Behind the Cork™ - Familie Lahusen Riesling

2023 Familie Lahusen Riesling ($25)

Meet Bodega Los Cerros de San Juan, the oldest winery in Uruguay! They make this Familie Lahuesen Riesling. Their vineyards are just a few kilometers from Colonia and Carmelo in the southwestern part of Uruguay, near the coast. Finca Los Cerros (The Cerros Estate) is shaped by the rocky hills that define the region. The winery’s roots go back to Germany, where their founders got the Riesling grapes over 80 years ago.

The Riesling grapes used to make this wine are carefully picked and de-stemmed. Then, they’re cooled and gently pressed. Fermentation happens in 1800 liter Italian amphorae vessels using special yeasts until the wine reaches a minimum residual sugar level of 1.7 g/L. Their use of amphorae adds complexity and longevity to this wine.

This Familie Lahuesen Riesling is a vibrant yellow color with delightful lime and green apple aromas. On the palate, it boasts a medium-light body and medium-high acidity. The flavor is predominantly green apple, complemented by tropical fruit flavors of pineapple and nectarine. The finish is crisp andrefreshing. This isn’t your typical German Riesling; it’s a unique ‘Atlantic’ style from Uruguay!

Uruguay, renowned for its exceptional and distinctive wines, continues to delight wine enthusiasts. The Familie Lahuesen Riesling is a prime example of this, offering exceptional flavors that captivate the palate. At this remarkably affordable price, it stands as an ideal choice for 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 Bodega Los Cerros de San Juan

Celebrate Cab Franc Day with Domaine Bousquet Gaia Organic!

2021 Domaine Bousquet ($20)

Hey, wine lovers! Today, December 4th, is Cabernet Franc Day! And what better way to celebrate than with Gaia Organic Cabernet Franc from Domaine Bousquet.

GAIA, the Greek goddess of the earth, has been the Bousquet family’s inspiration since founding their winery in 1997 when they pioneered and cleared virgin land in the high reaches of Tupungato’s Gualtallary district of Argentina.

From their start, Gaia wines have been crafted with a French winemaking sensibility and made from organic fruit grown at a cool 1,200-m/4,000-ft altitude.

This 100% Cabernet Franc was hand harvested and cold macerated for 72 hours. It was fermented with native yeast for 12 days followed by an additional 14 days of maceration. It was then aged in 100% used French oak for 10 months before being bottled. (ABV: 14.5%, Total Acidity: 5.15 g/L, pH: 3.67, Residual Sugar: 2.02 g/L).

GAIA Organic Cabernet Sauvignon is deep purple in color with delicate red fruit aromas. On the palate, this full-bodied wine has red fruit flavors, plum and medium-high tannin (decant before serving) and finishes with a touch of fruity sweetness.

Cheers to Cab Franc Day and this delicious GAIA Organic Cabernet Franc from Domaine Bousquet. A great fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week.

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 Domaine Bousquet

Behind the Cork™ - Three Excellent Examples of Albarino from Uruguay

Wine has been made in Uruguay for a long time. Like other Latin American countries whose growth was fueled by European immigration in the mid-19th century, wine was made to satisfy the thirst of those nostalgic for their homeland. Bordered by the Uruguay River, the Río de la Plata, and the Atlantic Ocean, Uruguay today boasts 168 wineries, most of them family-owned, that between them produce 10 million cases to meet a current annual demand of around 20 liters (5.28 gallons) per capita.

Here are three excellent examples of Albariño from Uruguay:

2024 Bouza Albariño ($28)

Hailing from Galicia, the Bouza family were the first to plant Albariño in Uruguay, a variety that has now eclipsed Chardonnay to become the third most widely planted white grape.

This wine is produced from 100% Albariño that is undergoes pre-fermentation maceration for four hours. 90% of the wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks while 10% is fermented in French oak barrels. It is then aged on-lees for four months. (ABV: 12.5%, Total Acidity: 3.9 g/L, pH:3.05, RS: 1.9 g/L).

This wine is pale gold in color with a delicate aromas. On the palate, this medium-light bodied wine has subtle flavors of nectarine and grapefruit and medium acidity. It finishes soft and smooth with hints of minerality and saline.

2024 Familia Deicas Atlantico Sur Albariño ($20)

Santiago Deicas grows Albariño at his estate vineyards in Canelones and Maldonado, and finds that he prefers the “explosive flavor” of the grape in the clay and calcareous soils of Juanicó, in Canelones.

Produced from 100% Albariño that is fermented and stored in a tank with lees stirring for several months. It is aged in chilled tanks for four to six months. (ABV: 12.3%, Total Acidity: 4.2 g/L, pH: 3.13)

This wine is medium gold in color with a light aroma. On the palate, this Albariño has flavors of nectarine and grapefruit and finishes with a slight hint of tartness.

2023 Bodega Garzón Single Vineyard Albariño ($35)

Antonio Antonini considered the granitic soils of Garzón and the rainy Atlantic climate when he suggested the team at Bodega Garzón plant Albariño—and they now produce three in each vintage. Their single vineyard used for this wine lies in its southern orientation that shelters the vines from the intense sunlight and direct exposure to the ocean breeze.

This wine is produced from 100% Albariño that is fermented in cement tanks before being aged on-lees for 8 months also in cement tanks. (ABV: 14%, TA: 7.6 g/L, pH: 3.21, RS: 2.7 g/L)

Medium gold in color with an aroma of honeydew. On the palate, this medium-bodied wine has flavors of apricot and citrus along with medium-high acidity. The finish is balanced and smooth.

These three Albariño wines are excellent examples of the wines being produced in Uruguay. And, at these prices, are great fits as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wines of the Week. Cheers!

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

Media Sample Provided by Bodega Bouza, Bodega Familia Deicas and Bodega Garzón

Behind the Cork™ - Familia Traversa Sauvignon Blanc

2024 Traversa Sauvignon Blanc ($16)

Uruguayan wines have unique qualities given the country’s geographical location, climate, and soil diversity. Located between parallels 30° and 35° (south latitude), the clear, positive influence of the sea moderates the temperatures during the hottest months of the year, granting Uruguayan wines with a particularly fresh touch.

It was 1904 when Carlos Domingo Traversa and his parents arrived in Uruguay. The son of Italian immigrants, he spent his youth as a vineyard worker and in 1937, together with his wife, María Josefa Salort, he was able to purchase 5 hectares (12 acres) of land in Montevideo, in a region providing optimum conditions for growing vines. In 1956, he founded the winery aided by his children Dante, Luis, and Armando. They, along with his grandchildren, proudly keep his dream alive today.

The vineyards for these Sauvignon Blanc grapes are located in Montevideo, South of Uruguay, just 15 km away from sea. This wine comes from 20 year-old vines.

This Familia Traversa Sauvignon Blanc is produced from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes that are pressed, and the resulting must is transported into stainless-steel tanks for the entire fermentation process that uses two types of selected yeasts. (ABV: 13.5%)

This Sauvignon Blanc is light gold in color with aromas of pineapple, green apple, lime and herbal notes. On the palate, it has bright citrus flavors, moderate acidity, some minerality and finishes light and refreshing.

This Familia Traversa Sauvignon Blanc from Uruguay is very enjoyable and affordable thus making 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 Familia Traversa Winery

Behind the Cork™ - Tempranillo Wines of Gonzalez Byass

November 14th is International Tempranillo Day! Here are three really nice Tempranillo wines from Gonzalez Byass:

2016 Beronia Gran Reserva ($29.00)

A Gran Reserva from Rioja, like this one, spends a minimum of two years aging in oak and three years in the bottle before being sold.

This wine is deep purple in color with aromas of sweet, jammy dark fruit. On the palate, this full-bodied wine has flavors of black cherry and tart cherry, with medium tannin and medium acidity. The oak is well integrated to make it well-balanced. You’ll never go wrong with this wine.


2016 Dominio Fournier Reserva ($49.99)

This is a fine example of “Tinta del País” or Tempranillo. The “Reserva” designation indicates that it is required to be aged for one year in oak and then spend two years in the bottle before being sold.

This wine, from Ribera del Duero, is produced from 100% Tempranillo. It it deep purple in color with delicate aromas of black cherry and hints of its 15 months of aging in new French oak. On the palate, this full-bodied wine has the distinctive Tempranillo flavor of cherry with firm tannin, medium acidity and finishes with just a bit of tartness.

2020 Beronia Vereia Single Vineyard ($79.99)

This wine comes from the single vineyard plot that was first planted in 1950at Beronia of Rioja.

This wine is made from 100% Tempranillo that was aged for 12 months in new French oak before spending 10 months in the bottle before its release.

It is deep purple in color with delicate dark-fruit aromas. On the palate it has good flavors of red and black cherry. The new oak aging yields a rich vanilla flavor on the finish.

Gonzalez Byass USA is a leading national importer and marketer of wines and spirits from the Gonzalez Byass family’s estates in Spain, Chile and Mexico. These three Tempranillo wines from Gonzalez Byass are excellent wines and this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wines of the Week. Cheers!

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

Media Sample Provided by Gonzalez Byass