Behind the Cork™ - Trujillo Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

2021 Trujillo Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($96)

Michael Trujillo arrived in Napa Valley in 1982 from his family’s farm in Colorado. He grew up helping his father year-round in the fields, and learned early on about how soil, climate, pests and critters affect living, growing plants.

After three decades of winemaking experience in all aspects of the business—from vineyard cultivation and irrigation digging, to cooperage selection and blending—Michael Trujillo is proud to offer his own namesake Cabernet Sauvignon.

This wine is a realization of his lifelong passion for crafting red wine, an expression of all that he’s learned and deeply values about winemaking in the Napa Valley.

This wine is produced from 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot, all of which are from the Napa Valley. It was aged 22 months in French Oak (82% new barrels).

Trujillo Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is deep, dark and dense in its color. On the nose it has dark fruit aromas of black cherry, currant, and a hint of plum, along with cedar and cigar box. On the palate, it starts bold and then yields a smooth richness with flavors of black cherry, currant, and dark chocolate that culminate in a lengthy finish. [ABV: 14.6%, TA: 5.6 g/L, pH: 3.71, RS: 0.4 g/L]. Cases Produced = 582

Trujillo Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa is truly amazing! And, a real treat for your palate. That makes it an easy selection 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

Behind the Cork™ - Rivallana Gran Reserva Rioja

2018 Rivallana Gran Reserva Rioja ($12)

This wine was bottled for Bodegas Ondarre, located in the Rioja region of Spain. It is a “Gran Reserva” wine which means that it was aged for a minimum of five years in oak and bottle with a minimum of 2 years in oak and a minimum of 3 years in the bottle before being released by the winery.

Tempranillo is the grape of Rioja and this wine is 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 2% Garnacha.

This 2018 Rivallana Gran Reserva Rioja is a medium garnet in color with nice aromas of dark fruit and oak. On the palate, this medium-full bodied wine has nice flavors of black cherry, fig, a touch of blueberry, sweet tobacco leaf and notable cedar from the oak aging.

This is a 2018 wine that’s a Gran Reserva. And, it sells for under $20! This is a great value for a really good wine. Look for it! Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - J Dusi Model M Red Blend

2020 J Dusi Model M Red Blend ($17.99)

On a recent visit to Paso Robles, I had the pleasure of spending some time in the tasting room at J Dusi with Janell Dusi, the “J” in J Dusi and a fourth-generation winemaker in the Dusi family.

Janell was born and raised on the Dusi Vineyard where her grandfather Dante taught her the old world Italian style of winemaking. The Dusi family’s heritage and history in Paso Robles Wine Country dates back to the early 1920’s, where grape growing has been a craft that has deep roots in the Dusi family. The sustainable farming practices that were implemented by Janell’s great-grandparents ninety years ago are still the standard followed today.

This red wine blend is named for their 1939 Model M tractor that has been a workhorse for the Dusi family in Paso Robles for three generations.

This 2020 J Dusi Model M wine is a red blend with equal parts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Syrah. It is a medium ruby red in color with wonderful aromas of red and black fruit. On the plate, this medium-full bodied wine has great fruit flavors of red and black plum, black cherry and cassis. It has balanced tannin and acidity and finishes with jammy fruit and some spiciness.

Model M red blend from J Dusi is a wonderful wine at a great price. It’s also widely available. This makes Model M the perfect fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Sonoma Grove Zinfandel

2022 Sonoma Grove Zinfandel ($8)

This Sonoma Grove 2022 Zinfandel is produced for the Navigator Wine Collection (formerly Precision Wine Company). They cellar and bottle the wine. The actual wine producer is not available.

Sonoma Grove wine is from Sonoma County, a great region for Zinfandel, especially the Dry Creek region.

Sonoma Grove Zinfandel is medium purple in color with jammy fruit aromas and a hint of sweet tobacco leaf. On the palate, this Zinfandel is indeed jammy, with sweet flavors of boysenberry and blackberry jam. It finishes lean.

Sonoma Grove Zinfandel is a great value and a good fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Book Review: Stikky Wine

Stikky Wine ($12)

Looking for a good, beginner’s-level, easy to read book to learn about wine? Stikky Wine is a great place to start.

The book does not rely on taking notes or memorization. It clearly states “Read the three sections…stop after each section and practice in the real world…promise yourself that you will try to answer each question in the text. Keep these promises, and what you learn will stick.” Hence the name, Stikky Wine.

The sections are a quick-read with information on how wine is made, grape types, easily identifiable aromas and flavor and common red and white wines. No technical jargon, just simple, easy to understand facts about wines. And, some quick checks along the way to check your understanding.

Stikky Wine is a breeze to read and brings together the essential wine knowledge in straightforward, easy-to-grasp language, all enhanced by beautiful illustrations. It’s a fantastic guide for anyone new to the world of wine. Cheers!

Stikky Wine is available on-line, visit https://stikky.com/collections/books. Provided by Book Publicity Services Inc.