Behind the Cork™ Ravines Wine Cellars Maximilien

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2017 Ravines Wine Cellars Maximilien ($24.95)

Ravines Wine Cellars is an artisanal winery in the flourishing, world-class wine region of the Finger Lakes, located in upstate New York. It is the passion of Morten & Lisa Hallgren, a European Winemaker/Oenologist and his Chef wife. Together, they have created a small, distinctive winery, crafting elegant and expressive wines using Old World winemaking practices.

Maximilien is an old Roman mane used throughout the centuries for saints, emperors, revolutionaries and philosophers. Ravines Wine Cellars considers Maximilien “a honest name for this blend of two noble and historic varieties.”

This Ravines Wine Cellars Maximilien is a blend of 54% Merlot and 46% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Knowing this is a Merlot/Cab blend, I was most surprised to see that this wine is light in color - a pale to medium ruby, almost like a Pinot Noir or a GSM blend. On the nose it has cherry and plum with a bit of a sweet note. On the palate this wine is medium bodied, medium tannin with flavors of tart cherry, cranberry and raspberry, moderate acidity and a refreshingly long finish. This wine definitely expresses its Finger Lakes terroir.

If you are not familiar with wines from the Finger Lakes region I’d definitely recommend that you check out Ravines Wine Cellars Maximilien as well as their Dry Riesling and White Springs Dry Riesling. The are all very affordable and worthy of being Behind the Cork™ wines 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.

Sample Provided by Ravines Wine Cellars

Behind the Cork™ - Ravines Wine Cellars White Springs Dry Riesling

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2017 Ravines Wine Cellars White Springs Dry Riesling ($22.95)

Ravines Wine Cellars is an artisanal winery in the flourishing, world-class wine region of the Finger Lakes, located in upstate New York. It is the passion of Morten & Lisa Hallgren, a European Winemaker/Oenologist and his Chef wife. Together, they have created a small, distinctive winery, crafting elegant and expressive wines using Old World winemaking practices.

The White Springs Vineyard is a unique site with protected slopes of limestone soil. The vineyard is located in the northern part of the Finger Lakes region and was one of the first farming sites in western New York to have a sophisticated irrigation system installed over 150 years ago. With many older vine-plantings, significant slope and perfect eastern exposure, this large 59 acre vineyard site produces ripe, pristine grapes with nuances and complexity.

This White Springs Dry Riesling is golden yellow in color with pear, apricot and tropical fruits on the nose. On the palate it has bright fruit flavors, good acidity and a wonderful finish. At 12.5 % ABV it is indeed a dry Riesling.

Having received multiple 90+ point ratings, this Ravines Wine Cellars White Springs Dry Riesling is a good one!

  • 92 points Decanter

  • 91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

  • 92 points Vinous Media

  • 91 points from Wine & Spirits Magazine

  • 90 points from Wine Spectator.

If you are in the Finger Lakes area be sure to check out their two tasting rooms, one in Seneca Lake and one in Keuka Lake. Or, simply checkout their award winning wines at RavinesWine.com

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Sample Provided by Ravines Wine Cellars

Behind the Cork™ - Ravines Wine Cellars Dry Riesling

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2017 Ravines Dry Riesling ($17.95)

Ravines Wine Cellars is an artisanal winery in the flourishing, world-class wine region of the Finger Lakes, located in upstate New York. It is the passion of Morten & Lisa Hallgren, a European Winemaker/Oenologist and his Chef wife. Together, they have created a small, distinctive winery, crafting elegant and expressive wines using Old World winemaking practices.

This Ravines Dry Riesling is estate grown, 100% Riesling from the Finger Lakes AVA. Its grapes come from the White Springs Vineyard (52%), and the 16 Falls Vineyard (48%), with the vineyard on each side of Seneca Lake.

The hand-harvested grapes from both vineyards were whole cluster pressed. The machine harvested fraction from the White Springs vineyard were given substantial skin contact prior to fermentation. All were fermented at low temps (54-60 F) in stainless steel tanks to preserve the bright fruit flavors. After racking, this wine was aged on lighter lees throughout the winter until April and was bottled in June 2018.

While Rieslings may be pale straw in color, this Ravines Dry Riesling is golden - likely due to the extended skin contact. On the nose, it has lime and green apple along with apricot, melon and tropical fruits. On the palate, the bright fruit fools you into believing that it has sweet tendencies, but at 3 g/l residual sugar it is indeed a dry Riesling. The mouthfeel is soft and slightly oily. It has medium acidity and finishes light and refreshing.

This Ravines Wine Cellars Dry Riesling has received 90-point ratings from Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate. And, at this price, it perfect as a Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week.

Learn more about Ravines Wine Cellars at https://ravineswine.com

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Sample Provided by Ravines Wine Cellars


Behind the Cork™ - Mazzocco Cabernet Sauvignon

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2018 Mazzocco Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon ($18)

This Cabernet Sauvignon is produced by Mazzocco in the Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma Valley.

Perched on a saddle between the acclaimed valleys of Dry Creek and Alexander, Mazzocco is renowned for Zinfandels but also produces Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

This Cabernet Sauvignon from Mazzocco is medium ruby in color with aromas of plum and black cherry. On the palete, this wine has flavors of dark cherry, firm tannin and a light, slightly tart, finish.

This 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is young and could benefit from a bit more time in the bottle. But, if you open it now, like I did, then give it an hour or two in a decanter to help soften the tannins.

Checkout all the great wines from Mazzocco at https://www.mazzocco.com

Behind the Cork™ - Amador Cellars "Farmhouse Red"

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2014 Amador Cellars “Farmhouse Red” ($27)

Amador Cellars, located in Plymouth California (Amador County) is truly a family-run winery. It showcases Mediterranean wines, Tuscan architecture and a friendly tasting room staff that includes the family. The winery produces estate-grown Zinfandel and Italian, Spanish and Rhone Valley varietals.

It was the Amador Cellars Barbera that was my “Ah ha” moment several years ago.

This Farmhouse Red is yet another outstanding wine from Amador Cellars. I purchased this bottle during my 2018 visit to the winery where I got to meet the Long family, including owners Larry and Linda.

The Farmhouse Red is a blend of 53% Zinfandel, 20% Petite Sirah, 20% Barbera and 7% Aglianico. It’s medium ruby in color. On the nose it has great aromas including red fruit, black cherry and oak. On the palate it got great depth and wonderful complexity, moderate tannin and a very nice finish.

Every bottle that I’ve had from Amador Cellars is a winner and this is no exception - a worthy Behind the Cork™ Exceptional Wine. If you are in Amador County California, definitely stop by and visit them and check out all their great wines on https://amadorcellars.com

Cheers!