Behind the Cork™ - Two Hands Angel's Share Shiraz

2018 Two Hands Angel’s Share Shiraz ($33)

Angels' Share refers to the small amount of wine that evaporates from oak barrels during maturation. Medieval winemakers assumed that angels watched over the wines, and that they took their share.

Selected from parcels of exceptional McLaren Vale fruit, this wine is made in a true Australian style and will appeal to both angels and mortals alike.

The grapes were crushed into and fermented in five, seven and 10 ton open fermenters. During the peak of fermentation the batches received regular pump overs three times daily to extract color, flavor and tannin. The average time on skins was 16 days.

Once the parcels were dry, the fermenters were drained off and the skins pressed, with the pressings combined with the free run. After 24 hours the individual batches were racked to barrel where malolactic fermentation proceeded. The final blend was unfined and unfiltered prior to bottling.

This Two Hands Angle’s Share Shiraz is amazing! With herbal aromas of mint and pepper, there’s also some earthiness. On the palette, it’s got rich dark fruit flavors including plum, nice chocolate flavor from the oak aging, moderate tannin and a finish that just doesn’t quit.

This is another super Shiraz from Two Hands. I’m getting more of this one! Cheers!

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

Sample Provided by Will Rogers of Donna White Communications

Ever Wonder? What's the Difference Between Sherry and Port Wine?

I was recently asked about the differences between Sherry and Port. And while they may at first seem similar, they are actually quite different.

Both Sherry and Port are fortified wines meaning that distilled spirits, like brandy, are added to the wine. But that’s where the similarities end. Sherry and Port come from different places, are made with different grapes and are made in different ways.

Sherry comes from the Jerez region of Spain, where the primary grape is Palomino - a white grape. Fortification takes place at the end of fermentation. Most Sherry is then aged in a solera system, where vintages are blended together to ensure the consistency of the final product. Sherry's flavor ranges from bone dry to syrupy sweet. Dry Sherry ages under a cap of flor yeast, preventing the wine's contact with oxygen. These wines are usually crisp and refreshing. Other Sherries are aged in contact with air which gives them a nutty, rich flavor.

Port is produced in the Douro Valley region of northern Portugal, hence the name Port. The primary grapes used in the production of Port are red grapes and include Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa and Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), but more than 80 varieties are permitted. With Port, fortification takes place midway through fermentation. This kills the yeast which ends fermentation. Being that fermentation was not complete, a bunch of residual sugar, not yet consumed by the yeast, remains in the wine, making it sweet. Styles of Port can be broken down into Ruby or Tawny. Ruby Ports are younger and tend to have more syrupy sweet profiles. Tawny Ports undergo extensive barrel aging which lightens their color and imparts more nutty, caramel, and spice flavors.

So, while both Sherry and Port are fortified wines, they are quite different. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Beronia Rioja Reserva

2014 Beronia Rioja Reserva ($19.99)

This Beronia Rioja Reserva comes from the Rioja region of north-eastern Spain.

It is made from a selection of the best grapes from the oldest Tempranillo (95%) vines, Graciano (4%) and Mazuelo (1%).

After fermentation, this Rioja earns its “Reserva” designation by spending 20 months in mixed French and American oak barrels then another 16 months in the bottle before being released to the market.

This Beronia Rioja Reserva has a deep purple color, a bit of a nutty aroma and flavor of ripe plum with the oak aging adding just a bit of chocolate/vanilla flavor. It’s a medium bodied, low tannin and easy on the finish.

This Beronia Rioja Reserva is yet another fine example of an affordable and attainable wine that fits right in as a Behind the Cork™ wine of the week feature. Cheers!

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

Sample Provided by Rebekah Polster for González Byass

Behind the Cork™ - Two Hands Gnarly Dudes Shiraz

2018 Two Hands Gnarly Dudes Shiraz ($33)

Two Hands was established in the summer of 1999 with the aim of making the best possible Shiraz-based wines from prized Shiraz growing regions throughout Australia.

The intention was, and still is, to showcase the diversity of Australian Shiraz by highlighting regional characteristics and allowing the fruit to be the primary feature of the wines.

'Two Hands' refers to the very personable approach taken with each parcel of grapes, no matter how big or small. The wines are carefully guided through the viticulture and winemaking process by Proprietor and Managing Director, Michael Twelftree and his dedicated team.

This Two Hands Gnarly Dudes Shiraz has a full, rich aroma of berries, plums, lavender and dark chocolate, with hints of spice, earth and anise. The vibrant acid carries the juicy plummy fruit and bitter chocolate flavors seamlessly through the fine tannins.

I had expected this to be a big, bold red. But, I was pleasantly surprised to find this Two Hands Gnarly Dudes Shiraz to be medium in body with juicy fresh fruit flavors and very smooth. This was my first introduction to Two Hands wines but you can bet it won’t be my last. This is a good one! Cheers!

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

Sample Provided by Will Rogers of Donna White Communications

Pouring the Right Amount of Wine in a Glass

I recently ordered a glass of wine at a local restaurant. Admittedly it wasn’t a fine dining restaurant. It was a place where you order at the counter and then you are served at your table.

When I got my glass of red wine, it was filled nearly to the top. I’m sure the young man that poured the wine meant well and wanted to ensure that I was getting a full glass. But, for me, it was a bit too full.

Having some empty space in the glass will capture the wine’s aroma. And, as was discussed in a previous blog, your sense of smell is very important to your sense of taste.

It’s usually pretty easy to figure out how much wine to pour in a glass. Just fill it to the widest part of the bowl, as shown in the image. Or, if your wine glass has nearly vertical sides, pour the glass approximately one-third full. Now this may seem like too little wine. I’ve even had friends tease me about being served too little wine. But, I always assure them that there’s more where that came from! But having that empty space in the wine glass will make a positive difference in the way your wine tastes.

There is one exception. When you are pouring sparkling wine in a flute, go right ahead and fill it. That way you’ll ensure that the flute shows off all the wonderful bubbles!

Here’s to pouring the right amount in your wine glass! Cheers!