Behind the Cork™ - Vina Robles The Arborist Red Blend

2017 Vina Robles The Arborist Red Blend ($18)

The Arborist is dedicated to the founder of Vina Robles, Hans Nef, and named for the arborist who saved the life of the iconic 300+ year-old oak tree featured on the label. Mr. Nef was known for his love of trees; he named the winery for them (Robles is Spanish for oaks), and put an oak tree on the first Vina Robles wine label. That same tree still exists on their label, and in their Jardine Vineyard as well.

Through Vina Roble’s partnership with One Tree Planted, they plant trees with a portion of the proceeds from every bottle of The Arborist that they sell.​

The Arborist Red Blend is made mainly of varieties grown in their Huerhuero Vineyard, located directly behind the winery in the rolling hills of Paso Robles. It is produced with a blend of 44% Syrah, 32% Petite Sirah, 18% Grenache and 6% Mourvèdre.

The clusters are cold soaked for two days prior to fermentation. Various pump-over techniques were implemented during progressive stages of fermentation to enhance fruit extraction and balance out the tannin structure. The wine was then aged in both small and large format French, Hungarian and American oak barrels for 18 months

This is a fruit-forward wine with complex flavors, moderate tannin and a nice finish that goes well with most any meal and is wonderful just by the glass.

Vina Robles The Arborist Red Blend is affordable and attainable making it a great fit as the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Sosie Red Blend

2019 Sosie Rossi Ranch Sonoma Valley Red Blend ($43)

For Sosie, France has always shaped their appreciation of wine. It has influenced the way their vineyards are farmed and in the way they treat the fruit in the cellar. They proclaim this affinity with France with their label and their name “Sosie” which in French means ‘twin’ or ‘spitting image.’

In the French tradition of the Rhone Valley, Sosie produces this blend with 51% Grenache, 34% Mouvèdre and 15% Syrah, all from the same certified organic vineyard. However, their wine isn’t just a blend, it’s co-fermented, with all the fruit picked on the same day and the percentages decided then and there. This approach can be a big risk, but it can also yield big rewards.

This Sosie Rhone blend did indeed yield a big reward. While only 10 barrels were produced, I bet they wish they’d made a lot more! The production began with 19 days of skin contact, fermentation in stainless steel tanks and then got the benefit of 15 months of aging in neutral oak.

This GSM Rhone blend is medium ruby in color with dark cherry, lavender, clove and anise aromas. On the palate it’s dusty dry with very moderate tannin, great richness and complexity, flavors of blackberry and plum, and a balanced finish with just the right touch of acidity.

This Sosie Rossie Ranch Red Blend is vegan friendly, organically farmed and fermented with native yeast. With just 10 barrels being produced you may want to get your hands on this one quickly through a direct order from their website. Cheers!

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Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Sample Provided by:

Michelle Keene | Account Director
CALHOUN & COMPANY COMMUNICATIONS

Wines that Pair Well with the Thankgiving Meal

We are just days away now from the big Thanksgiving feast. And one of the most common questions is "What wine pairs best with the Thanksgiving meal?" 

As we learned last time, the trick is to pair your wine with the type of sides you are serving, not the turkey itself. Typically, along with the turkey, you are going to have stuffing and mashed potatoes and cover them all in a rich gravy.  And then you throw in the yams, cranberry sauce, a couple more casseroles and the vegetables and you end up with some big, rich favors on your plate.

If you really insist on a white wine, try a dry Riesling (look for 'Trocken' on the label) or a crisp New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. But I say "Give a red wine a try."

Three of my favorites for Thanksgiving are:

• Beaujolais - Light, dry and fresh with fruity flavors. And you can serve it chilled.

• Pinot Noir - A light bodied red with flavors of cherry, raspberry and strawberry. In the French wine section at your store, this is called a red Burgundy. And this too can be served slightly chilled.

• Rhône Blends - Rhône wines focus on Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre grapes, producing medium-bodied blends.

And the timing is also perfect for trying a Beaujolais Nouveau that was just released this past Thursday November 16th.

Regardless, don't stress over the wine. Enjoy it. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Cheers!