Behind the Cork™ - Bezel Sauvignon Blanc

2025 Bezel Sauvignon Blanc ($25.99)

Bezel Wines is a fresh wine adventure from the well-known Cakebread Family of wines.

Since 1973, they’ve been making wine in Napa Valley at Cakebread Cellars in Rutherford, California. But with Bezel, they’re venturing out of Napa to discover the hidden treasures of California wine country on the Central Coast.

In this case, the Bezel Sauvignon Blanc was crafted in Paso Robles using 98% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Chardonnay. All the wine making was done in stainless steel to retain the bright fruit flavors.

This Bezel Sauvignon Blanc is a pale straw color with aromas of citrus and tropical fruits. On the palate, this medium-light wine has bright flavors of citrus and grapefruit, and refreshing high acidity. It finishes very smooth and easy with just a hint of the citrus tartness. [ABV: 12.5%, pH: 3.25, TA: 6.7 g/l, Residual Sugar: 0.11 g/L]

This 2025 Bezel Sauvignon Blanc is a refreshing wine that will pair well with most foods. But, it’s also great all by itself! And, at this price, it’s a great fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

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 Bezel via Kobrand Wine and Spirits

A Tour of Wine Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc (Part 1)

Sauvignon Blanc 🥂

Photo by Nathan on Wikimedia Commons

The name originates from the French words sauvage ("wild") and vigne ("vine"). Native to western France, written records document its cultivation in the Loire Valley and Bordeaux by the 18th century.

It is a natural cross between Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc grapes.

Today, winemakers grow it throughout the world. France produces lean, high-acid styles, while New Zealand's Marlborough region focuses on highly aromatic, pungent styles. California produces both crisp styles and barrel-aged varieties, while Chile, South Africa, and South Australia also maintain significant commercial production.

Sauvignon Blanc wines have notes of green grass, lime, and green bell pepper. Warmer climates yield tropical fruit profiles like passion fruit and peach. On the palate, it is a dry wine with a light body and bright acidity.

Winemakers use two main methods: unoaked (fermented in stainless steel to preserve fruit and acidity) and oaked (aged in barrels to add a creamy texture and vanilla notes). In California, the oaked style is labeled Fumé Blanc.

Sauvignon Blanc should be consumed within one to three years of the vintage date. Serve it chilled between 45°F and 50°F (7°C to 10°C) in a white wine glass with a narrow bowl to direct aromas upward.

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 2024 Caposaldo Chianti is a medium-ruby color with delicate aromas of dark fruit. On the palate, this medium-full-bodied Chianti has rich flavors of black cherry, blackberry and plum. It has medium acidity and medium-high tannin. It finishes easy.

This 2024 Caposaldo Chianti is a great Italian wine that will pair well with most Italian dishes. But, it’s also great all by itself! And, at this price, it’s a great fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

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 Caposaldo via Kobrand Wine and Spirits

A Tour of Wine Grapes: Sangiovese

Sangiovese 🍷

Photo by Agne27 on Wikimedia Commons

Sangiovese is the most widely planted red wine grape in Italy. The name comes from Latin words meaning "the blood of Jupiter," which shows that people have grown it since ancient Roman times.

Its main home is the Tuscany region of Italy, where winemakers use it to make famous wines like Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino. Today, farmers also grow this grape in other warm parts of the world, including California, Washington State, and South Australia.

Aromas include red cherry, strawberry, and dried herbs. On the palate, it has flavors of tart cherry, plum and blackberry. It is naturally high in acidity, which makes the wine taste crisp. It also has medium-high tannins.

The aging potential of the wine depends on how the winemaker made it. Simple, inexpensive bottles are meant to be consumed within 3 to 5 years of the harvest. High-quality bottles can age in a cellar for 10 to 20 years.

Serve Sangiovese at 60°F to 65°F (15°C to 18°C). Use a standard red wine glass with a slightly narrowed top.

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 spent a minimum of three months in the bottle before being released.

This Chianti Classico (the one with the black rooster on the neck band) is medium ruby in color with aromas of black fruit and herbs. On the palate, this medium-full bodied wine has the classic black cherry flavor with a bit of blackberry and plum. It has medium-high acidity and is very smooth. It finishes long and easy.

When looking for a great Chianti, always look for the black rooster on the neck band. That ensures that it is a wine from the Chianti Classico region of Italy. This is a great one and a perfect fit as the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

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 Tenuta de Nozzole via Kobrand Wine and Spirits