Behind the Cork™ - Amador Cellars "Farmhouse Red"

2014 Amador Cellars “Farmhouse Red” ($27)

Amador Cellars, located in Plymouth California (Amador County) is truly a family-run winery. It showcases Mediterranean wines, Tuscan architecture and a friendly tasting room staff that includes the family. The winery produces estate-grown Zinfandel and Italian, Spanish and Rhone Valley varietals.

It was the Amador Cellars Barbera that was my “Ah ha” moment several years ago.

This Farmhouse Red is yet another outstanding wine from Amador Cellars. I purchased this bottle during my 2018 visit to the winery where I got to meet the Long family, including owners Larry and Linda.

The Farmhouse Red is a blend of 53% Zinfandel, 20% Petite Sirah, 20% Barbera and 7% Aglianico. It’s medium ruby in color. On the nose it has great aromas including red fruit, black cherry and oak. On the palate it got great depth and wonderful complexity, moderate tannin and a very nice finish.

Every bottle that I’ve had from Amador Cellars is a winner and this is no exception - a worthy Behind the Cork™ Exceptional Wine. If you are in Amador County California, definitely stop by and visit them and check out all their great wines on https://amadorcellars.com

Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Barton "The Dance" Red Blend

2013 Barton Family Wines “The Dance” Red Blend ($50)

The Barton Family Wines is located in Paso Robles, California and Joe Barton is the Proprietor of “The Dance” red blend. He makes this wine in remembrance of Joseph Barton Sr., his father.

In 1994, the Barton Family established Grey Wolf Cellars with sights of running a boutique, craft winery focusing on small lot, high quality wines. Winemaker, Joe Barton has been doing just that ever since. Keeping with tradition, the Grey Wolf wines still entail small lot, creatively blended wines made from high quality grapes grown locally. In 2011 Joe released two new and exciting brands. One being the Barton label which entails a line of white wines and reserve reds. Joe's philosophy with the Barton brand is clean, dry, acidic and floral whites and best of the best red wines.

And “The Dance” is certainly in the ‘best of the best’ category. From Happy Canyon of Santa Barbera, this blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Cabernet Franc and 10% Malbec is outstanding. With only seven barrels being made, this is certainly ‘small lot.’

“The Dance” is medium ruby in color, with notes of plum and black currant and just a hint of oak. On the palate this one has great bold flavors, depth of character and wonderful complexity. Its tannins are soft and the finish is long and smooth.

This one’s a real winner and well worth being called a Behind the Cork™ Exceptional Wine.

If you are in Paso Robles, stop by and visit Barton Family Wines and Grey Wolf Cellars. Or check out their line of fine wines at www.bartonfamilywines.com

Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Ace Kicker Big Bet Blend

2016 Ace Kicker Big Bet Blend ($15)

This Ace Kicker wine originates from Spain’s Castilla-La Mancha region which is located about 40 miles south of Madrid.

This Big Bet Blend is indeed a big blend that’s produced from 34% Cabernet Franc, 27% Syrah, 15% Petite Verdot, 12% Tempranillo, 7% Graciano and 5% Garnacha with the latter three varieties being classic Spanish grapes.

After the grapes are hand-harvested they undergo fermentation and malolactic conversion in stainless steel tanks. The wine is then aged in French and American oak for eight months.

This Ace Kicker Big Bet Blend is deep ruby in color and has aromas of black cherry, black berry, with some spice and hints of oak. On the palate it has lighter fruit flavors, definite cherry flavor, medium tannin and an easy finish.

This 2016 Ace Kicker Big Bet Blend is imported to the U.S. by González Byass.

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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 Donna White, Donna White Communications

Behind the Cork™ - Derange Red Blend by The Prisoner Wine Company

2015 Derange ($100)

I was familiar with The Prisoner Wine Company and the amazing works of Dave Phinney but had not heard of the Derange Red Blend. And, maybe that was a good thing. Because when I opened this bottle I had no idea what I was getting into. And, wow, was I in for something very special!

But then I realized that Dave Phinney is no longer involved with the Prisoner that made him famous. The Prisoner is now the property of beverage giant Constellation Brands. Nonetheless, this is an amazing wine.

This Derange Red Blend is composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Merlot, Syrah and Zinfandel (proportions are not listed in their on-line tasting notes).

The fruit was pumped over twice per day to extract maximum color with balanced tannins. After 15–25 days on skins, the grapes were pressed off, keeping any hard press separate. The new wines were barreled down into French oak (50% new) where they went through 100% Malolactic conversion and then were aged for 18 months.

This red blend is chock full of black cherry, clove spice, blackberry cobbler, and vanilla toast. The mouthfeel is full-bodied but the ultra-soft tannins and balanced acidity are simply an amazingly delicious combination!

This truly a great one! Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Phantom Red Blend by Bogle

2015 Phantom Red Blend by Bogle ($25)

The Phantom is back! Last week’s Behind the Cork™ feature was the Phantom Chardonnay that was so good I went out and bought another bottle. This week feature is the Phantom Red Blend by Bogle.

This Phantom Red Blend is comprised of 44% Petite Sirah, 44% Zinfandel, 10% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. It spent 24 months in 1 & 2 year-old American and French Oak.

On the nose you know you are going to get richness, dark fruit, some earthiness and a healthy dose of oak.

And that oak comes right through. Along with the richness of the Petite Sirah, and the jammy Zinfandel, you get wonderful chocolate and vanilla tones from the oak that are followed up with a low tannin, smooth and lingering finish.

I’ve enjoyed Bogle wines for years but this offering from their Phantom label, along with their Phantom Chardonnay, really step it up a few notches.

And, you can bet I’ll be out soon looking for more of this Phantom Red Blend by Bogle! Cheers!

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

Sample Provided by Bogle Vineyards