Behind the Cork™ - Art of Earth Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

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2019 Art of Earth Montepulciano d’Abruzzo ($12)

This Art of Earth Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is a certified Organic wine. And it’s a 2019. Those two factors make this a very unusual wine. In a good way!

First, this Art of Earth is a wine made from organic grapes. This is a small but growing category of wine. 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.

Secondly, this is a 2019 vintage. Yes, it’s a less than one year old red wine. Unusual.

On the nose this Art of Earth Montepulciano d’Abruzzo has aromas of bright red fruits. Namely cherry and raspberry. Not surprising for a very young wine. On the palate it’s got very firm tannins. Again, not surprising for a very young wine. But then it’s got this big berry flavor, good acidity and a seemingly strong oak influence. But I had to question myself - a wine that’s less than one year old with strong oak influence? It wasn’t until well after tasting this wine that I reviewed common characteristics of the Montepulciano grape. It was then that I discovered that it is well known for having a ‘smoky sweet finish.’ Exactly! That’s what I was experiencing!

So, if you can’t tell by now, this was a surprisingly good wine. And at a price of $12, a perfect fit for a Behind the Cork™ wine of the week feature. If you can find this one pick up a bottle or two. I think you too will be favorably surprised. Cheers!

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

Sample Provided by Donna White, Donna White Communications


French Wine - Simplified

One of the most confusing subjects for American consumers is trying to understand wines from France. The wine labeling system in France is mostly based on region or appellation, not by the type of grape used to produce the wine.

So, here are some broad generalities regarding the wines from the various regions in France:

Bordeaux - The majority of wines from Bordeaux are red blends. The Left Bank wines are generally based on Cabernet Sauvignon while the Right Bank wines are based on Merlot. These blends may include Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot and Malbec and Carmenère. Bordeaux's white wines are generally blends of Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc. Muscadelle may also be used in small quantities.

Champagne - This is the name of the world’s most famous sparkling wine. And, yes, it’s from the Champagne region of France. Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier (both of which are purple grapes) and Chardonnay are the primary grape varieties used to make Champagne.

Burgundy - The red wines from Burgundy are Pinot Noir and the white wines are Chardonnay.

Beaujolais - This region is famous for wines made from the Gamay grape.

Loire Valley - This region’s red wine is dominated by Cabernet Franc but the Loire Valley also grows Pinot Noir, Malbec (you may see it as Côt) and Gamay. White wines are Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Muscadet (also known as Melon de Bourgogne) and Chardonnay.

Rhone Valley - This region is best known for its red blends of Granache, Syrah and Mourvèdre (GSM) and white blends of Marsanne and Roussanne.

There are plenty of books completely devoted to the study of French wines. But, if you’re just walking down the wine aisle trying to decide on a French wine, I hope these simple notes help. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Vines on the Marycrest Mourvèdre

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2014 Vines on the Marycrest Mourvèdre ($40)

Vines on the Marycrest is located on 26 acres of steep hills in the Adelaida district of westside Paso Robles in California. Originally their land was an almond orchard with some old Zinfandel vines. It is now planted with Zinfandel, Tempranillo, and Rhône varieties such as Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, and Viognier. All these do extremely well in the Paso Robles area.

The westside of Paso Robles experiences hot, summer days with cool nights due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean. This large temperature difference, called a diurnal shift, along with the rocky, limestone soils is perfect for growing wine grapes.

This Vines on the Marycrest Mourvèdre is produced from 100% Mourvèdre grapes. On the nose you get nice aromas of cherry and plum with a bit of earthiness. On the palate you get a wonderfully smooth wine with candied cherry, raspberry, dried fig and fresh violets. It has bright acidity and an easy finish.

Check out the wines of Vines on the Marycrest on https://vinesonthemarycrest.com/ or visit them in Paso Robles. Cheers!

Barbera Wine in California

While Barbera is originally from Italy, it was brought to California by Italian immigrants in the 19th century.

Much of it was originally grown in California’s Central Valley where it has been widely used as a blend component in mass-produced jug wines.

Word has it that Barbera was a personal favorite of Ernest and Julio Gallo. Their vineyards, planted in the early 1970s, are said to still be producing Barbera. Barbera is believed to be a component in Ernest and Julio Gallo’s Hearty Burgundy and the Italian Swiss Colony Winery has also reportedly used it successfully for several of their table wines.

Today, Barbera is being produced in many of the finer wine regions of California and seems especially well suited for Northern California’s El Dorado and Amador Counties.

I’m constantly on the lookout for Barbara. It’s difficult to find and still somewhat of a wine that doesn’t get the respect that it deserves. So, if you are lucky enough to find a bottle of California Barbera, give it a try. And, it’s no surprise that it pairs very well with hearty Italian foods. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Barone Montalto Pinot Grigio

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2019 Barone Montalto Pinot Grigio ($12)

This Barone Montalto Pinot Grigio is from the Valle del Belice in south-western Sicily, Italy.

It is produced from 100% Pinot Grigio that is fermented for 15 days at 13-15°C. Maturation is conducted in stainless steel tanks to preserve its bright fruit flavors for two months prior to bottling.

This Barone Montalto Pinot Grigio is straw yellow in color. The bouquet is full of citrus fruits, pear and green apple. On the palate it is bright and refreshing with medium acidity that yields a long, easy finish.

This is yet another fine example of an affordable and attainable wine that’s perfect to be featured as a Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

For more information on this and other wines from Barone Montalto visit https://www.baronemontalto.wine

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

Sample Provided by Donna White, Donna White Communications