2014 Pasqua Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore ($9)   Valpolicella is an Italian wine generally produced primarily with the Corvina grape and blended with Rondinella, Molinara and sometimes Negrara grapes.   Ripasso, or "repassed," refers to the method
  2015 Cline Family Cellars Lodi Zinfandel ($6)   Excellent Zinfandels come from Lodi. And, at $6 for this one is a steal. Along with being a great value, this Cline Zinfandel has real nice spice and pepper notes with nice fruit that isn't jammy.  Wi
  2013 Fife Creek Vineyards Russian River Valley Zinfandel ($10)   This was a recent find of a Russian River Valley Zin that doesn't break the bank. This Zin tends toward being light for a Zinfandel. It's almost leaning toward a light-bodied wine, al
  2014 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Chardonnay ($11)   This Chardonnay, from Washington's Columbia Valley, not only has great flavors of pineapple and mango, but add rich flavors of butterscotch and caramel from its fermentation and oak aging.
  2014 Line 39 California Pinot Noir ($10)   'Line 39' represents the 39th parallel of Northern California's wine country and this Pinot Noir is from vineyards in Monterey. As with most California Pinot Noirs, this wine has nice strawberry, raspberry
  Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Riesling ($7)   This Riesling from Washington's Columbia Valley is listed as being between Medium-dry and medium-sweet. So, remembering that 'Dry' means little or no residual sugar in the wine, you know right a
  2015 Gerd Anselmann Pfalz Trocken Riesling ($14)   This German Riesling is "Trocken" meaning dry (little to no residual sugar). So, while many German Rieslings are sweet, this is an example of one that, while having little to no sugar content, is n
  2013 Hook or Crook Napa Valley Red Blend ($7)   I'm always curious when I come across a new label at Trader Joe's.  This one caught my eye so I brought it home. While they don't specify the grapes used, this is a full-bodied red with a real ni
  2012 Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Sonoma Chardonnay ($15)   This is an "Estate" wine meaning that Rodney Strong grew the grapes, crushed them, fermented, aged and bottle the wine. This Chardonnay has the nice fruit flavors of golden delicious apple and
  2014 Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel ($10)   Just having featured "Old Vine Zinfandel - Is it Better?" I thought it would be good to bring back a wine that was featured in this blog last year. This old vine Zinfandel comes from vines that are 60 to 80 yea
  Z. Alexander Brown 2014 Russian River Valley Uncaged Pinot Noir ($13)   The Russian River Valley is renowned for its delicious Pinot Noir. And this is another fine example.
  2014 Foggy Veil Hillside Red Blend ($13)   This blend of 75% Syrah and 25% Grenache from Santa Barbara County is another unexpected winner. In the Rhone tradition, this blend has the big fruit, medium tannin characteristics of the Syrah with the Gr
  2013 Rabbit Ridge Allure de Robles Rhône Style Blend ($6)   This Rhône style blend is a perfect fit for Behind the Cork ™ - Wine of the Week. It's affordable, it's attainable and it's a nice wine to enjoy any day of the week.  Being a Rhône bl
  2015 Blackstone Winemaker's Select California Merlot ($5)   The theme of  Behind the Cork  ™ -  Wine of the Week  is to feature affordable and attainable wines that are enjoyable to drink.  This Merlot fits that description. This Merlot is ble
  2014 Oak Ridge Lodi Ancient Vine Zinfandel ($12)   This Zinfandel has great dark fruit flavors, a bit of black pepper and nice chocolate, vanilla and caramel from its oak aging. While this Zinfandel varietal is made from at least 75% of the Zinfand
  2013 Hess Select Central Coast Pinot Noir ($16)   This Pinot Noir is from the Santa Lucia Highlands in Monterey, CA . Nice red fruit flavors of sour cherry, rhubarb and Pomegranate. Another fine Pinot Noir from California at a very reasonable price
  2016 Ventisquero Casablanca Valley Sauvignon Blanc Reserva ($15)   This wine is from the Casablanca Valley of  Chile . In the Northern region of Chile, this valley has strong coastal influences that keep temperatures cool, adding as much as a month
  2015 Valdivieso Valley Selection Sauvignon Blanc Gran Reserve ($17)    Chile  is turning out some highly-acclaimed wines that are also great values. This Sauvignon Blanc, from the Valle de Leyda in Chile's San Antonio Region, is a fine example
  Valdivieso Sparkling Rosé Brut ($13)   Viña Valdivieso dates back to 1879 when Alberto Valdivieso founded Champagne Valdivieso, the first company in Chile and South America to make sparkling wine. Today they continue making sparkling wines and stil
  2015 Ventisquero Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva ($15)   Chile has been producing wine for more than 400 years. But, in the past 30 years has really made great strides in producing highly notable wines. And the Maipo Valley has become Chile's red wine c
  2016 Amalaya Blanco ($12)   Amalaya wines was founded in Argentina in 2010 by Donald Hess of the Hess Family Wine Estates. The grapes are grown in the Calchaquí Valley in the eastern foothills of the Andes mountain range at altitudes as high as 558
  2016 Colomé Torrontés ($15)   Colomé is one of the oldest working wineries in Argentina and home to the highest vineyards in the world, some reaching altitudes of 10,000 ft (~3000m) above sea level. The winery, established in 1831, is based in the
  2016 Amalaya Malbec ($16)    Amalaya wines was founded in Argentina in 2010 by Donald Hess of the Hess Family Wine Estates. The grapes are grown in the Calchaquí Valley in the eastern foothills of the Andes mountain range at altitudes as high as 59
  2014 Colomé Estate Malbec ($25)   Established in 1831, Colomé is located in the upper Calchaquí Valley in the Salta region of Argentina.  Colomé grows the world's highest elevation Malbec. The grapes used in making this wine are grown in four viney
  2013 Wild Horse GSM ($12)   This blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre (GSM) from Wild Horse is medium-light in body with a soft mouthfeel, candied red fruit flavors, and light tannins. When served slightly chilled, at cellar temperatures, it's a
  2013 Tobin James Ballistic Zinfandel ($14)   Tobin James is one of the larger producers in Paso Robles. Located on the east side of Highway 101, this winery has a salon-style tasting room and a fun atmosphere.  The Ballistic Zinfandel is one of the
  2015 The Hess Collection Napa Chardonnay ($22)   This week's feature is The Hess Collection's 2015 Napa Valley Chardonnay. This wonderful 100% Chardonnay features flavors of apple, white pear and a slight touch of tropical fruits and a very slight
  2016 Artezin Old Vine Zinfandel ($18)   This Zinfandel comes from California's Mendocino County that has a climate with warm days and cool evenings that provides for great growing conditions and optimal ripening. Winemaker Randle Johnson, who has b
  2015 Thomas Allen Selections Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon ($7)   Generally, when I see a California Cab under $10 I don't pay too much attention. But this Cab is from Lodi, a region I really like. And, while Lodi isn't exactly the best-known region in C
  2014 14 Hands Columbia Valley Stampede Red Blend ($9)   I've recently read some nice things about 14 Hands Winery and, never having had their wines, I thought I'd give this one a try.  The Stampede Red Blend is a combination of Syrah, Merlot, Caber
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