Behind the Cork™ - Flora Springs Holiday Wines

2019 Flora Springs Napa Valley Red Blend ($95)

This is one of Flora Springs’ most popular holiday designs yet, their “Gnome Carolers,” spreading holiday cheer all around. The design is inspired by General Manager Nat Komes’ memory of his grandmother Flora, who loved to carol during the holidays. They are also offering special bottles with “Two Turtle Doves,” “Quail Greetings,” and “Happy New Year.”

Each bottle is meticulously etched and painted by hand, with capsules and back labels applied one-by-one. Each bottle is absolute perfection inside and out.

While these holiday bottles from Flora Springs are very beautiful, the wines are also exceptional. The 2019 Napa Valley Holiday Red Bordeaux Blend consists primarily of Cabernet Sauvignon, combining fruit from two outstanding, sustainably-farmed vineyard sources: the Komes Vineyard in Rutherford and Crossroads Vineyard in Oakville. It was aged 18 months in French (70%) and American (30%) oak barrels. And, with just 230 case produced, this is indeed a rare treat!

This Flora Springs Red Blend is deep ruby in color with beautiful aromas of black fruit, tobacco leaf and cedar. On the palate, this full-bodied wine has rich dark fruit flavors, wonderfully soft tannin, balanced acidity and a smooth finish that just keep on going. It’s so good you only need to pair it with a nice wine glass!

This exceptional Flora Springs 2019 Napa Valley Holiday Red Bordeaux Blend is a real treat for the holidays as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. 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.

Media Sample Provided by Flora Springs Winery

Some Key Terms Used in the Production of Sparkling Wines

A Riddling Rack Used in the Production of Sparkling Wines (Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash)

Méthode Traditionnelle: This is the traditional method for making sparkling wine. With this process, the secondary fermentation takes place inside the bottle, creating the bubbles. The process begins with the addition of a liqueur de tirage (see below) to a bottle of still wine. This starts second fermentation inside the bottle. This results in the production of carbon dioxide and spent yeast cells, or lees, that settle in the neck of the bottle during the riddling process (see below). The lees are then “disgorged” (see Disgorgement below) from the neck of the bottle, and replaced with the “Dosage” (see below) that gives the sparkling wine its sweetness. All Champagne and most high-quality sparkling wines are made using this process. Note: This process is also known as méthode Champenoise or méthode classique.

Liqueur de Tirage: This is a solution of wine, sugar and yeast that is added to a bottle of still wine. The addition of the liqueur de tirage starts the secondary fermentation which gives sparkling wine its bubbles.

Secondary Fermentation: The process that creates the bubbles in sparkling wine. As the wine is bottled, a small amount of yeast and sugar is added before the bottle is temporarily sealed. The yeast ferments the sugars and creating both alcohol and carbon dioxide (CO2). The CO2 gas cannot escape and instead gets dissolved into the wine.

Riddling: This is the process of removing the sediment that remains in the bottle from the second fermentation. The bottle is placed in a rack at an angle with the neck down. The sediment begins to collect on the side of the bottle. As the bottles are riddled, or given a quarter-turn daily and gradually tilted fully upside-down, the sediment falls to the neck of the bottle.

Disgorgement: This technique is used to remove sediment from the neck of the bottle after the second fermentation. Through the riddling process (see below), the sediment settles in the bottle’s neck. The neck of the bottle is then dipped into cold brine and which causes the sediment to quickly become frozen. The bottle is turned upright and the temporary seal is removed. The plug of frozen sediment is popped out by the pressure of the built-up carbon dioxide.

Dosage (doh/zahzh): This is a small amount of wine (usually mixed with sugar) that is added back to the bottle once the yeast sediment is disgorged. This is also known as liqueur d'expedition.

Residual Sugar (RS): Unfermented sugar in the finished wine.

Styles of Sparkling Wine:

• Brut Nature - This style is bone dry meaning it has little or no residual sugar (0–3 g/L RS).

• Extra Brut - This style is also very dry but it can have 0–6 g/L RS

• Brut - This is the most common style having 0–12 g/L RS

• Extra Dry - This style is sweeter with 12–17 g/L RS

• Dry - Even higher sweetness of17–32 g/L RS

• Demi-Sec - Very sweet (32–50 g/L RS)

• Doux - This one, while very rare to find, is really sweet (50+ g/L RS).

Behind the Cork™ - Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Wines

Domaine Bousquet is located in the Gualtallary Valley, a scenic, remote, arid terrain high in the Tupungato district of the Uco Valley in Argentina’s Mendoza region, close to the border with Chile. With altitudes ranging up to 5,249 feet, Gualtallary occupies the highest extremes of Mendoza’s viticultural limits. Having purchased the bare land in 1997, today, Domaine Bousquet has a striking modern winery, complete with a hospitality area and restaurant, and the property accounts for 667 acres planted under vine.

Domaine Bousquet is Argentina’s largest exporter of wines made from certified organic grapes. All wines are made from 100% certified organic fruit. They are known for producing a wide range of premium red, white and rosé wines, in addition to these two wonderful sparkling wines.

Méthode Traditionnelle Brut Rosé ($18)

This Brut Rosé sparkling wine is produced from 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay (two of the traditional grapes used in Champagne). The grapes are manually harvested and undergo cold maceration for 24 hours before being fermented for 15 days. After six months of aging on lees, the second fermentation takes place in the bottle in the traditional method.

This sparkling rosé is pale copper in color with dusty aromas of tropical fruits and citrus. On the palate it is subtle grapefruit flavor, good acidity and so of a sweet/tart finish.

ABV = 12%, Total Acidity = 8.75 g/L, pH = 3.05, Residual Sugar = 8.1 g/L

Méthode Traditionnelle Brut ($18)

This Brut sparkling wine is produced from 75% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Noir, just the reverse proportions of the sparkling rosé. The grapes are manually harvested and undergo cold maceration for 24 hours before being fermented for 15 days. After six months of aging on lees, the second fermentation takes place in the bottle in the traditional method.

This sparkling brut is pale gold in color with faint aromas of yellow apple and almond. On the palate it has delicate flavors of tropical fruit, good acidity and a pleasant aftertaste.

ABV = 12%, Total Acidity = 8.92 g/L, pH = 3.05, Residual Sugar = 8.1 g/L

These two sparkling wines from Domaine Bousquet are perfect for celebrating the holidays and affordably priced, making them this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wines of the Week. Cheers!

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

Media Samples Provided by Domaine Bousquet and Origins Organic Imports

It's the Holidays and Time for Sparkling Wine!

Sparkling wines are perfect for the holidays. Here’s a few types to consider enjoying:

Photo by Oliver Sherwin on Unsplash

Champagne

Champagne is a sparkling wine that is produced in the relatively small region of Champagne in France. Only those sparkling wines produced in this region are allowed to be labeled as 'Champagne.'  And an entry level bottle of Champagne is going to start in the $50 range. So, typically you are toasting with some other sparkling wine. Read more

Some Champagne facts:

• Champagne is typically produced from three grapes — Pinot Noir (Yes! A red wine grape!), Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier

• To be called Champagne, it must be produced in the Champagne region of France. Otherwise, it’s called Sparkling Wine

• Champagne is produced using a process called the méthode champenoise where the bubbles are formed in the bottle during a second fermentation.

U.S. Sparkling Wine

In the U.S., there are a tremendous number of makers of sparkling wine. Most will produce a wine that can taste very much like the French Champagne. And, you can also find rosé sparkling wines.  An entry level bottle of sparkling wine in the U.S. can be as little as $5. Read more

Prosecco and Asti

In Italy, Prosecco is their signature sparkling wine. Produced in the Veneto region just north of Venice, this sparkling wine usually produces bigger bubbles. Bottles of Prosecco can be purchased in the $10- $15 range. Read more

Cava

The sparkling wine of Spain is Cava that is produced in the Catalonia region of Spain where Barcelona is located.  Nice bottles of Cava can be purchased for around $15. Read more

Styles of Champagne and Sparkling Wine

Brut Nature - This style is bone dry meaning it has little or no sugar content (0–3 g/L sugar).

Extra Brut - This style is also very dry but, it can have up to twice the sugar level of Brut Nature (0–6 g/L sugar). This little bit of sweetness creates a wonderful balance with Champagne’s naturally high acidity.

Brut - This is the most common style. While considered “Dry” this style can have twice the sugar of Extra Brut (0–12 g/L sugar).

Extra Dry - This is the one that always confuses people. This style is sweeter which actually makes it also taste a bit fruity (12–17 g/L sugar).

Dry - The confusing continues. This style is getting up there in sweetness (17–32 g/L sugar).

Demi-Sec - Now you’re talking Sweet (32–50 g/L sugar). This style works well with desserts or cheeses.

Doux - This one, while very rare to find, is really sweet (50+ g/L sugar).

No matter which type or style you choose, give sparkling wines a try this holiday season. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - C'EST LA VIE Pinot Noir-Syrah

2021 C’EST LA VIE Pinot Noir + Syrah Blend ($13)

C’EST LA VIE wines “invites you to simply take life as it comes.”

C’EST LA VIE wines are imported from the Pays d’Oc IGP in Southern France. This region covers all the wines that are not made under the strict laws that govern the AOC-level appellations in France.

C’EST LA VIE “lends a touch of impertinence and daring as it brings its flavor to those spontaneous moments shared over a good glass of wine. It exemplifies a laid-back, informal way of life that the South of France celebrates.”

This Pinot Noir/Syrah wine is made from 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Syrah - an unusual blend. But they state that “C’EST LA VIE’s strength lies in the originality of its blends. Who other than C’EST LA VIE would dare to blend varietals as seeming different as Pinot Noir and Syrah?” But it works. And it really works quite well!

This wine is medium ruby in color with the expected delicate red-fruit aromas of Pinot Noir but also with some additional notes of dark fruit from the Syrah. On the palate it also has the expected flavors of cherry and cranberry from the Pinot Noir but the Syrah adds some deeper, richer fruit flavors. It has medium tannin and acidity and finishes with light tartness of cranberry.

This is a very versatile wine that is great by itself and will work with most foods. And, at this price, it’s a perfect fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. 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.

Media Sample Provided by Albert Bichot Wines