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#behind-the-cork-reviews
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Behind the Cork™ - Amador Cellars Sangiovese
2015 Amador Cellars Sangiovese ($32) The 2015 Amador Cellars Sangiovese is an estate-bottled California red wine produced by Amador Cellars, a family-owned winery located in Plymouth, California. And, if you haven’t noticed over the years, one of my favorite wineries. I picked this one up at the winery a few years ago and have been waiting for the right opportunity to open it. Established in 2004 by the Long family, the estate operates a production facility and an underground-style barrel room in the Sierra Foothills. The fruit for this particular 2015 vintage was harvested from the winery's Ottimista Vineyards, located in the Shenandoah Valley AVA. Fermentation uses isolated yeasts. Following the primary fermentation process, the wine is moved into oak barrels to undergo 18 months of aging. The 2015 Amador Cellars Sangiovese is a medium garnet color, showing its 11-year age. The wine has soft aromas of red fruits, herbs and notes from the oak aging. On the palate, this medium-bodied w
by Marc Kirkpatrick1 viewbehind-the-cork-reviews - news
Behind the Cork™ - Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc
2025 Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc ($27.99) Established in 1998 by the Peabody family, Craggy Range is a family-owned estate that revolutionized New Zealand wine by matching specific grapes to unique terroirs. While their main winery is located in Hawke's Bay, their Te Muna Road property in Martinborough has become a landmark site for crafting high-quality white wines. This 2025 Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc is indeed from the Te Muna Vineyard in Martinborough. The name Te Muna translates to "secret place" in the local Māori language. This wine was made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes that are grown on a stony lower terrace formed by an ancient riverbed. The grapes are partially picked by hand and most are removed from their stems before pressing. Fermentation mostly takes place in stainless steel tanks with a small portion being fermented in French and Austrian oak barrels. The wine then was left on-lees for three to five months before bottling. This 2025 Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc i
by Marc Kirkpatrick2 viewsbehind-the-cork-reviews - news
Behind the Cork™ - Caposaldo Chianti
2024 Caposaldo Chianti ($12.99) The name Caposaldo translates to “benchmark” in Italian—a bold claim that the wine backs up with a legendary backstory. If you look closely at the label, you'll spot golden horse heads. These pay tribute to Caposaldo, a historic Roman racing horse favored by Emperor Nero. By conquering Rome’s Circus Maximus, the champion horse became the ultimate standard of excellence, a quality that Caposaldo wines aim to replicate in every bottle. In the Chianti DOCG, every bottle must contain a minimum of 70% Sangiovese grapes. The website suggests that Caposaldo uses 75% Sangiovese, along with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in this wine. These grapes are handpicked on the rolling hillside vineyards of Tuscany, Italy, specifically spanning across the hilly provinces of Arezzo and Siena. The winery uses stainless steel tanks for fermentation. Then, 30 percent of the wine is separated to age for six months inside traditional oak vats before blending and bottling. This 2
by Marc Kirkpatrick3 viewsbehind-the-cork-reviews - news
Behind the Cork™ - Tenuta di Nozzole Chianti Classico
2022 Tenuta di Nozzole Chianti Classico ($28.99) Tenuat di Nozzole is a Tuscan estate in Italy that dates back to the year 1300. Derived from nozze (meaning marriage or nuptials), the name originally designated a 14th-century meeting crossroads or land gifted for wedding celebrations. By 1300, it was frozen in time as the official name of this specific, rugged plot of land. The modern era of the property began in 1971 when the multi-generational Folonari family purchased the estate. Nino Folonari bought Nozzole to transition away from mass production and instead toward high-end, estate-bottled winemaking. Located in the heart of Greve in Chianti, the property has 220 acres dedicated specifically to specialized grape cultivation. The 2022 Tenuta de Nozzole Chianti Classico Riserva is produced from 100% Sangiovese grapes. Fermentation took place in stainless steel vats for roughly 15 days. The wine was then aged for 10 to 12 months in French oak barrels, using 33% new oak. Finally, it sp
by Marc Kirkpatrick3 viewsbehind-the-cork-reviews - news
Behind the Cork™ - Shades of Blue Riesling
Shades of Blue Riesling ($11.99) Shades of Blue Riesling is a white wine made by a family-owned winery in Germany. The grapes grow on steep river slopes where the soil is composed of slate and limestone. Because the climate in this region is cool, the grapes stay on the vines longer and ripen slowly before harvest. This extended growing season allows the fruit to develop while maintaining its natural acidity level. After harvest, the winemakers press the grapes and transfer the juice into temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks for fermentation. These metal tanks are neutral and do not add any external flavors to the wine, which keeps the natural characteristics of the fruit intact. It should be noted that the fermentation process is stopped early to leave a portion of the natural grape sugars in the final product. This technique results in a wine with 9.5% alcohol content (relatively low) and a semi-dry style (i.e., some residual sugar). Shades of Blue Riesling is a medium gold i
by Marc Kirkpatrick2 viewsbehind-the-cork-reviews - news
Behind the Cork™ - The Seeker Riesling
The Seeker Riesling ($14.99) The Riesling grapes for this “The Seeker” wine were discovered by a husband and wife team in the famed Mosel Valley in Germany. This region features steep vineyard sites with fine, mineral-rich slate soil and perfect exposure to sun and wind. The vineyards were 100% hand-harvested to ensure top-quality grape selection. Traditional wine-making methods were observed, with individual wine-pressing techniques passed down through generations. Vinification took place in stainless steel and oak casks over 4-6 weeks, followed by aging in tanks and oak casks for 3-8 months. This 2024 The Seeker Riesling is pale gold in color with aromas that include citrus, green apple and floral notes. On the palate, this medium-light bodied wine is off-dry (some sweetness) with bright refreshing acidity and flavors of grapefruit and tropical fruits. It finishes with mouth-watering flavors that are great in warm weather or with spicy foods. [ABV: 11.69%, TA: 7.2 g/L, RS: 28 g/L] Th
by Marc Kirkpatrick3 viewsbehind-the-cork-reviews - news
Behind the Cork™ - Ridge Three Valleys Red Blend
2018 Ridge Three Valleys Sonoma County ($30) Ridge Vineyards was founded in 1959 when four Stanford Research Institute engineers—David Bennion, Charles Rosen, Hewitt Crane, and Howard Zeidler—purchased a mountainside property on the Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains. While winemaking on the site dated back to 1885, the partners produced their first small vintage of "Estate" Cabernet in 1959 and officially re-bonded the winery for the 1962 vintage. Ridge Three Valleys red blend is produced from 70% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 12% Carignane and 4% Mataro (a.k.a. Mourvedre). The “Three Valleys” name comes from the fact that the grapes came from vineyards in Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Sonoma Valley. Each lot of grapes was fermented for nine days on their skins followed by aging for 10 months in oak. This 2018 Ridge Three Valleys red blend is medium ruby in color with aromas of dark fruit and dried herbs. On the palate, this medium-ful
by Marc Kirkpatrick3 viewsbehind-the-cork-reviews - news
Behind the Cork™ - Carmen Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon
2019 Carmen Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon ($14.99) Viña Carmen was founded by Christian Lanz in 1850 and named in honor of his wife. The winery, located in Chile, now has more than 160 years of history having been the first and now oldest winery. In 1987, Viña Carmen became part of Grupo Claro. In 1994, the wine grape Carmenere was re-discovered in one of the Carmen vineyards in the Alto Maipo Valley. The Carmenere grape was long thought to be extinct after having been infected with phylloxera in the mid-19th century. But, this find returned Carmenere to the world. Carmen wines come from Maipo Valley, Apalta Valley, Leyda Valley, Casablanca Valley and the Colchagua Valley. This Cabernet Sauvignon is from a single vineyard in Alto Maipo Valley containing 20 year-old vines. It was produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that underwent a cold soak for 10 days before fermentation to draw out color and aromatics. Fermentation occurred in stainless steel tanks, to retain the fruit flavors, f
by Marc Kirkpatrick5 viewsbehind-the-cork-reviews - news
Behind the Cork™ - Zaca Mesa Z Cuvee
2019 Zaca Mesa Z Cuvée ($15) Zaca Mesa Winery & Vineyards was founded in 1973 by John Cushman and five friends, who purchased the property the year prior. As the third winery established in Santa Barbara County, experimentation was an integral part of Zaca Mesa’s early days. Several different varieties were planted to see which grapes would be the best suited to the estate’s unique terroir. After many trials, Zaca Mesa’s first winemaker, Ken Brown, planted Syrah in 1978, establishing Zaca Mesa as the first to plant Syrah in Santa Barbara County. This block of Syrah remains the oldest Syrah block on the Central Coast and is now known as the Black Bear Block. These grapes were purely estate-grown across unique blocks. Syrah comes from the high, flat tabletop of the Mesa Block (1,400 feet elevation). Grenache is harvested from the sloped, shale-loam soils of the Cushman Block . Old-vine Mourvèdre and Cinsault are selected from the Chapel and Mariposa blocks respectively. Each of the four
by Marc Kirkpatrick14 viewsbehind-the-cork-reviews - news
Behind the Cork™ - Faustino Rivero Ulecia Reserva
2019 Faustino Rivero Ulecia Reserva ($10.99) Bodegas Faustino Rivero Ulecia is part of a five-generation winemaking family that started back in 1899. The winery was founded in 1899 by Olegario Rivero. It operated locally for decades selling bulk wine. Then, in the 1940s, the winery, known as Bodega Rivero, was passed to the third generation: brothers Amador and Faustino Rivero. Faustino and his brother had the intuition that bottled, branded wine was the future. When the family finally purchased their first bottling machine and officially launched their signature label in the late 1960s, they named the winery in honor of Faustino. The name follows the traditional Iberian naming structure, combining paternal and maternal surnames to preserve family lineage: Faustino - The given first name of the pivotal third-generation winemaker. Rivero - The paternal family surname, and Ulecia - The maternal surname introduced into the family line. To produce this wine, the estate relies on their "sou
by Marc Kirkpatrick16 viewsbehind-the-cork-reviews - news
Behind the Cork™ - Lisboa Bonita Red Blend
Lisboa Bonita Red Blend ($19) Casa Santos Lima is a multi-generational, family-owned winery that stands as one of Portugal's most prolific and highly decorated wine producers. Based at its primary estate, Quinta da Boavista in Alenquer (just north of Lisbon), it has evolved from a historic family trade into a global powerhouse. The winery was established in the late 19th century by Joaquim Santos Lima, who was already a prominent producer and exporter of Portuguese wine to the UK and Brazil. In 1990, his great-grandson, José Luís Santos Lima Oliveira da Silva, left a successful career in banking and finance to take over the family estate. This Lisboa Bonita red blend is produced from Castelão (25%), Caladoc (25%), Tinta Roriz (20%), Alicante Bouschet (15%), and Touriga Franca (15%) grapes. It is a beautiful deep purple color with nice dark fruit aromas. On the palate, this full-bodied wine has lots of dark fruit flavors such as plum, blackberry, and blueberry, while the oak aging infus
by Marc Kirkpatrick6 viewsbehind-the-cork-reviews - news
Behind the Cork™ - Vitis Ridge Pinot Gris
2023 Vitis Ridge Pinot Gris ($16) The Vitis Ridge winery was originally founded and operates as an equal four-way partnership between two couples: Chris and Sharon Deckelmann, and Bruce and Sally Eich.. What started as a hobby in the garage over 20 years ago has evolved into one of the North Willamette Valley's most popular wineries. Established in 2005, Vitis Ridge is producing about 3,000 cases annually. They focus on unique wines and specialty blends and are currently offering 30 varietals. Their Estate vineyards are comprised of nearly 150 acres and include Pinot Noir, Maréchal Foch, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay, and Muscat. They also bring in grapes from vineyards throughout the Northwest to provide a broader range of offerings and interesting terrior differences. This Vitis Ridge Pinot Gris is sourced from their estate vineyards located in Silverton, Oregon. It was processed entirely in stainless steel tanks. It is a beautiful medium salmon color t
by Marc Kirkpatrick17 viewsbehind-the-cork-reviews - news
Behind the Cork™ - Alta Vista Brut Rose
Alta Vista Brut Rosé ($18.99) Alta Vista was founded by Count Patrick d’Aulan, heir of more than 250 years of winemaking tradition. With an enterprising spirit, he arrived in Argentina in the 1990s looking for the best regions of Los Andes. The winery is located in Chacras de Coria, Mendoza. Having been built in 1890, it is a local heritage site of Mendoza. Count Patrick d’Aulan and his family, former owners of Piper Heidsieck, one of the oldest Champagne Houses, developed the project and started the restoration. This Alta Vista Brut Rosé is produced from Malbec (50%) & Pinot Noir (50%) that was sourced from the Albaneve estate vineyard. Using the Charmat method, the second fermentation took place in a pressurized tank. This Brut Rosé is pale salmon in color with aromas of cherry, strawberry and floral notes. On the palate, this light-bodied wine has citrus notes, bright refreshing acidity and medium bubbles. While being on the sweeter end of the “Brut” range, the citrus and acidity co
by Marc Kirkpatrick7 viewsbehind-the-cork-reviews - news
Behind the Cork™ - Bouvet Rose Excellence Brut Sparkling Wine
Bouvet Excellence Brut Rosé NV ($19.99) Since 1851, Bouvet Ladubay, in the Loire Valley, has been one of France’s greatest producers of méthode traditionnelle (naturally fermented in the bottle) sparkling wine. Founded in 1851 by Etienne Bouvet and his wife Célestine Ladubay, Bouvet Ladubay is the second oldest sparkling wine-producing house in Saumur. By 1890, it had become France’s largest producer of Méthode Traditionnelle wines. Today, they are run by the fourth generation of the Monmousseau family, producing close to 7 million bottles of wine. This Bouvet Excellence Brut Rosé is produced from 100% Cabernet Franc, sourced from about 80 growers around Saumur and the Loire Valley area, a classic grape of the region. The grapes undergo a quick maceration on the skins followed by production in the méthode traditionnelle, this sparkling rosé is aged in the bottle on lees for 9 to 24 months. Bouvet Excellence Brut Rosé is a beautiful light salmon color with very delicate aromas. On the p
by Marc Kirkpatrick18 viewsbehind-the-cork-reviews