2018 Levendi Sweetwater Napa Cabernet Sauvignon ($60)

According to Lavendi Winery, “The Mediterranean cultures know how to celebrate. A good meal and a good wine seem reason enough to call together the people that matter most. And that's how the Levendi legacy began—around the family table with laughter and a wish to produce something special and unique. We think that spirit is reflected throughout the vineyards, winery and within each bottle—a testament to our family and founders.”

This Sweetwater Cabernet Sauvignon is deep ruby in color with very delicate dark fruit aromas. This wine is full-bodied with rich dark fruit flavors, medium oak flavors, firm tannin and a rich finish that is long-lasting.

Levendi states “We live in the vineyards. We know our vines. We hand-harvest our grapes. And we're committed to producing intriguing wines from using primarily French oak barrels.”

This Levendi Sweetwater Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is a great find. It’s available directly from Levendi Winery and can also be found at Total Wine. At this price for a Napa Cab, it’s a super fit as the 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.

Sample Provided by Levendi Winery

2021 Ron Rubin Pam’s Un-Oaked Cabernet ($16)

Ron Rubin, who produces wines under the ‘Ron Rubin Wines’ brand and the ‘River Roads Wines’ brand, has been married to his wife Pam for 48 years! And, this wine is a tribute to Pam who is no fan of oaky wines, red or white!

The new Un-oaked Cabernet joins existing fan favorite, Pam’s Un-Oaked Chardonnay.

Ron Rubin summed it up best when he explained “An unoaked Cabernet Sauvignon is a relative rarity…” (Wine Business Nov 8, 2022). Indeed, it is!

Pam’s Un-Oaked Cabernet is produced from family owned vineyards in Clarksburg and Lodi.

The grapes were de-stemmed into stainless steel fermentation tanks and cold fermented to retain freshness and aromatic intensity. Aging was also done in 100% stainless steel tanks.

This Pam’s Un-Oaked Cabernet is medium ruby in color with aromas of cherry, raspberry and cranberry. On the palate it is light-bodied and fruity, with a touch of sweetness to go with the red cherry and cranberry flavors. It finishes with a bit of sweet-tart fruitiness.

This is not your typical Cabernet and, apparently, just what Pam wanted! So, if you enjoy a light-bodied wine with bright red fruit flavors and some sweetness, this Pam’s Un-Oaked Cabernet is for you! 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 Ron Rubin Winery via Creative Palate Communications

2021 Ron Rubin Pam’s Un-Oaked Chardonnay ($14)

Ron Rubin, who produces wines under the ‘Ron Rubin Wines’ brand and the ‘River Roads Wines’ brand, has been married to his wife Pam for 48 years! And, this wine is a tribute to Pam who is no fan of oaky wines, red or white!

Pam’s Un-Oaked Chardonnay is produced from family owned vineyards in Clarksburg and Lodi. These regions are well known for their sustainable ethics and Mediterranean climates. Like southern France, these regions can bring out a beautiful ripeness in the grapes, while maintaining fresh acidity.

Pam’s Un-Oaked Chardonnay is fermented and aged only in stainless steel tanks. It is medium gold in color with aromas of citrus, tropical fruit, pear and apple. On the palate it is smooth and creamy (I suspect it underwent Malolactic conversion during fermentation) with a rich flavor of baked pear.

If you are not a fan of oaked Chardonnay, this wine is for you! And, if you enjoy an oaked Chardonnay, I think you’ll enjoy this one too. It’s a great wine at an affordable price that fits right in as the 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.

Sample Provided by Ron Rubin Winery via Creative Palate Communications

2021 Bico Amarelo ($12)

Herdade do Esporão is part of the Alentejo’s montado ecosystem (cork oak forests), in Portugal. With approximately 700 hectares of vineyards and around 40 grape varieties, they grow using organic methods and integrated production.

Quinta do Ameal, in the region of Vinho Verde, is a historic property cradled in the Lima sub-region that has been registered since 1710.

The main grape varieties used to produce this wine are Loureiro, Alvarinho and Avesso which are all common to the Vinho Verde region.

It was fermented at a controlled temperature (10-15ºC) for 12 to 15 days then aged in contact with the lees for about 4 to 6 months in stainless steel vats.

This Bico Amarelo is medium gold in color with some subtle green tones. It has delicate aromas of citrus and floral notes. On the palate it is dry (1.5 g/l RS) and light-bodied with flavors of citrus and nectarine and finishes with refreshing acidity.

This Bico Amarelo from Vinho Verde Portugal is a great value which makes it a perfect fit 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.

Sample Provided by Esporão and Now Wine Imports via Creative Palate

2021 Quinta do Ameal Loureiro ($18)

The Quinta do Ameal is a historic estate in the Vinho Verde, a well-known wine region in the northwest Portugal. The quality of the wines made there are so fresh and light that they earned the nickname verde which means ‘green.’

This wine is produced from the Loureiro (lou-REH-row) grape which dates back to the late 18th Century. The name Loureiro means "laurel" and refers to the distinctive aroma of the berries.

The grapes for this wine were manually harvested and then pressed. Fermentation was temperature controlled (50-59 F) for 12 to 15 days in stainless steel vats. It then spent seven months on lees also in stainless steel tanks.

This Ameal Loureiro is pale straw in color with aromas of citrus and herbs. On the palate it has mouth-watering acidity, medium flavors of citrus and green apple, some minerality and a lingering finish.

This wine has been receiving 90+ point rating from Wine Enthusiast, Robert Parker, Wine&Spirits and Decanter and gets a big thumbs-up here as a delicious and affordable 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.

Sample Provided by Now Wine Imports via Creative Palate

2018 Beronia Rioja Crianza ($15)

This wine is imported by González Byass which is headquartered in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. It is a family-­owned collection of wineries that was founded in 1835 and spans across Spain’s most important wine producing regions.

This Beronia Crianza, from the Rioja region of Spain, is made from 96% Tempranillo, 3% Garnacha and 1% Mazuelo (a.k.a. Carignan). By Rioja regulations, a Crianza (“kree-ahn-tha”) wine must be aged for a total of two years with at least one year in oak barrels. In the case of this wine, its one year of barrel aging was done in barrels made of American oak staves and French oak ends. It was then bottled and left to rest for three months prior to its release.

This wine is medium ruby in color and has nice aromatics including red fruits (cherry and raspberry) and herbal notes. On the palate this Beronia Crianza has big red fruit flavors, medium tannin and a really nice lingering finish with a bit of crisp acidity.

This Beronia Crianza Rioja is imported by González Byass USA and nicely fits as an affordable and attainable 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.

Sample Provided by González Byass via Donna White Communications

2020 Caldora Montepulciano d'Abruzzo ($15)

Caldora is located in Abruzzo on the Adriatic coast in East-central Italy.

Caldora has a special arrangement with the many growers who own over 1,500 hectares of land in the two coastal provinces of Teramo to the north and Chieti to the south. The award-winning winemaking team carefully selects the best portions of each vineyard depending on clones, position in the vineyard and age of vines. They then direct the farming of these vineyard rows including reducing the yield per vine, to ensure the highest quality grapes. This arrangement means they are not actually buying grapes, but rather renting vineyards or portions of vineyards.

This wine from Caldora is produced from 100% Montepulciano grapes that are hand harvested and undergo de-stemming, delicate crushing and pre-fermentation maceration to extract color and some tannin.

This Caldora Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is medium ruby in color with aromas of red fruits and spices. On the palate it has rich blackberry and plum flavors, soft tannin, low acidity and a long easy finish.

If you are not already familiar with Montepulciano wines, please checkout this Caldora Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. It’s a good one! 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 González Byass via Donna White Communications

2019 Ritual Pinot Noir ($21)

The Ritual estate is situated in the extreme eastern end of Chile’s Casablanca Valley that is heavily influenced by the cooling effects of the Pacific Ocean — ideal growing conditions for Pinot Noir. Following organic practices, the winemaking team uses compost to feed the soils to promote a balanced and self-regulated ecosystem, cover cropping and seeding for revitalizing the soils and sheep to help mow the grass and act as a natural fertilizers.

The vineyards are surrounded by 6000 acres of native forest, creating a balanced, bio-diverse landscape for healthy vines to thrive alongside natural wildlife corridors and native vegetation.

The Ritual Pinot Noir is produced from 100% Pinot Noir grapes that are hand-picked in small batches and carefully double-sorted. A portion of the fruit is whole-cluster fermented to promote structure and complexity. It is fermented with wild yeasts and aged 11 months in 20% new French oak barrels.

This Ritual Pinot Noir is pale ruby in color with the distinctive red fruit aromas and some earthiness. On the palate, it is delicate with the classic cherry and cranberry flavors, balanced acidity and a light finish.

This Ritual Pinot Noir, from the Casablanca Valley in Chile, stands up to those being produced in California and Oregon and, at the price, makes this wine a nice fit as the 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.

Sample Provided by González Byass via Donna White Communications

2021 Amrita Seiza White Blend ($35)

Amrita Cellars, founded in 2017, prides itself on finding vineyards off the beaten path and sourcing their grapes from family-owned wine growers that use the best practices in renewable and sustainable farming.

Sunny, their winemaker is a first-generation East India gentleman born and raised in the United States. He named Amrita Cellars to honor his culture and family. Amrita in Sanskrit (ancient Indic language of India) means immortality and is often referred to as the elixir.

This Amrita Seiza is made from a 50/50 blend of Viognier and Grenache Blanc. Each is fermented separately and then blended post-fermentation and aged in stainless steel.

This wine is pale gold in color with bright floral aromas and hints of lemon peel and tangerine. On the palate it is medium-light bodied with a smooth mouthfeel, flavors of citrus and pear with moderate acidity. It is available directly from the Amrita Cellars website.

Also, check out Amrita Cellars Pinot Noir wines that won two Bronze Medals at the Orange County Fair Commercial Wine Competition in June 2022. 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 Amrita Cellars

Corvezzo Prosecco

Corvezzo (kor-VETZ-zoh) is the leading name in organically grown, vegan wines from northeast Italy’s Veneto region.

Founded in 1960, the winery is in the village of Cessalto near Treviso, a sweet spot in the Veneto between the cool Dolomite Mountains and the sunny Adriatic Sea.

Family-owned and run, Corvezzo has the largest acreage in Italy of certified organic Glera and Pinot Grigio grapes. According to owner/winemaker Giovanni Corvezzo, his wines have not only adapted to organic farming - they have thrived, becoming stronger, with better balance and producing higher quality fruit. The signature wine style for him is fresh and bright.

2020 Corvezzo Extra Dry Prosecco Rosé ($13) This prosecco is made with organic and vegan Glera and Pinot Nero grapes that were cold crushed and pressed for the primary fermentation. The secondary fermentation took place at 60 days using the Charmat method. It is pale pink in color with delicate aromas. On the palate it has light bubbles with light flavors of strawberry and citrus. It is 11.5% ABV with 12 g/L of residual sugar.

2020 Corvezzo Extra Dry Prosecco ($13) This prosecco is also made with organic and vegan grapes (85% Glera and 15% other DOC permitted grapes) that were cold crushed and pressed for the primary fermentation. The secondary fermentation took place at 60 days using the Charmat method. It is pale straw in color with delicate aromas of pear and apple. On the palate it too has light bubbles, delicate flavor and good acidity. It is 11.5% ABV with 12 g/L of residual sugar.

Both of these refreshing sparkling wines from Corvezzo are very affordable and make a nice fit as Behind the Cork™ Wines of the Week. Cheers!

Samples Provided by Corvezzo Winery , imported by Origins Organic Imports (via Creative Palate Communications)

2020 Corvezzo Pinot Grigio ($13)

Corvezzo the leading name in organically grown, vegan wines from northeast Italy’s Veneto region.

Founded in 1960, the winery is in the village of Cessalto near Treviso, a sweet spot in the Veneto between the cool Dolomite Mountains and the sunny Adriatic Sea.

Family-owned and run, Corvezzo has the largest acreage in Italy of certified organic Glera and Pinot Grigio grapes. According to owner/winemaker Giovanni Corvezzo, his wines have not only adapted to organic farming - they have thrived, becoming stronger, with better balance and producing higher quality fruit. The signature wine style for him is fresh and bright.

This Corvezzo Pinot Grigio is produced from 100% Pinot Grigio grapes that underwent a soft cold crushing and pressing and were aged in concrete tanks (95%) and oak barrels (5%). It is straw yellow in color with gold glimmers. One the nose it has subtle hints of citrus, lemon and some minerality. On the palate it is light in body with peach, cantaloupe and nectarine, moderate acidity, smooth mouth-feel and just an ever-so-subtle hint of sweetness on the finish.

This Corvezzo Pinot Grigio is great tasting and very affordable, making it a great fit as the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Samples Provided by Corvezzo Winery , imported by Origins Organic Imports (via Creative Palate Communications)

2018 TerraNoble Gran Reserva Carménère, ($18)

The TerraNoble winery was founded in 1993, and has produced high quality wines that have been recognized and awarded. The winery is located in the Maule Valley of Chile and the vineyards are in the Maule, Colchagua and Casablanca valleys. Their philosophy is to produce elegant, noble and pleasant drinking wines, with fruit-bearing flavors and aromas that maintain the characteristics of each variety.

This Gran Reserva Carménère, (kar-men-nair) is produced from 100% Carménère grapes that were placed in stainless steel tanks for a cold maceration of 4 to 5 days. Fermentation took place for between 8 and 12 days. After that, the wine had a post-fermentation maceration of one to two weeks, depending on each lot
and on daily tastings. Once the vatting process was finished, it was racked directly into French oak barrels and foudre where it underwent malolactic fermentation. It was then aged for up to 12 months with 70% of the wine being aged in previously used (2 or 3 times) French oak barrels and 30% in un-toasted foudre for 12 months. It was then bottle aged for at least six months before being released.

This wine is deep ruby in color with medium aromas of plum and black berry with peppery notes. On the palate this full-bodied wine has good flavors of black cherry and black plum with peppercorn. It is medium in tannin and medium in acidity and exhibits just a hint of oak.


This TerraNoble Gran Reserva Carménère is a really nice wine at a terrific price. Keep an eye out for this one as well as their Cabernet Sauvignon that was featured earlier this year. Cheers!

Summer Refreshers from Mack & Schuhle Imports

As we are quickly heading for the unofficial end of Summer, there are still plenty of sunny, warm days and evenings to enjoy these refreshing wines.

Art of Earth Organic Prosecco Frizante ($14.99)

This wonderful Italian Prosecco is from the Corvezzo family 100% organic winery. It is produced from 85% Glera grapes and 15% other allowed varieties. It is fermented with selected yeast for 10-15 days and held cold until blending. Before the second fermentation, it was filtered and clarified. Yeast and rectified concentrated must are then added to the must, for the second fermentation that creates the light fizz. It is pale gold in color with delicate aromas of pear and apple. On the palate it is slightly sweet (Brut: 11-12 g/L of residual sugar) with flavors of pear and apple that pairs well with most foods. It is 10.5% Alcohol by Volume (ABV).

Mosketto Frizzante Bianco ($11.99)

This Mosketto is from vineyards that are located on a hilly ridge that passes through the hills of Mombaruzzo, located in north-western Italy at an altitude between 250 and 400 meters (820 - 1310 feet) above sea level. It is produced from 100% Piedmont aromatic varieties. It is fermented for 25-30 days and left on fine dregs for an additional 20-25 days. It is pale yellow in color with floral aromas as well as those of citrus and pineapple. On the palate it is very sweet (104 g/L residual sugar) with flavor of peach and fruit cocktail. The natural carbonation adds a very light fizz to this wine. It is 5% ABV)

Art of Earth Bubbly Sangría ($11.99)

The Castilla La Mancha winery is located in central Spain in a unique setting surrounded by vineyards at 2300 feet above sea level. It is produced from Tempranillo and Garnacha grapes that are blended with organic juices. This bubbly sangría is cherry red in color and sweet (63 +/-5 g/L residual sugar). On the palate it has nice flavors of spices, plum, red cherry, raspberry and citrus and medium acidity with very light bubbles. It is 7% ABV.

These three wines are light, bubbly and sweet for your enjoyment during the remaining warm summer days and evenings ahead. Cheers!

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

Samples Provided by Donna White Communications and Mack & Schühle Imports

Chile’s Coastal Sauvignon Blancs

Chile’s Sauvignon Blancs are notably diverse, with the finest identified with the country’s coastal and cool-climate regions.

These are not standard supermarket Sauvignon Blancs by any measure, but wines of personality and nuance. More reasons to take a new look at Chilean Sauvignon Blanc include the rapid advances in the country’s winemaking culture during the past decade, and expansion into a growing number of new regions and terroirs.

Here are four more excellent examples of Chile’s coastal Sauvignon Blancs:

2020 Casas del Bosque La Cantera Sauvignon Blanc ($18)

La Cantera is from the Casablanca Valley of Chile. The grapes come from “La Cantera” or “The Quarry” on an east-facing hillside with plenty of exposure to the sun and the marine breezes that characterizes the Casablanca Valley. The wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks with selected yeasts. It was then left for a few weeks on its gross lees (without stirring) before being blended, clarified and filtered. This wine is straw in color with aromas of citrus, green apple and grass. On the palate it has bright flavors of pineapple and citrus with good acidity.

2020 Viña Garcés Silva Amayna Sauvignon Blanc ($25)

This wine is from the Leyda Valley which is just 8.6 miles from the Pacific Ocean. It was fermented for 10 to 15 days in stainless steel and kept on lees for six months. It is straw in color with very light citrus and herbal aromas. On the palate it is bright with grapefruit flavor and subtle herbal notes and finishes with a very slight hint of salinity. The six months on lees makes for a smooth mouthfeel and additional richness.

2021 Viña Koyle Costa La Flor Sauvignon Blanc ($18)

This Koyle Costa La Flor is from the Leyda Valley of Chile from slopes located just 5.6 miles from the Pacific Ocean. The winemaker finds these slopes uniquely situated to catch all the saltiness from the sea and unique minerals from the ancient coastal soils. It is straw in color with delicate aromas of pear and green vegetables. On the palate it has pear, pineapple and citrus notes and a bright acidic finish.


2021 Viña Tabalí Talinay Sauvignon Blanc ($24)

This wine from the Limarí Valley just 7.5 miles from the coast next to the Fray Jorge National Park which is an area that UNESCO has declared a World Biosphere Reserve. It was fermented in stainless steel then subjected to daily stirring to bring out the full character of the wine. It is straw in color with delicate aromas of pear and green vegetables. It has bright acidity, subtle notes of citrus and a hint of tartness.

These are all wonderful Sauvignon Blanc wines from the coast of Chile as were those featured in Part 1. Look for these and other super Sauvignon Blanc wines widely available from Chile’s coastal region. Cheers!

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

Samples Provided by the Wines of Chile (WOC) -- Vinos de Chile -- a non-profit, private organization of Chilean wine producers and the noted wineries of Chile via Creative Palate Communications

Rosie Giovese Vino Rosato ($29.99)

Amy Ezrin, the founder of Sandy Giovese wines, was training to be an opera singer and lived in Italy for eight years. During this time, she found that she was an OK singer but was really good at speaking Italian and tasting wine. So, she got into the wine business.

She jokes that her alter ego was Sandy Giovese, which is a play on the name of one of Italy’s greatest red grapes, Sangiovese. And now, she’s introduced Sandy’s ‘sister’ Rosie Giovese Vino Rosato.

This Rosie Giovese Vino Rosato is a seriously good rosé that also happens to be a tremendous value.

Rosie Giovese Vino Rosato is produced from organically farmed grapes by blending 60% Sangiovese (the grape that is famous for Chianti wine), with 30% Merlot and 10% Lacrima. In case you weren’t familiar with the Lacrima grape, it’s a dark-skinned grape variety that is aromatic and richly flavored, with berry-dominated flavors. The word “lacrima” means teardrop in Italian and is likely so named due to the fact that the berries tend to split, dripping juice down the outside of the bunch.

This wine is a beautiful medium salmon color with a delicate aroma of strawberries. On the palate it’s bigger than a typical rosé. It leans more toward being medium-bodied with richness and depth likely attributable to the blending that includes Merlot. It’s got nice, not over-powering, acidity and an easy finish.

Here’s yet another reason to try a box wine. This one is 3 liters of really nice wine for the price of a couple of bottles. And, it last for weeks (if you pace yourself!). All this make the Rosie Giovese Vino Rosato a great fit as the 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.

Sample Provided by Sandy Giovese Wines (via Savona Communications)

2020 Folk Machine White Light ($17)

At Folk Machine (started in 2005), from Hobo Wines, they state that their goals have stayed the same “…we still think it is fun, easy drinking, summery, and affordable. Our goals have stayed the same - bottle something fresh with acid and some mineral and retain that sort of salty, briny character that the Tocai Friulano.”

The 2020 White Light is 51% Tocai Friulano from Mendocino, 22% Riesling from Arroyo Seco, 22% Verdelho from Suisun Valley, 5% Sauvignon Blanc from Potter Valley.

They state that everything was picked at the beginning of the season with brix numbers ranging from 19˚ to 21˚. The final wine is 12.2% alcohol. Each variety was fermented individually in stainless steel tanks without commercial yeast and kept at a cool fermentation temperatures. When the fermentation was complete, they filtered the wine and left it in stainless steel until it was bottled.

The Folk Machine White Light is pale gold in color with delicate, muted aromas. On the palate it has a soft mouthfeel, almost a bit oily. It has sweet flavors of pear, baked apple and pineapple with medium acidity and a bit of tartness on the finish.

They claim that “White Light was inspired by a trip to the vortexes of Sedona, Arizona, but maybe a little Velvet Underground too.” Regardless, it’s a great fit for the 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.

Sample Provided by Rebekah Polster 401 West Communications, STOMPY and Hobo Wines

Chile’s Coastal Sauvignon Blancs (Part 1)

Chile’s Sauvignon Blancs are notably diverse, with the finest identified with the country’s coastal and cool-climate regions.

These are not standard supermarket Sauvignon Blancs by any measure, but wines of personality and nuance. More reasons to take a new look at Chilean Sauvignon Blanc include the rapid advances in the country’s winemaking culture during the past decade, and expansion into a growing number of new regions and terroirs.

2020 Matetic Vineyards EQ Coastal Sauvignon Blanc / SRP $20

The grapes for this Sauvignon Blanc are sourced from Matetic’s Valle Hermoso vineyard, located just six miles from the Pacific Ocean, and planted on gentle hills where they benefit from the cool coastal climate, which allows each clone to develop special characteristics. This wine is made from 100% organic Sauvignon Blanc. The grapes were cold soaked for twelve hours before being pressed. Fermentation took in stainless steel, concrete, and in neutral oak barrels. It is medium gold in color with delicate aromas of lime, green herbs and grass. On the palate it is quite mellow with good acidity and a hint of minerality.

2019 Ventisquero Wine Estates Grey Sauvignon Blanc / $25

This wine is from the Atacama Desert in the Huasco valley. There, temperatures are kept low due to the constant cool morning breezes blowing in from the Pacific Ocean, as well as the classic “Camanchaca”, a dense fog which comes in from the ocean, helping to regulate the temperatures and ensure an optimum level of humidity in the atmosphere. This wine is produced from 100% Sauvignon Blanc that undergo a cold maceration for 6-8 hours before fermentation. It is then aged on lees for 10 months. It is pale straw in color with delicate aromas of peach and honeydew. On the palate it has nice citrus flavors, medium acidity and a hint of minerality.

2021 Montes Wines Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc / SRP $15

From the Leyda Valley in Chile which is approximately 9 miles (15 km) from the Pacific Coast. This wine is made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. The juice was separated from the skins where it remained for 12–24 hours before racking, leaving behind any large solids. Fermentation took place for 21 days. This wine is pale yellow in color with aromas of asparagus and fresh green peas. On the palate it has flavors of fresh green vegetables and grapefruit with medium acidity.

2020 Viña Morandé Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc / $20

The grapes for this wine come from their estate located in the Casablanca Valley, a few miles from the Pacific Ocean. This valley is well-known for its cool climate and ideal growing conditions. A large percentage of the grapes were whole-bunch pressed and the rest underwent a cold maceration for eight hours in the press. The must then fermented mainly in French oak with part being in cement eggs. The wine was kept in both its containers for six months before bottling. It is medium gold in color with delicate aromas of citrus and a hint of oak. On the palate it has bright acidity and lime flavors. The oak aging acts to soften this wine’s mouthfeel.

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

Samples Provided by the Wines of Chile (WOC) -- Vinos de Chile -- a non-profit, private organization of Chilean wine producers and the noted wineries of Chile via Creative Palate Communications