Behind the Cork™ - Lapostolle Cuvée Alexandre Cabernet Sauvignon

2019 Lapostolle Cuvée Alexandre Cabernet Sauvignon ($25)

This wine is from the Apalta Valley in Colchagua Chile. In 1994 Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband, Cyril de Bournet, discovered within the Apalta region a plot of un-grafted Carménère and Cabernet Sauvignon vines first planted in 1920. Apalta is different than the rest of the of the Colchagua Valley in that it has a special meso-climate. Additionally, the vineyard “El Condor de Apalta” is today Demeter-certified Biodynamic.

This Lapostolle Cuvée Alexandre Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Carmenere. It is 100% hand harvested. All fermentations were made with wild yeast in stainless steel tanks. It was then aged for 14 months in French oak barrels.

The wine is deep purple in color with aromas of cassis and black currant. On the palate it’s full-bodied with juicy black-fruit flavors, firm tannin, balanced acidity and a nice light finish.

This Lapostolle Cuvée Alexander Cabernet Sauvignon is widely available and very affordable. It may be kept for many years of bottle aging or decanted now for immediate enjoyment. 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.

Imported by Winebow Imports

Sample Provided by Jarvis Communications

Behind the Cork™ - Gaia Pinot Noir Rosé

2020 Gaia Pinot Noir Rosé ($20)

From Domaine Bousquet, Gaia Rosé is from the vineyards of Tupungato, high in Argentina’s Mendoza Uco Valley . This wine takes its name from Gaia, the ancient Greek goddess of the earth and an inspiration for the Bousquet family, dating back to the late 1990s when as visionaries and intrepid pioneers they left their native France to buy and plant in virgin land in the remote Andean foothills of Argentina. Domaine Bousquet is now Argentina’s foremost name in organically grown wines, farmed organically from the start. And, this Gaia Rosé is made entirely from organically grown grapes.

Gaia Rosé is produced from 100% Pinot Noir that are grown in sandy, gravelly soil at a cool 4,000 feet above sea level by the foothills of the Andes. Intense sunlight and high day-night temperature variations contribute to these Pinot Noir grapes.

This Gaia Rosé is a bright salmon color with fresh fruit aromas of strawberries and orange zest. On the palate it has delicate flavors, creaminess and refreshing acidity on the finish. This rosé is perfect as a refreshing sip on a warm afternoon, with appetizers or any lighter fare.

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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 Creative Palate Communications

Behind the Cork™ - Frontera Cabernet Sauvignon

Frontera Cabernet Sauvignon ($6.99)

The Frontera variatal brand from Concha Y Toro has a newly designed label featuring the iconic Andes Mountain range for their well-known wine.

This non-vintage (NV) Cabernet Sauvignon is from Chile’s Central Valley. It’s produced from 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah. The grapes are 40% hand-picked at harvest and undergo two months of aging in stainless steel and epoxy concrete containers.

This Frontera Cabernet Sauvignon is medium purple in color with an aroma that includes dark fruits, herbs and a bit of floral notes. On the palate it is medium bodied with fresh fruit flavors, light tannin and a pronounced finish.

This is an extremely affordable wine that you should be able to find in any grocery store or wine market. It goes well with red meats, cheese, and spicy dishes. It’s an obvious choice for summer barbecues.

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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 Conundrum Marketing

Behind the Cork™ - Zardetto Prosecco Brut

Zardetto Prosecco Brut NV ($17)

This tasty Zardetto Prosecco comes from vineyards in the hilly part of the Veneto region of Italy.

It’s produced from at least 85% Glera grapes with the addition of up to 15% Pinot Bianco/Chardonnay.

The first fermentation takes place after a brief maceration (the technique of cold-soaking un-fermented grape juice in the crushed skins, seeds and stalks of the grape). The second fermentation, done to create the bubbles, takes place in large temperature controlled stainless steel containers.

Lemon-yellow in color with bubbles that form a hearty white froth in the glass. The aromas include white flowers, apricot and herbs. On the palate this Prosecco has citrus, orange blossoms and stone fruits, a very light hint of sweetness, with light notes lingering on the finish. It comes in at 11% alcohol and, with 12 g/L residual sugar, it’s at the high end of a ‘Brut.’

This is a very nice Prosecco that’s also a great value and is widely available. It’s perfect for any celebration and goes with most any foods. 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.

Imported by Winebow Imports

Sample Provided by Jarvis Communications

Behind the Cork™ - Volver Tempranillo

2018 Volver Tempranillo ($16)

Bodegas Volver creates wines in regions of Spain such as Alicante, La Mancha, Jumilla, Rueda, Valencia and soon Rías Baixas. It is differentiated by its modern approach of working with indigenous varieties.

The winery was founded in 2004 by Rafael Cañizares, enologist through studies and viticulturist through his family tradition of four generations bound to the vine and wine.

The pillars of the bodega are based on the repositioning of quality Spanish wines and recovering old indigenous vineyards which, either through low production or lack of generational succession, had been lost.

This 2018 Volver Tempranillo is from the La Mancha region and produced from 100% Tempranillo that is dry and organically farmed. The grapes are picked by hand and transported in small crates to prevent damage to the fruit. After primary fermentation, it undergoes Malolactic fermentation in new French oak barrels. It is then aged for 15 months in new French oak before bottling without filtration.

This wine is medium purple in color, with dark fruit aromas and just a hint of tobacco. On the palate it is full-bodied with the characteristic flavor of dark cherry, medium tannin and moderate acidity that yields an easy, long finish.

At this price, this Volver Tempranillo is a great example of a quality wine that’s affordable and attainable. Keep on the lookout for this one! 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.

Imported by Winebow Imports

Sample Provided by Jarvis Communications