicy steak and mushrooms. And, it fits right in with the Behind the Cork™ theme of being affordable and attainable. Cheers!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Will Rogers, Donna White Communications
2018 The Federalist Chardonnay ($23)
The Federalist Chardonnay pays homage to the work of our Federalist Founding Fathers fighting for our country’s liberty. And, the Status of Liberty was the best symbol of their accomplishment.
This wine is 100% Chardonnay from Mendocino County California. Following primary fermentation it undergoes Malolactic fermentation with the lees being stirred throughout. The wine is aged surlies until blending.
The Federalist Chardonnay is aged in 35% new oak that is primarily American and Hungarian oak with a little bit of French oak. The Hungarian oak mimics French with spicy character and the American oak rounds it out with a sweeter finish.
The Federalist Chardonnay is medium gold in color with notes of pear, green apple and apple spice. On the palate it’s big in flavors of buttery baked apple and spices with moderate acidity.
The Federalist Chardonnay is “The perfect wine for light fare, deep conversations and declaring your independence.” This is a really good one and fits perfectly with the Behind the Cork™ theme of being affordable and attainable. Enjoy. Cheers!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Will Rogers, Donna White Communications
2018 Paso del Galir Godello ($ 21)
This Pagos del Galier Godello is making a return to Behind the Cork™ for the 2018 vintage. And, if you’ve never heard of, or never tried Godello, you need to!
Godello is not a varietal that is seen as much in the U.S., but this is one to keep your eyes out for. It’s definitely one that you should experience.
Godello nearly became extinct in the 20th Century, with only a few hundred of its vines remaining by the 1970s. Thanks to a project to rescue this grape variety there are now more than 2000 acres of Godello vines in its native home of Galicia, Spain.
This 100% Godello is cold pressed and then spends four months aging on lees in Stainless Steel tanks.
This Pagos del Galier is lemon-yellow in color. On the nose it has nice tropical fruit, pear, melon and some floral hints. On the pallet it is light-bodied with nice apple and pear flavors and just a bit of honey with a smooth, creamy texture and a long finish that displays its wonderful, fresh acidity (3.2 pH).
Just as a point of reference, I’d say that this Godello isn’t really like a Sauvignon Blanc but it’s also not like a Chardonnay - I’d say it’s somewhere in between.
Serve it chilled to approximately 50° F and enjoy!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this wine at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Donna White of Donna White Communications
2019 CVNE Rioja Monopole
Monopole is the oldest white wine brand in Spain and CVNE (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) has been producing it since 1915.
Monopole is produced from 100% Viura grapes (as known as Macabeo grapes). The grapes are gently pressed which encourages the release of free run juice. It was then fermented in stainless steel vats at controlled temperature to preserve the primary fruit and floral aromas typical of the variety.
The color of this Monopole wine is pale yellow with hints of green at the rim. On the nose there are floral aromas along with those of white fruits such as pear, apple and white currant. On the palate it is silky and pleasing with a nice balance between structure and acidity. The finish is long and mouthwatering.
This CVNE Monopole is a delicious and refreshing wine that’s perfect for warm evenings and light summer foods. Cheers!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Donna White, Donna White Communications
2019 Viña Real Rosado ($14)
This Viña Real Rosado is from the Rioja region of Spain.
It’s a blend of Garnacha, Tempranillo and Viura grapes. They were placed into stainless steel vats and, following several hours of skin contact, the vats were drained, without pressing the grapes. This was then fermented for 20-25 days. In this way the primary aromas of the grapes were retained. The wine was then bottled and allowed to rest for a short time before its release to market.
This Viña Real Rosado is rosie-red in color with a touch of salmon. On the nose it has floral notes along with strawberry and hints of ripe stone fruits such as peach and apricot. On the palate this rosé is delicate with a long, fruit driven finish.
This Viña Real is a great rosé to enjoy on one of these beautiful Spring or Summer days. Cheers!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Donna White, Donna White Communications
2014 Fournier Reserva ($50)
This Dominio Fournier Reserva is from Ribera del Duero in Spain. It is produced from 100% Tinta del País grapes which are more commonly known as Tempranillo.
The grapes come from the terraced sides of the Duero River which winds through more than two kilometers along the edge of their property.
Their Tempranillo vines average being more than 25 years old with some plots being more than 60 years old.
The “Reserva” designation means that a wine must be aged at least 12 months in oak and spend two years in the bottle before being sold. This Fournier Reserva was aged for 18 months in 100% French oak barrels.
This Fournier Reserva is a big full-bodied wine with strength of flavors rivaling a Cabernet Sauvignon. On the nose it was powerful with aromas of black fruit and spices. On the palate it’s big and tannic. The back- label recommendation is to “Decant and serve at 17 deg C” (63 deg F). I let mine decant for two hours which did help knock down this really big Tempranillo. It paired well with steak.
This Fournier Reserva does not have the delicate red cherry flavors often associated with Tempranillo, it is a big full-bodied wine that works with “roasted meats and casseroles, and strong matured cheese” as suggested in their notes. Cheers!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Rebekah Polster, Donna White Communications
2016 Fournier Crianza ($30)
This Fournier Crianza is from Ribera del Duero in Spain. It is produced from 100% Tinta del País grapes which are more commonly known as Tempranillo.
The grapes come from the terraced sides of the Duero River which winds through more than two kilometers along the edge of their property.
Their Tempranillo vines average being more than 25 years old with some plots being more than 60 years old.
The “Crianza” designation means that a wine must be aged at least for one year in oak and spend one year in the bottle before being sold. This Fournier Crianza was aged in 80% French oak and 20% American oak barrels.
The Fournier Crianza is medium ruby in color. It has black cherry, black fruits and spice on the nose. On the palate it is full-bodied with firm tannin. After decanting for a couple of hours the tannins softened a bit revealing its more delicate flavors and a hint of tartness on the finish.
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Rebekah Polster, Donna White Communications
Behind the Cork™ - Terre di San Venanzio
Here are a couple more wonderful Proseccos from Terre di San Venanzio in Italy.
The Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Extra Dry (shown on the right) hails from 100% Glera from the best D.O.C.G. hills of Valdobbiadene. Its bouquet has delicate aroma of pear and white flowers such as Acacia and Jasmine. On the Palate, it is light and refreshing with soft bubbles and just a hint of sweetness (15 g/l RS).
The Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore “Fortunato” also is from 100% Glera and grown in the Valdobbiadene hills. This one uses highly selected grapes from their best vineyards. With scents of yellow apple, pear and white peach, this Prosecco is also light and refreshing with a touch more sweetness on the palate (20 g/l RS).
Both of these Prosecco offerings from Terre de San Venanzio are wonderful on their own and pair with most any thing you choose. Cheers!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Terre di San Venanzio (Italy)
2018 Hess Select Pinot Noir ($19)
Founder Donald Hess instilled in his family business the thought that one should “nurture the land and return what you take.”
The Hess winemaking team likes to explore California’s Central Coast growing region when searching for great Pinot Noir, with a fondness for the famed Santa Lucia Highlands region.
The Sarmento Vineyard from the Santa Lucia Highlands is featured in this vintage of Hess Select Pinot Noir. Located on the benchlands of the Gabilan Mountains of Monterey, where the Pacific breezes boldly cross the range each afternoon to cool the vineyards, resulting in extended ripening over a long, moderate growing season.
On the nose, this Hess Select Pinot Noir has wonderful aromas of black cherry, plum along with earthy notes. On the palate you get medium-bodied flavors of black cherry and dark stone fruit in an almost jammy fruit bundle. Winemaker Dave Guffy says this wine has “…elegant aromas leading to luscious layered fruit flavors, most notably of rich red raspberries and black plum. This delicious palate is highlighted by a touch of clove all wrapped in well-structured, silky tannins.”
Finding a California Pinot Noir at this price and with such wonderful flavors is indeed a treat. Look for this Hess Select Central Coast Pinot Noir. Cheers!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Donna White, Donna White Communications
Terre di San Venanzio Fortunato Brut Prosecco Superiore (~$20)
Prosecco is a semi-fragrant sparkling wine variety produced in Italy and made from the Glera grape. Glera has very delicate fruity and floral fragrances.
Terre di San Venanzio takes great efforts to preserve the aromatic components of their grapes so that they are at their optimum freshness. They achieve this through strict temperature control. The must goes into the tank at a constant temperature of 15° C (59°F). Then, the first fermentation occurs at a temperature
between 18° C and 20° C in order to preserve the freshness of the fragrances. From the end of fermentation until the start of the second fermentation (which produces the bubbles), the wine is kept at a temperature of 8° C.
This Terre di San Venanzio Fortunato Brut Prosecco Superiore is a straw yellow color. On the nose, it is very light and delicate with aromas of green apple and pear. On the palate it is light and refreshing. The Charmat method of producing this Prosecco results in a lightly-fizzy slightly sparkling wine. It has hints of pear and peach with just a hint of sweetness with its 9 grams/liter of residual sugar (RS). (Note that the Brut designation can have 6 to 12 g/l of RS compared to a Dry with 17-32 g/l or an Extra Dry with 12-17 g/l).
Prosecco is a wine which is best drunk young because after about a year it loses its freshness and the floral and fruity fragrances which are the hallmark of this wine. So look for this Terre di San Venanzio Fortunato Brut Prosecco Superiore and enjoy it chilled as you would any other white wine at about 45° F. Cheers!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Terre di San Venanzio (Italy)
2019 Hess Select Pinot Gris ($12)
The Hess Select line of wines are perfect for Behind the Cork™ because they are affordable and attainable. And, they taste great!
This Hess Select Pinot Gris (Pee-noh-GREE) is from California vineyard sites that assures plentiful sunshine for a consistent and long grape growing season. This provides flavorful fruit with layers of character.
The Hess Select Pinot Gris has flavors of pear and sweet lemon, moderate acidity and a creamy mouthfeel.
The Hess winemaker, Dave Guffy, says of this wine that it is “fermented..in stainless steel, without oak influence, in order to accentuate the beautiful tropical characteristics of the wine and retain freshness. It undergoes some lees stirring to highlight the naturally crisp stone fruit flavors.”
If you’re looking for a refreshing wine you enjoy with cheese & crackers or with poultry and seafood, this Hess Select Pinot Gris will be a great pairing. Cheers!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Donna White, Donna White Communications
2019 Hess Select Rosé ($12)
Spring is just a little more than a week away and it’s time to start thinking about Rosé. Warmer days make rosé the perfect pairing with it’s bright fruit and thirst quenching acidity.
This Hess Select Rosé is a great match for Springtime fare.
To retain the bright fruit flavors of this rosé, it was fermented in stainless steel. According to winemaker Dave Guffy, this was done “…in order to accentuate the wine’s naturally crisp and expressive flavors. Bright and bursting with notes of red berries and stone fruit, this wine delivers a perfect element of acidity on it elegant finish.”
This Hess Select Rosé has wonderful flavors of strawberry and Maraschino cherry and a finish that gently fades away.
Hess Select Rosé is a tasty wine that’s affordable and attainable and a great fit for a Behind the Cork™ wine of the week. Cheers!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Donna White, Donna White Communications
2017 Hess Select North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon ($19)
Hess Select wines are from family-owned Hess estate vineyards in Napa Valley and from grower partners who share Hess’ sustainable farming philosophy in Lake, Napa and Mendocino Counties.
This 2017 vintage of the Hess Select Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petite Sirah, 7% Malbec, 5% Merlot and 1% Syrah. It ages in 27% new French and American oak for 18 months before bottling.
Winemaker Dave Guffy states “This wine is so versatile, I drink it year round - among friends at a summer backyard barbeque or with family in front of a crackling fireplace. On the nose, this Cabernet Sauvignon presents vivid aromas of red cherry and blackberry accented by notes of warm cedar. I love the big, rich entry on this wine, as mouthfilling tannins deliver complex layers of black fruit, notably blackberry and black plum, with hints of roasted vanilla and mocha on the soft, round finish.” Well said Dave!
This is a very affordable and attainable Cabernet Sauvignon from California’s North Coast and one that you will enjoy. Cheers!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Donna White, Donna White Communications
2018 Two Hands Angel’s Share Shiraz ($33)
Here’s a re-visit with this wonderful Angel’s Share Shiraz from Two Hands.
Angels' Share refers to the small amount of wine that evaporates from oak barrels during maturation. Medieval winemakers assumed that angels watched over the wines, and that they took their share.
Selected from parcels of exceptional McLaren Vale fruit, this wine is made in a true Australian style and will appeal to both angels and mortals alike.
The grapes were crushed into and fermented in five, 7 and 10 ton open fermenters. During the peak of fermentation the batches received regular pump-overs three times daily to extract color, flavor and tannin. The average time on skins was 16 days. And boy did they extract color and flavor!
Once the parcels were dry, the fermenters were drained off and the skins pressed, with the pressings combined with the free run. After 24 hours the individual batches were racked to barrel where malolactic fermentation proceeded. The final blend was unfined and unfiltered prior to bottling.
This Two Hands Angle’s Share Shiraz is really good! It has herbal aromas of mint and pepper and there’s also some earthiness. On the palette, it’s got rich dark fruit flavors including plum and chocolate from the oak aging. The tannin is moderate and the finish just doesn’t quit.
This is a super Shiraz from Two Hands. Cheers!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Will Rogers, Donna White Communications
2017 Merry Edwards Meredith Estate Russian River Pinot Noir ($68)
My favorite Pinot Noir wines are from the Russian River. That’s where I first fell in love with Pinot and I haven’t found a region that can beat it. And, this Merry Edwards Pinot Noir stands with the best of them.
The Meredith Estate (Merry’s given names is Meredith) was Merry’s first adventure into viticulture that began more than 20 years ago. It was planted in 1996 with emphasis on its orientation to the site, soil amendments, the style of trellising and training used and the crucial selection of the rootstocks and clones.
Merry states that “The experience shaped my conversion from being a winemaker to being a vigneron or winegrower.”
This Merry Edwards Meredith Estate Pinot Noir is ruby red in color with delicate aromas of cherry and stone fruits with a noticeable hint of oak. On the palate it initially presents tart cherry and cranberry, has light tannin mid-way that transitions to a wonderfully easy and long finish.
This medium-bodied Meredith Estate Pinot Noir from Merry Edwards is excellent and will pair with most foods. And it’s great on its own! Cheers!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Jill Schlegel of Merry Edwards Winery
2017 Merry Edwards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($48)
This Merry Edwards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir comes from six vineyards that include the 115, 667 and 777 blend of Dijon clones that originated in teh cool Burgundian region of France.
The 2017 harvest of these vineyards is described as “diminutive” and resulted in just 1700 cases being produced.
Merry states “This Pinot Noir shows off the virtues of grapes grown on the southernmost boundary of the Russian River Valley. Here the cooling influence of coastal fog allows the fruit to ripen slowly.”
This is an elegant and delicate Pinot Noir. It features wonderful red cherry, raspberry and cranberry flavors with luscious soft tannins with a long and easy finish.
I first came to love Pinot Noir from Sonoma and this Merry Edwards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is an excellent example of wines from this region. You won’t go wrong with this one. It’s wonderful. Cheers!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Jill Schlegel of Merry Edwards Winery
2018 Merry Edwards Russian River Sauvignon Blanc ($36)
This is an outstanding Sauvignon Blanc!
This Merry Edwards Russian River Sauvignon Blanc was fully barrel fermented in Tonnellerie Cadus French Oak barrels, 18% of which were new. It was then left on lees for six months with twice weekly stirrings.
The aromas of this Sauvignon Blanc include tropical fruits, pineapple, baked apple and a touch of lime. But that’s where the “typical” characteristics of a Sauvignon Blanc end.
On the palate this wine is smooth, rich and creamy. It has flavors of pear, grapefruit and just a hint of buttery caramel. Quite unusual for a Sauvignon Blanc. Just as the light acidity is too. And the finish just keeps going and going with a softness that’s extraordinary.
This Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc is not the big, bright, high acidity Sauvignon Blanc that you would think. Instead, it’s soft and silky smooth. Wow! This is a Sauvignon Blanc that I’d put on the top of any list. It’s terrific!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Sample Provided by Jill Schlegel of Merry Edwards Winery
2018 Tempest Bay Chardonnay ($7.99)
The Carneros AVA in California includes an eastern half in Napa and a western half in Sonoma. It’s known for producing high-quality wines, especially Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. And that’s why this wine caught my eye.
This Tempest Bay Chardonnay is from the Napa side of Carneros. And it’s $7.99! So, I picked up this one up during my recent visit to Trader Joe’s. I went back the next day for a box of it!
This one seems to be a Trader Joe’s only wine. The back label states that it is “Vinted and Bottled by Tempest Bay Wines, Santa Rosa, California.” An on-line search didn’t find this winery that apparently is a label owned by another winery.
This is a rich, creamy and oaky Chardonnay. And, it also has some nice pear fruit flavor, vanilla, spices and very balanced acidity. It must have undergone a secondary Malolactic conversion to have such a rich and creamy mouth-feel.
This is a new one to Trader Joe’s. And, with Trader Joe’s wines, you never know if it’ll become a regular or if it’s a one-and-done feature. I’m hoping it become a regular but betting this one won’t be around for long. If you like a rich and oaky Chardonnay, pick this one up (or a box full!). Cheers!