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

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 in color with aromas of green apple, citrus and honey. On the palate, this medium-light bodied wine hasd bright acidity that is off-set by the sweetness. Flavors include green apple and citrus. It finishes sweet and tart.

Shades of Blue Riesling is wonderfully refreshing and goes with well with white meats, seafood and cheese. Or, all by itself! It’s a really nice wine at a tremendous price. That makes it 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 Shades Wines via Kobrand Wine and Spirits

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]

The Seeker German Riesling is a real refresher that’s offered at a great price and widely available. That makes it 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 The Seeker Winery via Kobrand Wine and Spirits

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-full bodied wine has rich black and red fruit flavors including black berry, black plum, raspberry and a hint of strawberry and red cherry. Although a 2018, it still had good tannin and medium acidity. It was a bit jammy with soft, smooth sweet-fruit flavor (not sweet, but invoking sweet fruit flavors).

Ridge is a dependably great winery and this 2018 Ridge Three Valleys red blend lives up to the Ridge reputation. A wonderful fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

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, for 14 to 22 days. The wine underwent malolactic conversion, to soften the sharp acids, before being aged for 12 month (making it a “Gran Reserva”) in French oak barrels.

Carmen Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon is deep purple in color with aromas of red fruit, plum and black currant. On the palate, this full-bodied wine has bold flavors of dark fruit, good acidity, big “dusty” tannins (i.e., fine, dry, and powdery) and finishes with a bit of tartness.

This 2019 Carmen Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon is a really nice wine from the Maipo Valley in Chile. And, it is very affordable. That’s a fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

The opinions expressed are entirely my own.