Ever Wonder? Should You Decant a Sparkling Wine?

Decanting red wines is somewhat common. Decanting a white wine is less common. But, decanting a sparkling wine? Really?

The answer is again, Yes!

Decanting a sparkling wine may seem a bit unorthodox and even counter-intuitive, but a sparkling wine can actually benefit from decanting.

Before today’s practice of riddling or remuage, Champagnes were decanted in order to leave as much yeast used in the second fermentation (the one that creates the bubbles) behind in the bottle. Otherwise, you’d be pouring cloudy Champagne into a glass. And, nobody wants cloudy Champagne.

Decanting a sparkling wine can also be done to tame the bubbles. Sometimes, the sparkling wine may be extra bubbly, or the consumer may not enjoy a super-bubbly wine. So, decanting can help reduce the level of carbonation so that the drinker can focus more on the flavors than the texture.

To decant a sparkling wine, slowly transfer of the wine to the decanter by pouring down the side instead of directly in to the center of the decanter. Then, give it a short bit of time - 15 to 30 minutes max. It’s then ready to serve!

So, next time you open a bottle of sparkling wine, try decanting it and see what you think. It just may become a habit! Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Primus The Blend

2018 Primus “The Blend” ($18.99)

Primus is a leading brand in the Chilean premium segment and a fine example of Chilean quality capabilities. The name Primus is Latin and means “the first” or “the first among its peers”, and for good reason. The winery was founded more than 20 years ago by Agustin Hunneus. It was truly a pioneering brand as the first blend of the signature red grapes of Chile: Cabernet and Carmenere. Today, The Blend is still the standard bearer for Primus.

The fruit for this wine is selected from organic vineyards in the most renowned areas in Chile for red varieties: Marchigue, a sub-region Colchagua, and Maipo.

The Blend is produced from 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Carménère, 10% Syrah, 10% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc. It is aged for 12 months in 66% French oak barrels.

The Cabernet Sauvignon is the basis for The Blend and provides the structure, while Carménère delivers density and smoothness, which complements the black fruit and spices of the Syrah. The Cabernet Franc adds elegance and persistence combined with the soft and complex finish of the Petit Verdot.

The Blend is medium ruby in color with delicate aromatic notes of black fruits. On the palate it is medium-bodied with moderate tannin and balanced acidity. It has peppery notes along with black cherry and a light finish.

The Blend by Primus is a really nice wine that is affordable and attainable, making it a perfect fit as the Behind the Cork™ Wine of Week. Look for this one!

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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 Donna White Communications

Ever Wonder? Should You Decant a White Wine?

When one thinks about decanting a wine, usually it’s a red wine. Decanting a red wine is generally done for several reasons including allowing any trapped off-smelling odors to quickly dissipate, allowing the wine to “open up” to reveal greater character and to help soften its tannin. But, decanting a white wine? Should it be done? The answer is a resounding “Yes!”

Just like red wines, white wines too can have off-odors and the simple act of pouring the wine into a decanter will quickly deal with those issues.

White wines are generally released to market earlier than red wines. But, this can result in a white wine being “closed” in its aromas and flavors. Again, simply pouring it into a decanter can quickly help to “open up” the wine so as to allow for greater aromas and flavors.

Another benefit of decanting a white wine is for temperature control. If the white wine has been stored in a standard refrigerator, it’s a bit too cold to be able to release its aromas and exhibit all of its flavors. So, pouring a white wine into a decanter will allow it to quickly come to the ideal drinking temperature of 45 to 55 degrees F. Also, if the wine is room temperature and you’d like to quickly put a slight chill on it, you’ll find that the thinner walls of a decanter will allow the wine to more quickly chill in a large bucket of ice or in the fridge.

While decanting a red wine can take 1 to 2 hours, decanting a white wine is quick — 15 minutes or less will generally do the job.

There is one caution regarding decanting white wine. If you pull the cork and discover that your white wine has oxidized (e.g., has changed to a dark golden color with some orange or brown color notes) decanting won’t help. It’s already seen too much oxygen in the bottle and giving it further oxygen will only make it worse.

Next time we’ll look at decanting sparkling wines. Yes, even sparkling wines can benefit from decanting! Until then, Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Ritual Pinot Noir

2017 Ritual Pinot Noir ($19.99)

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!

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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 Donna White Communications

Best Wines to Pair with Your Thanksgiving Meal

The traditional turkey dinner for Thanksgiving is often served with a white wine. While most white wines do go well with turkey, there are plenty of other excellent options. 

Traditional white wine choices include:

• Gewürztraminer - A Thanksgiving favorite. It is a highly aromatic wine with floral touches and spice notes such as cloves and nutmeg.

• Riesling - A dry Riesling has spicy, fruity flavors with touches of peaches or apricots and a floral fragrance that compliments the meal well.

• Sauvignon Blanc - Light and crisp, with grassy or herbaceous flavors and good acidity to cut through all the richness of the meal.

• Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris) - Light and zesty with flavors of lemon, melon and peach.

• Chardonnay - A very common choice. But, it's best to go with the lighter and fruiter un-oaked versions that work best with all the flavors on the Thanksgiving table.

Sparkling wines also go well with almost any meal and are a natural pairing with turkey. And, any dry rosé will also work quite nicely with your turkey meal.

Turkey, by itself, is a pretty neutral meat.  So, you should actually focus on pairing your wines with all the side dishes that go along with the turkey. It may be a bit surprising, but a red wine will often work exceptionally well with your meal.  Just as cranberry sauce goes well with the turkey, a fruity red wine is also a great choice.

Some red wine options include:

• Beaujolais - Light, dry and fresh with fruity flavors. And you can serve it chilled.

• Pinot Noir - A light bodied red with flavors of cherry, raspberry and strawberry. In the French wine section at your store, this is called a red Burgundy. And this too can be served slightly chilled.

• Carignan - This red wine is a bit higher in tannins and acid, and has flavors of dark and black fruits, pepper, licorice, and spicy, savory aromas.

• Rhône Blends - Rhône wines focus on Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre grapes, producing medium-bodied blends.

• Zinfandel - This medium bodied red wine can really work with a Thanksgiving meal. It has characteristics that include jammy flavors with spicy or peppery notes.

Finally, you might want to avoid full-bodied, highly tannic, red wines (e.g., Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah) that can get lost in the presence of all the fruit, sugar, and salt on the Thanksgiving table.

But, as always, ensure that you drink what you like. That's what is most important.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving. Cheers!