Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week

Tangent Edna Valley Albariño ($12)

This week's wine is an Albariño (Ahi-bah-REE-nyoh) from California's Edna Valley. This grape is indigenous to northwestern Spain where it thrives in the cool western climate.  California's Edna Valley too has the cool nights and warm days necessary to grow great Albariño. This light to medium bodied wine is crisp with bright acidity and has delicate flavors of mandarin orange and tangerine peel. Unique characteristics of wines from this grape include a very subtle saline flavor (i.e., salty) and a smooth, slippery, almost oily, mouth-feel. It does sound that there's a lot going on in this wine, but it is actually a very crisp and refreshing wine that goes with lot of foods, especially fish.

One additional note on this grape.  In Portugal, this is called Alvarinho (Ahi-vah-REE-nyoh) and is used to make that country's famous white wine, Vinho Verde.

 

 

Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week

Charles Smith The Velvet Devil Merlot ($12)

Looking for an attainable, affordable wine?  You've come to the right place. Each week I feature just such a wine on the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week page of EverWonderWine.com. 

This week's wine is one of many wines from winemaker Charles Smith.  In 2009, Food & Wine magazine awarded Charles “Winemaker of the Year.” You'll recognize his other wines by their simple, yet distinctive, black and white labels.

The Velvet Devil from the Columbia Valley is so named because of it being a smooth blend of 83% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Syrah.  A nice easy and enjoyable Merlot from a great winemaker.

Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week

Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week - Cantina Del Grifone 1967 Red Blend ($6)

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Looking for an attainable, affordable wine?  You've come to the right place. Each week I feature just such a wine on the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week page of EverWonderWine.com. 

This week's wine is Cantina Del Grifone 1967 Toscana. This is an Italian blend from Tuscany that is comprised of 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Syrah. You probably know Sangiovese as the grape used to produce wines from the Chianti region of Italy. This a nice red blend that goes with big flavored foods. And, at the price, it's one you can enjoy often.

 

The Never Ending Search for Great Wine

A few years back as I started to become interested in wines, I was searching for a really great wine that I could dependably go back to time after time. While the search for a great wine was a fun adventure, it never seemed to converge on a wine that I could always go back to and enjoy as much as the first time.  As it turns out, that was just the start of the never ending search for a great wine.

Part of the reason that it's difficult, if not impossible, to find a consistently good wine year after year is the very nature of wine making.  Each year's harvest is different, with weather playing a huge role. The spring weather determines how many of the grapevine buds will turn into bunches of grapes. And the fall sun or rain determines how well the grapes will ripen. And not only is there the variability of the grape harvest, but there are all the factors that go into fermentation and aging of the wines.  All these variables make for ever-changes nuances in wines.

Then you come to understand that there's yet another factor.  As you make your way along the journey in search of a great wine, you get exposed to more and more wines. And in this process, your pallet changes.  What was once a really nice wine becomes a so-so wine. So you keep searching, trying to find that one really great wine.

And to this day, I'm sure that there has to be that one great wine out there. Somewhere.  So I'll keep searching. But I also realize that it's a never ending search for great wine.  Enjoy your search. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week -  Opolo Vineyard Summit Creek Cabernet Sauvignon ($20)

This wine from Paso Robles CA is a great find. Described as having defined tannins with flavors of cherry, blackberry, toasted almonds and vanilla this Cabernet is a winner.  A super wine to enjoy grilled meats, cheeses, or just by itself.  Check this one out!