Behind the Cork™ - Trujillo Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

2021 Trujillo Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($96)

Michael Trujillo arrived in Napa Valley in 1982 from his family’s farm in Colorado. He grew up helping his father year-round in the fields, and learned early on about how soil, climate, pests and critters affect living, growing plants.

After three decades of winemaking experience in all aspects of the business—from vineyard cultivation and irrigation digging, to cooperage selection and blending—Michael Trujillo is proud to offer his own namesake Cabernet Sauvignon.

This wine is a realization of his lifelong passion for crafting red wine, an expression of all that he’s learned and deeply values about winemaking in the Napa Valley.

This wine is produced from 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot, all of which are from the Napa Valley. It was aged 22 months in French Oak (82% new barrels).

Trujillo Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is deep, dark and dense in its color. On the nose it has dark fruit aromas of black cherry, currant, and a hint of plum, along with cedar and cigar box. On the palate, it starts bold and then yields a smooth richness with flavors of black cherry, currant, and dark chocolate that culminate in a lengthy finish. [ABV: 14.6%, TA: 5.6 g/L, pH: 3.71, RS: 0.4 g/L]. Cases Produced = 582

Trujillo Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa is truly amazing! And, a real treat for your palate. That makes it an easy selection as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week! Cheers!

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 Trujillo Wines

A Tour of Wine Grapes: A to Z

As we begin a new year, EverWonderWine will take you on a tour of the more common grapes, A to Z, used around the world to produce wine.

We’ll look at where the grapes originated, where they’re grown, the various aroma and flavor profiles as well as things like the best serving temperature for the wines made from the grape, along with decanting recommendations and the aging potential of the wine.

While turning the grapes into wine can be done in many ways by wine makers, we’ll also look at common wine characteristics such as acidity and tannin associated with the wines made from each grape.

So, follow along the tour.

Next time we’ll being with Albariño. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Rivallana Gran Reserva Rioja

2018 Rivallana Gran Reserva Rioja ($12)

This wine was bottled for Bodegas Ondarre, located in the Rioja region of Spain. It is a “Gran Reserva” wine which means that it was aged for a minimum of five years in oak and bottle with a minimum of 2 years in oak and a minimum of 3 years in the bottle before being released by the winery.

Tempranillo is the grape of Rioja and this wine is 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 2% Garnacha.

This 2018 Rivallana Gran Reserva Rioja is a medium garnet in color with nice aromas of dark fruit and oak. On the palate, this medium-full bodied wine has nice flavors of black cherry, fig, a touch of blueberry, sweet tobacco leaf and notable cedar from the oak aging.

This is a 2018 wine that’s a Gran Reserva. And, it sells for under $20! This is a great value for a really good wine. Look for it! Cheers!

The Never Ending Search for Great Wine

Photo by Doriana Popa on Unsplash

A few years ago, as I began to develop an interest in wines, I embarked on a quest to find a truly exceptional wine that I could consistently return to and savor. Although the search for a remarkable wine was an enjoyable journey, it never seemed to lead me to a wine that I could always revisit and relish as much as the initial experience. As it turns out, that was merely the beginning of an unending pursuit of the perfect wine.

Part of the reason it’s challenging, if not impossible, to consistently find a great wine year after year is the very nature of winemaking. Each year’s harvest is unique, heavily influenced by weather conditions. Spring weather determines the number of grapevine buds that develop into grape bunches, while fall sun or rain affects the grapes’ ripening process. Beyond the grape harvest variability, numerous factors contribute to the fermentation and aging of wines, resulting in ever-changing nuances.

Then, you realize there’s another factor at play. As you embark on your wine journey, you encounter an increasing variety of wines. This exposure gradually alters your palate. What once seemed like a delightful wine may now appear ordinary. Consequently, you continue your search, driven by the desire to find that exceptional wine.

And to this day, I continue my quest for exceptional wines, determined to find them. However, I’ve come to realize that this search is an endless journey. Nevertheless, I’m grateful for the experience and the joy it brings. Here’s to great wine and the endless pursuit of it. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - J Dusi Model M Red Blend

2020 J Dusi Model M Red Blend ($17.99)

On a recent visit to Paso Robles, I had the pleasure of spending some time in the tasting room at J Dusi with Janell Dusi, the “J” in J Dusi and a fourth-generation winemaker in the Dusi family.

Janell was born and raised on the Dusi Vineyard where her grandfather Dante taught her the old world Italian style of winemaking. The Dusi family’s heritage and history in Paso Robles Wine Country dates back to the early 1920’s, where grape growing has been a craft that has deep roots in the Dusi family. The sustainable farming practices that were implemented by Janell’s great-grandparents ninety years ago are still the standard followed today.

This red wine blend is named for their 1939 Model M tractor that has been a workhorse for the Dusi family in Paso Robles for three generations.

This 2020 J Dusi Model M wine is a red blend with equal parts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Syrah. It is a medium ruby red in color with wonderful aromas of red and black fruit. On the plate, this medium-full bodied wine has great fruit flavors of red and black plum, black cherry and cassis. It has balanced tannin and acidity and finishes with jammy fruit and some spiciness.

Model M red blend from J Dusi is a wonderful wine at a great price. It’s also widely available. This makes Model M the perfect fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!