Behind the Cork™ - Trefethen Merlot

2016 Trefethen Family Vineyards Merlot ($36)

Pioneers in the Napa Valley, the Trefethen family are champions of estate grown wines. For three generations, they have carefully tended to their land, employees, and customers, building a loyal following for their legacy of fine, age-worthy wines with a deep integrity of place.

 Embodied in their approach is a profound respect for both people and place. This extends beyond the boundary of their estate, knitting them into the fabric of Napa Valley. Over the past 50 years, they helped establish the Napa Valley Agricultural Preserve, co-founded the Napa Valley Grapegrowers, took on leading roles within the Napa Valley Vintners and California Wine Institute, led the effort to build the viticulture and winemaking centers at Napa Valley College, supported the same at UC Davis, hosted the Napa Valley Cooking Class, and established the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley AVA. Their contributions to the wine industry go beyond the wines they make, and help inspire the Napa Valley to live up to its own great expectations.

This Trefethen Family Vineyards wine is a blend of 86% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Malbec from the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley. It is deep ruby in color with aromas of black fruit and dried fruits along with hints of its oak aging. On the palate, this medium-full bodied wine is dry (14.2% ABV) with rich flavors of black fruit, notes of red cherry and balanced acidity.

This Trefethen Merlot is an excellent wine from the premier Napa Valley. And, a great value too! This makes it a great fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Behind the Cork™ - Fiol Extra Dry Prosecco DOC

Fiol Extra Dry Prosecco ($19)

As we bid farewell to summer and “Hello” to the Fall, there’s no shortage of excuses to raise a glass of bubbly in the months that lie ahead.

“FIOL” means “son” in the Venetian dialect, but these days is more commonly understood to denote a natural leader or friend within a group who happens to stand out. The drive behind FIOL was to produce Prosecco in the authentic style, from the Prosecco heartland in Treviso.

Behind FIOL are childhood friends Gian Luca Passi and Giovanni Ciani Bassetti, whose families have lived and farmed in the Prosecco heartland of Treviso for generations.

The striking FIOL label, designed by FIOL co-founder Gian Luca Passi, features five vertical lines, both a stylized nod to the poles used to support the vines, and a reference to tradition and modernity.

FIOL Extra Dry Prosecco DOC is produced using the Charmat Method, in Stainless Steel tanks, to preserve the fresh and vibrant flavors using 100% Glera grapes. It undergos 40-days of secondary fermentation in tank for extra depth and complexity. [ABV: 11 %, Residual Sugar: 16 g/L (i.e., Extra Dry)]

This FIOL Prosecco is a beautiful pale straw color with subtle floral and citrus aromas. On the palate, this Prosecco has delicate notes of lemon along with refreshing acidity and a touch of tartness on the finish. While this is an “Extra Dry” Prosecco (13 g/L of residual sugar), it’s not sweet - the acidity does a wonderful job of making this a well-balanced bubbly. [ABV: 11%l]

This FIOL Prosecco is great as an aperitif, along with everyday meals or a real treat for special occasions. And, at this price, is a great value! That makes it the perfect 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 Fiol Prosecco DOC

Behind the Cork™ - Pazo de Lusco Albariño

2023 Pazo de Lusco Albariño ($24.99)

The Pazos de Lusco winery, within the Rias Baixas DO, is located in the municipality of Salvaterra do Miño, in the province of Pontevedra. The Rias Baixas DO in Galicia in north-west Spain is a small wine-growing region.

The name of the winery, Pazo de Lusco, is typically Galician. A pazo is a traditional Galician ancestral home usually in the country side. Lusco is an idiomatic Galician word that defines the magical moment between dusk and nightfall when the sun is going down.

This Pazo de Lusco Albariño is produced from 100% Albariño grapes that are fermented with their own yeasts from their most historic vineyards. It is aged on lees.

This wine is pale straw in color with aromas of citrus and apple. On the palate, this Albariño is medium-light bodied with good fruit flavors of citrus (lemon, lime and nectarine). It has bright acidity and a creamy mouthfeel from the aging on lees. This results in a smooth finish. [ABV: 12.5%, TA: 5.2 g/L, ph: 3.6, RS: 1.5 g/L]

This is a delightful Albariño from Pazo de Lusco that sips easy at any time and goes with a large variety of foods. And, at this price, 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 Gonzalez Byass

Behind the Cork™ - Tió Pepe Fino Sherry

Tió Pepe Fino Sherry ($19.99)

Tió Pepe’s Fino Sherry is from the city of Jarez in southern Spain's Andalusia region.

It’s made from the Palomino grape, fermented to the 11-12% ABV range, fortified to 15.5% and then enters the Tió Pepe Solera. While it spends four years in the Solera, a layer of yeast, known as the ‘flor’ forms on the surface of the Sherry within the cask. This protects the Sherry from oxygen and gives Tió Pepe its unique aroma and character.

The aroma is notable for its yeast along with notes of toasted almond. This Sherry is a pale golden yellow in color and light in flavor (hence Fino). It’s completely dry and, when served very chilled or over ice, makes for a wonderful aperitif. [ABV: 15%, TA: 4 g/L, pH:3, RS: <1 g/L]


So, whether you enjoy Sherry straight up or mixed in a cocktail, try this one from Tió Pepe. This is a very enjoyable Sherry that’s offered at a great price, making it a nice 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 Gonzalez Byass

Behind the Cork™ - Trujillo Madelyn White Wine Cuvée

2023 Madelyn White Wine Cuvée ($24)

Michael Trujillo, Winemaker at Trujillo Wines, says “In life, as in winemaking, a blend of great things often results in something fun and unique.” In tribute to his daughter, Sophia Madelyn Trujillo, he proudly makes this white wine cuvée (i.e., a wine made with more than one grape variety).

This wine is produced from a blend of 61% Sauvignon Blanc and 39% Gewürztraminer that was fermented and maintained in Stainless Steel tanks to preserve the bright fruit flavors.

This Madelyn Cuvée (KOO-vay) is medium straw in color with bright aromas of citrus, grapefruit and tropical fruits with the Gewürztraminer adding floral notes. On the palate it is medium-light in body and dry, not sweet, with refreshing citrus and grapefruit flavors, bright acidity and a lingering finish. [ABV: 14.1%, TA: 7.0 g/L, pH: 3.39, RS: 1.5 g/L] 588 Cases Produced

This Trujillo Madelyn White Wine Cuvée is a fun and refreshing wine that can be enjoyed in all casual setting and goes great with lite fare. This is a very enjoyable wine that’s offered at a great price, making it a nice 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 Trujillo Wines