Behind the Cork™ - Daou Chardonnay

2022 Daou Chardonnay ($16)

Daniel Daou always had dreams of becoming a winemaker, but as a young man in France, this was completely out of reach. He placed this dream on the back-burner, but the pulse of that dream never truly faded. It was always there in the background, calling to him. To feed that passion, Daniel ravenously studied and collected wines while raising his young family in San Diego. “When I would go to kiss my father goodnight, he was always reading a wine book,” his eldest daughter Katherine fondly recalls. This passion ultimately led him to follow his winemaking dream and discover what is now DAOU Mountain in Paso Robles, California.

This 100% Chardonnay, barrel-aged for five months, with 30% in new French oak, exhibits a deep golden yellow color and light aromas of tropical fruit, vanilla, and floral notes. On the palate, it strikes a balance between a bright, crisp, and fruity Chardonnay from stainless steel tanks and one with heavy oak aging. While it undergoes five months in French oak, pineapple and pear flavors persist, complemented by rich vanilla notes from the new oak. 

This Daou Chardonnay is another fantastic wine from Daou. And guess what? It’s super affordable and widely available. That makes it the perfect choice for this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week!

Pick this one up. I'm going back for more! Cheers!

Give Non-Alcoholic Wines a Try for Your Dry January

Embarking on a “Dry January” involves voluntarily abstaining from alcohol consumption for the entire month of January. This practice has gained popularity as a New Year’s resolution, with individuals choosing a temporary break from drinking to kickstart a healthier lifestyle, reassess their relationship with alcohol, and experience various physical and mental benefits. Whether motivated by health goals, curiosity, or a desire for self-reflection, this month-long commitment has become a widespread phenomenon, fostering a supportive community that encourages individuals to reevaluate the role alcohol plays in their lives.

So, if you are going for a “Dry January", have you considered non-alcoholic wines as an alternative? They’ve been around for years. 

But, you may have wondered: 

• “What exactly is non-alcoholic wine?” 

• “How is it made?” 

• “Is it any good?”

First, let’s consider non-alcoholic wine. It’s essentially ‘real’ wine that’s been made from fermented grapes. It can exhibit similar flavor profiles to regular wine, but without the alcohol content. However, it’s important to note that non-alcoholic wine may still contain a minuscule amount of alcohol. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to check the label for the precise amount of alcohol it contains.

Now, let’s briefly examine the process of making non-alcoholic wine. As mentioned earlier, it begins with “real” wine, which is made from fermented grapes. Subsequently, it undergoes one of two methods to eliminate the alcohol content. One method is known as vacuum distillation. In this process, the wine is heated to temperatures where the alcohol starts to evaporate. However, these temperatures are below the boiling point of the wine. Since the boiling point of alcohol is lower than water, the alcohol “boils” off and is extracted in a vacuum chamber. 

The other method is reverse osmosis. This process employs an exceptionally fine filter that permits only water and alcohol to pass through. The filter captures all the fine grape particles responsible for the wine’s color, tannin, and flavors. Subsequently, the mixture of water and alcohol is distilled to eliminate the alcohol. The remaining water is then reintroduced to the grape solids to create a non-alcoholic wine.

These same two processes are used for “low calorie” or low-alcohol wines except they don’t remove all the alcohol. 

Alright, I’m sure you are already thinking “Is non-alcoholic wine any good?” Well, as you might have guessed, it’s not exactly the same as regular wine, but it does have a lot of tasty similarities. 

If you’re considering participating in “Dry January,” consider exploring non-alcoholic or low-alcohol wine options. Stay hydrated and raise a glass to your success! Cheers!

Ever Wonder What it Means for a Wine to Have Grippy Tannin?

Photo by Mario Amé on Unsplash

There is a lot of wine ‘lingo’ that gets tossed around. And here is yet another phrase that is commonly used - grippy tannin.

One of the components of a wine, especially a red wine, is its tannin. It is derived primarily from grape skins, seeds and stems, but also from oak barrels.

While some may describe tannin in a wine as causing an astringent reaction in your mouth, others describe tannin as making your mouth feel like it’s full of cotton balls, dust or like having a sandpaper-surface sensation. Others simply describe a wine as having “grippy'“ tannin.

This term “grippy” comes from the sandpaper analogy. If you rub two pieces of sandpaper together, there’s going to be a lot of friction or stickiness.

In your mouth, the astringency of a wine’s tannin can make your tongue feel like it’s rough - like sandpaper. And, it can make the roof of your mouth feel rough - like sandpaper. Then, when you slide your tongue against the roof of your mouth you’ll experience this friction or “grippy” sensation.

So, next time your hear or read about a wine as having “grippy” tannin, you’ll know that you’re in for a wine that is highly tannic. Get your decanter ready! Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Domaine Bousquet Alavida Organic Kosher Cabernet Sauvignon

2022 Domaine Bousquet Alavida Kosher Cabernet Sauvignon ($18)

Alavida Cabernet Sauvignon joins an exclusive group of wines: it’s USDA-certified organic and kosher. As Argentina’s first wine of its kind, Alavida stands as one of the few wines globally to achieve this remarkable dual status.

The name “Alavida” translates to “To Life” in Spanish, inspired by the traditional Hebrew toast “L’chaim!”

The Domaine Bousquet estate, nestled in Argentina’s Uco Valley, is owned by Anne Bousquet and her husband, Labid al Ameri. Anne Bousquet emphasizes Argentina’s rich diversity and highlights their multi-cultural family’s commitment to certified organic wines in Argentina since 1997.

The winemaking process for Alavida closely resembles that of a non-kosher wine, with two notable exceptions. Kosher ingredients like yeast are used, and the wine undergoes physical production and handling by a Sabbath-observant Jewish team under the supervision of a rabbi.

Alavida Malbec boasts a deep purple hue and captivating aromas of rich red and black fruits, accompanied by a subtle hint of sweet tobacco. On the palate, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is full-bodied with flavors of black cherry, black berry, and a touch of cocoa on its pleasant finish.

At an affordable price point, this Cabernet Sauvignon, certified USDA-organic, mevushal and kosher Ⓤ, makes an ideal choice for this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Let’s raise a glass to “L’chaim” and cheers!

For more information on kosher wines, see my recent blog.

ABV: 14.5%, RS: 2.15 g/L, Total Acidity: 5.92 g/L, pH: 3.69

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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.

Media Sample Provided by Domaine Bousquet

Behind the Cork™ - Ameri Organic Cabernet Sauvignon

2021 Ameri Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($36)

Named after Domaine Bousquet co-owner Labid al Ameri, this Ameri Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is not just “single vineyard” but also “specific cluster,” and it’s only produced in exceptional years.

Located at an elevation of 1,200 meters (4,000 feet) in Gualtallary, the certified-organic vineyard is the highest point on the estate.

The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes for this wine are hand-selected from the clusters. Fermentation is initiated using native yeasts for 14 days, followed by a 20-day maceration period in oak barrels. Subsequently, the wine is aged in French oak (65% new oak, 35% used) for 12 months.

The Ameri Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits a deep purple color and a delicate aroma of dark fruits. On the palate, it is a full-bodied wine with flavors of blackberry and plum. It has moderate tannin (enjoy after decanting for at least an hour) and medium-high acidity. The finish is pleasant. (ABV: 14.5%, Total Acidity: 5.17, pH: 3.7, Residual Sugar: 2.3 g/L)

This Ameri Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is another testament to the exceptional organic wines being produced in Argentina by Domaine Bousquet. It’s a really good Cabernet at an affordable price, making it a perfect choice as the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. 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.

Media Sample Provided by Domaine Bousquet