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

Behind the Cork™ - LAN Viña Lanciano Rioja Reserva

2012 LAN Viña Lanciano Rioja Reserva ($19.99)

The grapes used in the production of this Rioja Reserva come from a selection of vines of more than 30 years of age located in LAN’s Viña Lanciano estate. It is produced from 90% Tempranillo, 8% Graciano and 2% Mazuelo.

It is fermented in small stainless steel tanks with long macerations and continuous pumping-over of the must to achieve better color extraction. It then undergoes Malolactic conversion in French oak barrels sourced from the Tronçaise forests.

For a Rioja wine to be categorized as a Reserva, it must undergo a minimum of three years of aging with at least one year in barrels and six months in the bottle. This Viña Lanciano Rioja Reserva spent 14 months in Tronçaise French oak barrels and eight months in Russian oak barrels from the Caucasus. That was followed by 20 months in the bottle.

This Viña Lanciano is a bright garnet color. It has aromas of black fruits (blackberry, blackcurrant) and vanilla. On the palate it is big on the front-end with ripe tannins, good acidity and a long finish that emphasizes the vanilla flavors from the oak aging.

This wonderful LAN Viña Lanciano Rioja Reserva is recommended with stews, smoked and spicy dishes, meat carpaccio and mature cheeses. Enjoy this one between 62 and 64º F. 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.

Sample Provided by Stefanie Schwalb, Gregory+Vine

Behind the Cork™ - LAN Rioja Reserva

2012 LAN Rioja Reserva

Recently I featured LAN Rioja Crianza as the Behind the Cork™ wine of the week. Now we step it up to the LAN Rioja Reserva.

This Rioja is from vineyards in the Rioja Alta and Alavesa subzones with an average age of vines
being more than 25 years.

This LAN Rioja is produced from 92% Tempranillo and 8% Mazuelo grapes. It is fermented in stainless steel tanks, and undergoes three weeks of maceration with frequent pumping-over to ensure a good color extraction. It is then aged for 18 months in hybrid barrels of French and American oak. LAN Reserva then remains another 20 months in the bottle to complete its rounding off.

The LAN Rioja Reserva is a medium ruby red in color with black cherry, black berry and raisin on the nose. It’s big on the front end with bright fruit flavors, jammy cherry, low acid and a hint of chocolate on the delicate finish.

Chill this LAN Rioja Reserva to 63 - 66 degrees F and enjoy with bold cheeses, grilled meats or just by the glass. 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.

Sample Provided by Stefanie Schwalb, Gregory+Vine

Behind the Cork™ - Bodegas LAN Crianza

2016 Bodegas LAN Crianza

This Bodegas LAN Crianza is from Spain’s famous Rioja region that is best known for its Tempranillo that is a full-bodied wine that is typically high in tannin.

The winery’s name LAN represents the initials of the DOCa provinces Logroño (which today is Rioja), Álava and Navarra.

This LAN Crianza is produced from 95% Tempranillo and 5% Mazuelo that were selected from 10 to 20-year-old vines.

The de-stemmed grapes were lightly crushed and fermented in stainless steel tanks. Maceration occurred in contact with the grape skins for 15 days along with pumping the juice over the cap of grape skins daily for develop maximum color and aromatic extraction.

This Bodegas LAN Rioja wine is labeled as “Crianza.” One of the translations of the word “Crianza” is ‘aging.’ And, indeed, this style of Rioja is required to be aged for one year in oak. This LAN Crianza was aged for 14 months in combined American and French oak barrels followed by 9 months of rounding in the bottle prior to release.

On the nose this wine has notes of black cherry and plum along with floral notes and spice. On the palate it’s fully-bodied with big dark fruit flavors, mild acidity and highly tannic.

Chill this one to 60-64 degrees F and give it plenty of time in a decanter to help soften the tannins. Then, enjoy this big red LAN Rioja with pasta, pizza, poultry, or grilled red meat. 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.

Sample Provided by Stefanie Schwalb, Gregory+Vine

Behind the Cork™ - Bela Ribera del Duero

2017 Bela Ribera del Duero ($19)

This beautiful wine is from Ribera del Duero, located in the village of Villalba del Duero, in the province of Burgos, Spain. The 182-acre estate vineyard was planted in 2002 mostly with Tempranillo.

The three stars on the label represent the three children of the co-founder, Eusebio Real de Asua: Sofia, Aurea and Ramon. Sofia was known as Bela.

Bela is produced from 100% Tempranillo grapes manually harvested from their vineyards. Vinification is in stainless steel tanks, followed by six months in American and French new and one-year old oak barrels.

On the nose there are aromas of dark fruit, such as black cherry and plum, along with some earthly, smoky wood aromas from the barrel aging. On the palate there is black cherry, distinct acidity, light tannin and an easy finish.

This is a medium-bodied wine that can be enjoyed by itself, but is best paired with most foods. Cheers!

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

Sample Provided by Donna White, Donna White Communications