Behind the Cork™ - Puerta de Plata Red Blend

2023 Puerta de Plata ($7.99)

Puerta de Plata (i.e., Silver Door) wine is produced in Spain and bottled by Terra Cellars.

It is made from 60% Tempranillo and 40% Garnacha. A bit of on-line searching seems to indicate this wine was aged for 12 months in American and French oak.

This wine is medium ruby red in color with a nice aroma of cherry, along with herbal notes and some hints of its oak aging. On the palate, this medium-bodied wine has flavors of cherry (from the Tempranillo) and blackberry (from the Garacha). It has medium tannin and medium acidity that leads to a lightly spicy and slightly jammy finish.

It’s hard to beat this Puerta de Plata wine for its nice flavor and value. This makes it a great fit as the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Ramey Claret

2017 Ramey Claret ($39.98)

David and Carla Ramey founded their winery in 1996 and forged a new California winemaking style that paired old-world techniques with the premier fruit of Sonoma and Napa.

The Ramey family has long excelled at collaborating with other multigenerational winegrowers to make single vineyard wines as well as blends that showcase the defining characteristics of their sites. The second generation, Claire and Alan Ramey, began working at the winery in 2013.

As described in the previous blog, a Claret wine is a red wine blend. And, this Claret is a blend of 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 14% Malbec, 12% Petit Verdot, 8% Syrah and 2% Cabernet Franc - a classic Bordeaux blend. The grapes were sourced from Napa Valley, High Valley, Alexander Valley, the Russian River Valley and Sonoma County.

After fermentation, the wine underwent Malolactic conversion in the barrel, and the wines were blended. The blend rested on its lees for twelve months in French & American oak barrels (24% new), with monthly bâtonnage.

This Ramey Claret is deep purple in color with rich aromas of black cherries, cedar, bay leaves, tobacco and chocolate. On the palate, this medium-full bodied wine has wonderful deep dark fruit flavors, smooth tannins, balanced acidity and finishes long and smooth.

This 2017 Ramey Claret is a really terrific wine and an exceptional value. A perfect fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Lucia Victoria Reserva Rioja

2018 Lucía Victoria Reserva Rioja ($8)

D.O. 5 Hispanobodegas is a group of wineries which produces and distributes quality wines from the most emblematic Officially Certified Wine growing Regions of Spain: Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Rueda.

Their group is made up of a set of three wineries: Bodegas Valdelacierva (Rioja), Viñedos y Bodegas Gormaz (Ribera del Duero) and Bodegas GarciGrande (Rueda).

Their wines are based on the rigorous control of the production processes, from the raw material until it is in the hands of the consumer as well as in the continuous improvement of the vinification and aging processes. To this end, they have the most stringent quality and food safety certifications (ISO, BRC, IFS) in each of their group’s wineries.

This Lucía Victoria Reserva Rioja was bottled for D.O. 5 Hispanobodegas. It is produced from 50+ year old Tempranillo vines that are grown at at altitude of nearly 1500 feet. After fermentation, it is aged 24 months in French and American 225 liter oak barrels followed by 12 months in the bottle before being shipped.

The wine is a beautiful medium purple in color with aromas of red and black cherry, fig and plum. On the palate, this medium-full bodied wine has nice flavors of red and black cherry, medium tannin, medium-high acidity and has a spicy finish with very a subtle hint of tartness.

Finding a 2018 wine under $10 is fantastic. And, it tastes great too! This make the Lucía Victoria Reserva Rioja the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - A to Z Engraved Proprietary Red Blend

2021 A to Z Engraved Proprietary Red Blend ($10)

A to Z Wineworks is owned by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (SMWE), a Washington-based wine company. SMWE acquired A to Z Wineworks, including its Rex Hill subsidiary and winery facility, in September 2022.

A to Z Engraved Red Blend is a proprietary blend of grapes. Although A to Z was Oregon-based before the Washing-based Ste. Michelle acquired them, it’s unclear where the grapes for this red blend were grown - the label simply says “American.”

A bit of on-line searching seems to indicate that this wine has its foundation built on Syrah.

It is deep purple in color with very light aromas of dark fruit and tobacco. On the palate, this medium-full bodied wine has flavors of black plum and black cherry, moderate tannin and balanced acidity. It finishes lean with just a hint of fruity sweetness on the finish. [ABV: 13.9%]

This A to Z Engraved Red Proprietary Red Blend is tasty, having received a 91 point rating from Wine Enthusiast. And, at this price, is a great fit as the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Foley Sonoma Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

2016 Foley Sonoma Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($55)

Foley Sonoma was founded in 2016 in Alexander Valley, part of the Sonoma Valley, CA.

Their winemaking philosophy is about pure varietal expression which produces award-winning, balanced wines rich in fruit and deep in character.

They produce 4,000 to 6,000 cases annually.

This Foley Sonoma Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is deep purple in color. On the nose it has rich aromas of blackberry, black plum, currant and oak. On the palate, this is a full-bodied wine with soft tannins and balanced acidity. It has rich, dark fruit flavors and has a long finish that is extremely soft and smooth.

This Foley Sonoma Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is a gem. And, for a Alexander Valley Cab of this quality, it’s a bargain! If you love a big, rich Cab, this one’s for you. A great fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!