Behind the Cork™ - Flora Springs Napa Valley Rosé

2022 Flora Springs Napa Valley Rosé ($32)

Flora Springs was founded in 1978, but their legacy dates back to the late 1800s when wine grapes were first planted on the Napa Valley property that is now their estate vineyards.

The Flora Springs Napa Valley Rosé grapes are grown in sustainably-farmed vineyards.

This rosé is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Merlot (all red wine grapes) and Vermentino (a white wine grape). The wine is made using a classic technique known as Saignée ("San-yay") or Bleeding. Once the handpicked grapes arrived at the winery, the whole-clusters are pressed, removing the juice from the grape skins quickly in order to preserve freshness and leave the wine with its light color. After fermentation the wine was rested in tanks for seven months with twice-weekly lees stirring prior to bottling.

This Flora Springs Napa Valley Rosé is a cherry red color with delicate aromas of strawberry and cherry. On the palate it is light-bodied with medium acidity, with flavors of raspberry and cherry with a touch of sweetness and a great finish. The seven month on-lees has given this rosé a nice smoothness on the mouthfeel that makes this rosé unusually rich.

This Flora Springs Napa Valley Rosé is a new release that’s available from their website. It’s a great value and a great fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

14.2% Alcohol By Volume

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

Sample Provided by Flora Springs Winery via Forte Mare

Behind the Cork™ - Fleurs de Prairie Rosé

2022 Fleurs de Prairie Rosé ($20)

"Fleurs de Prairie" is named in celebration of the free-spirited wildflowers carpeting their vineyards in the South of France. Crafted in South of France style, this wine is made by the family-owned Les Grands Chais de France. Fleurs de Prairie is a Mediterranean combination of sun, wind, mild water stress, and ocean influence that provide ideal conditions for growing grapes.

This rosé is produced from Grenache Noir, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre. The grapes are fermented in 100% stainless steel tanks and fermented separately to achieve the best characteristic of each varietal.

This Fleurs de Prairie is pale salmon in color with delicate aromas of strawberry and peach. On the palate it has delicate flavors of strawberry and candied cherry with refreshing acidity and a hint of tartness.

This Fleurs de Prairie is widely available and quite affordable for a French rosé. These factors make this wonderful rosé a great fit as the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Alcohol By Volume = 13%, Residual Sugar = 1.1 gm/L, pH = 3.33, Total Acidity = 3.32 gm/L

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

Sample Provided by Deutsch Family Wine and Spirits via Forte Mare

Behind the Cork™ - Josh Rosé

2020 Josh Rose ($14.99)

Josh Cellars is a negociant brand which means they don’t own a winery or any vineyards, just like many of the world’s greatest wineries in Bordeaux and Burgundy France. But, they do work with California’s best growers to produce great wines.

The grapes used to make this Josh Rosé were picked in cool conditions and moved immediately to the winery where they were pressed and the juice sent directly to a tank. This very brief period of time that the juice is in contact with the skins lead to the beautiful salmon color of this rosé.

This Josh Rosé has delicate red fruit aromas including strawberry and raspberry. On this palate, this light-bodied rosé has rich flavors of strawberry, melon and peach along with bright acidity. The bright fruit flavors make for a sweet flavor sensation, yet this wine (at 12.5% Alcohol by Volume) is considered ‘dry.’

This Josh Rosé is a wonderfully light and refreshing wine at a great price. Perfect 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.

Sample Provided by Josh Cellars via Forte Mare

Behind the Cork™ - Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Rosé

Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Rosé ($13)

Domaine Bousquet was founded on virgin land in 1997 in the Gualtallary sub-zone of Tupungato in Mendoza’s Uco Valley. Today, the estate, run by daughter Anne Bousquet and husband Labid al Ameri, is Argentina’s largest exporter of wines made from certified organic grapes. All wines are made from 100% certified organic fruit grown at a cool 4,000-foot-high altitude and crafted with a French winemaking sensibility.

This Sparkling Rosé is produced from 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay grapes that are harvested manually. The first fermentation uses selected yeast for 15 days. The second fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks and lasts for about 30 days.

This Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Rosé is a beautiful salmon color with delicate aromas and bubbles. On the palate this light-bodied wine has flavors of strawberry and raspberry with refreshing acidity.

This Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Rosé is a really wonderful sparkling wine that’s available at a great price which makes it a great fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!


Alcohol By Volume: 12.5%, Acidity: 7.8 g/L, pH: 3.26, Residual Sugar: 8.2 g/L

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

Sample Provided by Domaine Bousquet (via Creative Palate Communications)

Behind the Cork™ - Domaine Bousquet Gran-Cabernet Sauvignon

2020 Domaine Bousquet Gran-Cabernet Sauvignon ($20)

This wine began life in the first vineyard planted by the Bousquet family in 2000, after their arrival from France. In the high desert of Uco Valley in Argentina’s Mendoza region, the site captured the family’s imagination based on its sandy soil (low-fertility sandy soil makes for elegant wines) and its access to water. The grapes for this wine are the last to be harvested, ensuring more richness and body.

The organic grapes were hand-harvested along with careful hand selection of the clusters and grapes. It was cold macerated for 72 to 96 hours. Fermentation was with selected yeast for 12 days along with 20 days of maceration. It then underwent 100% Malolactic Conversion before being aged in French oak for 10 months.

This Gran-Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Malbec. It is deep purple in color with big aromas of dark fruits, vanilla and a bit of pepper. On the palate, this wonderful full-bodied dry wine has dark fruit flavors, medium-high tannin and hints of oak. It finishes nicely.

It’s hard to find a Cabernet Sauvignon of this quality at this price. That’s why it’s featured as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Alcohol by Volume: 15%, Acidity: 5.92 g/L/ pH 3.62, Residual Sugar: 2.9 g/L

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

Sample Provided by Domaine Bousquet (via Creative Palate Communications)