Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week

2015 Gerd Anselmann Pfalz Trocken Riesling ($14)

This German Riesling, from the region of Pfalz, 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 not sweet yet still exhibits the sweet fruit flavors of green apple, citrus and peach. An excellent example of a dry German Riesling that has bright acidity. When well chilled, this is a wonderful wine to enjoy with cheeses or a lighter meal. 

Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week

2015 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 away there is going to be some sweetness in this one.  The winery sources these Riesling grapes from both their warm and cool climate sites. The cool climate Riesling grapes give this wine its sweet fruit flavors and contributes to a lighter wine, while the warm climate grapes are a bit more subdued and more toward medium-bodied. The resulting blend has the great sweet fruit flavors of Riesling with just a bit of softness on the edges.  A great entry-level wine and one that pairs very well with hot-spicy foods.

Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week

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 and black cherry flavors with just a hint of the French oak barrels used for aging. Yet another great value, especially for a Pinot Noir from California. And, it got a 90 point "Best Buy" from Wine Enthusiast!

Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week

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. Bob Bertheau, the Head Winemaker at Chateau Ste. Michelle, describes this as his tropical Chardonnay and goes on to describe it as his "Pineapple Upside Down Chardonnay" that is fermented in both French and American oak.

This is a really good Chardonnay and, as always, a great value.

Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week

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 of adding grape skins (left over from the production of Amarone wine) to the fermenting Valpolicella Superiore.  The grapes skins are left in contact with the Valpolicella for a couple of weeks to impart extra flavor, color and tannin.  This process yields a rich and full-bodied, fruity, almost Zinfandel-like jammy wine. Along with these fruity flavors, the 8 months that this wine spends aging in oak adds a bit of toasted flavor.

This is another great value wine that's worth checking into.