Behind the Cork™ - Parallelle 45 Red Blend

2023 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Parallèle 45 Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge ($15.99)

Parallèle 45 is named after the earth’s 45th parallel, a famous circle of latitude that marks the midpoint between the equator and the North Pole. It also passes over the cellars of Paul Jaboulet Aîné in France.

Founded in 1834 on the hill of l’Hermitage in Tain l’Hermitage, the Paul Jaboulet Aîné house oversees an exceptional heritage that brings together the most famous terroirs of the northern Rhone valley and produces quintessential great wines.

While Côtes-du-Rhône in France is renowned for their Grenache, Syrah and Mouvedre (GSM) blend, Parallèle 45 puts their twist on this by producing their sustainably grown blend of 53% Grenache, 41% Syrah, 3% Marselan and 3% Carignan.

Paul Jaboulet Aîné Parallèle 45 Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge is deep garnet in color with delicate aromas of raspberry and red cherry. On the palate, this is a medium-full bodied wine with red fruit flavors, medium tannin, medium-high acidity. It finishes light with just a hint of sweetness.

This Parallèle 45 is a delightful red blend that that can be enjoyed with light fare. It’s a great wine at a great price making it a super 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 Parallèle 45 via Kobrand Wine and Spirits

Behind the Cork™ - Montes Alpha Carmenere

2022 Montes Alpha Carmenère ($24.99)

Montes — officially Viña Montes — was founded in 1987 by four partners with extensive experience in winemaking and viticulture: Aurelio Montes, Douglas Murray, Alfredo Vidaurre, and Pedro Grand. Their founding goal was bold and transformative: to craft premium-quality wines at a time when Chile was largely known for high-volume, inexpensive wine production rather than world-class bottles.

Montes didn’t just make great wine — it rewrote the story of Chilean viticulture. By insisting on premium quality, exploring new terroirs, innovating in both vineyard and cellar practices, and maintaining a deeply Chilean identity without reliance on foreign investment, Montes helped elevate the reputation of an entire nation’s wine industry.

This Montes Alpha Carmenère is produced from 90% Carmenère and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon that were macerated for 5 days after which selected yeasts were added and fermentation lasted 7-10 days. It then underwent malolactic conversion. Some of the wine was then transferred to French oak barrels where it aged for 12 months while the remaining wine was transferred to concrete tanks.

Montes Alpha Carmenère is deep ruby red in color with delicate aromas of both red and black fruit. On the palate this wine is full-bodied with rich flavors of blackberry, blueberry, fig and plums. Its tannins and acidity are well balanced. This wine finishes spicy with a hint of chocolate from its oak aging.

This 2022 Montes Alpha Carmenère is an excellent example of the wines coming out of Chile. It’s great tasting and a super value. A 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 Montes Winery via Kobrand Wine and Spirits

Behind the Cork™ - St. Francis Pinot Noir

2023 St. Francis Sonoma County Pinot Noir ($25.99)

The fruit for this wine was sourced from multiple vineyards in the Sonoma Coast region.

This Pinot was fermented using a combination of techniques, fusing both old and new world styles of Pinot Noir winemaking. Each vineyard lot of 100% Pinot Noir underwent a 14-day fermentation, with an extended maceration for up to 30 more days to allow flavor and texture to harmonize. The wine was then racked off into French oak barrels, where it underwent malolactic conversion, before it was blended and bottled.

St. Francis Sonoma County Pinot Noir is medium ruby in color with aromas of red berries including raspberry. On the palate, this medium-bodied wine has the classic Pinot Noir flavors of tart cherry and cranberry, medium tannin and medium acidity. It finishes light with just a touch of tartness.

This 2023 St. Francis Sonoma County Pinot Noir is an excellent example of the Pinots produced in Sonoma County yet at a fraction of the cost. This is great tasting and a super value. A 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 St. Francis Winery via Kobrand Wine and Spirits

Behind the Cork™ - Olarra Classico Gran Reserva Rioja

2016 Olarra Classico Gran Reserva Rioja ($30)

Olarra Clásico Gran Reserva 2016 is a well-regarded Spanish red wine from the Rioja region of Spain.

With a history dating back 50 years, Bodegas Olarra base their wines on the ideal selection of the raw material, on the traditional winemaking methods which have been adapted to modern times and the evolution of their wines to the tastes of the consumer.

The third generation of the Bodegas Olarra family is made up of three committed young winemakers who are totally wrapped up in the production of great Rioja wines — Pedro Limousin Ucín, Marcial Zapke Ucín and Luis Limousin Ucín.

This Gran Reserva (meaning it spent a minimum of 2 years in oak and minimum of 3 years in the bottle) is produced from 80% Tempranillo, 10% Mazuelo, 5% Granacha and 5% Graciano. At it’s 9-year mark, it’s definitely showing its age with its tawny color. On the nose, there is black fruit and sweet tobacco. On the palate, it has flavors of black cherry and fig. It finishes spicy and nutty (from aging oxidation).

This 2016 Olarra Clásico Gran Reserva Rioja may be at its peak after nine-plus years. So, if you get an opportunity to try it, it’s well worth the experience. It’s this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Pinot Noir

2022 Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Pinot Noir ($22)

Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Pinot Noir is blended from some of the region’s top vineyards. The Rochioli and Bacigalupi vineyards are in the Middle Reach subdivision, where close proximity to the river awards foggy mornings, warm and sunny days, and cool nights. The Toboni vineyard is in the Santa Rosa Plain, a distinctly cooler and foggier sub-region, while the Hallberg and McDonald Mountain Vineyards, located within the Green Valley and Sebastopol Hills neighborhoods, exhibits even more extreme cool climate conditions.

This wine is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes that are hand sorted. Some of the grapes were de-stemmed and then transferred to small, open-top tanks where a small percentage of whole cluster fruit was added. It underwent malolactic conversion and was aged in 35% new French oak barrels for nine months on primary lees.

Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Pinot Noir is a medium ruby red in color with nice, bright red fruit aromas. On the palate, this medium-bodied Pinot Noir has flavors of sour cherry and cranberry.

Gary Farrell is a top Russian River producer of Pinot Noir. And, at this price, an amazing value. A perfect fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!