Noble Rot in Wine is a Good Thing!

Noble Rot doesn’t sound like a good thing when associated with wine. But, it actually is!

Noble Rot is officially known as Botrytis Cinerea and is a mold that devours the skin of the grape making it turn purple-grey and fuzzy. It eventually kills the grapes. The resulting shriveled grapes are raisin-like with highly concentrated flavors and sugar levels.

But, this process causing Noble Rot just doesn’t happen easily. For Noble Rot to occur there must be a combination of early morning mists followed by warm, sunny afternoons. It just so happens that the Sauternes region of Bordeaux France is one of the most famous of these regions. And, the Semillon grape variety is most ideally suited for Noble Rot.

Noble Rot wines are costly to produce and therefore can be costly to purchase. The high costs are due to the fact that Noble Rot does not spread through grape clusters in a uniform manner (as shown in the photo) making harvesting the individually affected grapes a labor-intensive and costly process. Then, the pressed juice is extremely concentrated and requires a long, slow fermentation.

The resulting Noble Rot wines are naturally sweet because the fermentation completes well before all the sugars have been converted into alcohol. They have a concentrated honey-flavor with a crisp, acidic finish.

Wines such as Sauternes from Bordeaux, Tokaji Aszu from Hungary, and Spätlese German Rieslings all are made from Noble Rot grapes.

The French often enjoy these sweet wines as an Aperitif and pair it with blue cheese and Foie Gras. But, they truly can be enjoyed in any setting.

So, now you know. Noble Rot is a good thing. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - The Federalist Cabernet Sauvignon

2017 The Federalist Cabernet Sauvignon ($25)

In the spirit of American craftsmanship, this unique Cabernet Sauvignon from The Federalist represents the bold American tradition of aging in charred bourbon barrels.

This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is from Lodi California.

On the nose it has bold aromas of berries, black cherry and plum. And, you can’t miss the smoky aroma imparted by bourbon barrels.

On the palate this Cab has bold flavors of fig, coco and spices. Its tannins are mellow and finishes with sweet caramel. Oh, and did I mention the bourbon barrel aging? The six months this Cabernet spends aging in the bourbon barrels really adds bold notes.

If you love a full-bodied wine this one goes beyond with its bourbon barrel aging. This big one was excellent with a juicy steak and mushrooms. And, it fits right in with the Behind the Cork™ theme of being affordable and attainable. Cheers!

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

Sample Provided by Will Rogers, Donna White Communications

Ever Wonder About Natural, Bio-Dynamic, and Sustainably Produced Wines?

Last time we took a quick look at organic wines and wines produced from organically grown grapes. But, now let’s quickly summarize what it means for a wine to be called ‘Natural’, ‘Bio-Dynamic’ or ‘Sustainable.’

Natural Wines

Like so many other wine terms, there are no regulations for ‘natural’ wines. The grapes are grown in organic, biodynamic or sustainable vineyards. After the grapes are hand-picked, they are pressed and allowed to ferment with no added yeast just the native yeast that occurs in the vineyard. No further additives are included during the winemaking process. Finally, the wines are bottled with little or no sulfites.

Biodynamic Wines

Biodynamic wines are like organic wines, but they add biodynamic practices that focus on soil treatments and timed planting practices that coincide with lunar cycles. Like organic and natural wines, biodynamic wines shelf-life can be shorter if they choose to not add sulfites.

Sustainably Produced Wines

Here the primary difference is in the winemaker’s emphasis on the environment. A sustainable winemaker takes extra effort to minimize their impact on the environment. They focus on things such as water conservation, waste management, wildlife preservation and energy management.

This has been a very high-level summary of the various type of wines. There are lots of laws, regulations and practices that these winemakers follow that complicate the subject. But, suffice it to say they all end up producing wine. So, start looking for these terms on wine labels and give them a try. But, if the label states ‘No Sulfites’ (i.e., no preservatives) ensure that you try it sooner rather than later. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - The Federalist Chardonnay

2018 The Federalist Chardonnay ($23)

The Federalist Chardonnay pays homage to the work of our Federalist Founding Fathers fighting for our country’s liberty. And, the Status of Liberty was the best symbol of their accomplishment.

This wine is 100% Chardonnay from Mendocino County California. Following primary fermentation it undergoes Malolactic fermentation with the lees being stirred throughout. The wine is aged surlies until blending.

The Federalist Chardonnay is aged in 35% new oak that is primarily American and Hungarian oak with a little bit of French oak. The Hungarian oak mimics French with spicy character and the American oak rounds it out with a sweeter finish.

The Federalist Chardonnay is medium gold in color with notes of pear, green apple and apple spice. On the palate it’s big in flavors of buttery baked apple and spices with moderate acidity.

The Federalist Chardonnay is “The perfect wine for light fare, deep conversations and declaring your independence.” This is a really good one and fits perfectly with the Behind the Cork™ theme of being affordable and attainable. Enjoy. Cheers!

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

Sample Provided by Will Rogers, Donna White Communications

Ever Wonder What it Means for a Wine to be Organic?

When it comes to organic wines, there are two major categories: ‘Organic Wine’ and ‘Wines made with Organic Grapes.’ Here’s a quick overview of each.

Organic Wines

For a wine to be labeled as ‘Organic’ it must only use organically grown grapes and avoid synthetic additives. Both the growing of the grapes and the winemaking process must be certified. This includes making sure the grapes are grown without synthetic fertilizers. Other agricultural ingredients that go into the wine, such as yeast, also have to be certified organic. And then, any non-agricultural ingredients must be specifically allowed and can’t exceed 5% of the total product. Finally, while the winemaking process naturally yields some sulfur dioxide (sulfites), the winemaker cannot add sulfites to an organic wine. (Note: Sulfites are commonly added to wines to stop the fermentation process and/or as a preservative in the bottle).

Wines Made with Organic Grapes

Wines made from organically grown grapes are much more common. This means there were no synthetic pesticides or herbicides used in the vineyard. Yeast and any other agricultural ingredients used in winemaking aren’t required to be organic, but have to be produced without excluded methods (like genetic engineering). Finally, sulfites may be added to these wines.

Natural, Bio-Dynamic and Sustainably Produced Wines

Wine labels may also carry the terms ‘Natural,’ ‘Bio-Dynamic,’ or ‘Sustainably Produced.’ As you might have guessed these wines are not the same as organic wines. We’ll explore them in the next post. Cheers!