Behind the Cork™ - Folk Machine White Light

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

Behind the Cork™ - Chile's Coastal Sauvignon Blancs (Part 1)

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.

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

Ever Wonder? Why Are Some Wines Produced in Concrete?

You may have noticed that making wine in concrete tanks seems like something new or a current fashion, but the practice actually dates back to the ceramic amphorae of ancient Greek and Roman times.

Typically, wines are fermented and aged in either stainless steel tanks and/or oak barrels.

Stainless steel tanks are the choice when a winemaker wants a ‘neutral’ vessel that does not react or impart their own flavors to the wine. But, what the stainless steel tanks don’t offer is the aspect of breathing the air, allowing air in and out of the container and having it interact with the wine over time.

Oak barrels are porous, allowing some small amount of oxygen into them and, in newer barrels, impart flavor to the wine.

What winemakers have found in concrete is that it is a semi-porous substance and allows for oxygenation like oak, it is a neutral material that does not impart flavor and it is a natural insulator that stabilizes the temperature of the wine during fermentation and aging. This allows winemakers to produce wines that tend to preserve the bright and fruit-forward flavors while still allowing for the important process of allowing the wine to ‘breathe’ during production.

Turns out the ancient Greeks and Romans were way ahead of their times by using ceramic vessels to produce wine. So, if you see a wine that was produced in concrete tanks, give it a try and see what you think. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Post Flirtation White Blend

2020 Post Flirtation White Blend ($28.99)

Martha Stoumen Wines, producer of Post Flirtation, was founded upon the desire to recapture a farming and winemaking culture of patience.

After 8 years apprenticing around the world, Martha set out as a self-funded, first generation winemaker to answer the question, “What does California taste like?” Their wines are made from unexpected varietals and offer new takes on California classics.

This Post Flirtation White Blend from Sonoma is produced from 75% Colombard, 12% Marsanne, 9% Rousanne and 4% Muscat Blanc. Indeed unexpected! The Marsanne, Roussanne, and Muscat blanc were tumbled in the press to get just a hint of skin contact before pressing, then co-fermented and aged on fine lees in stainless steel. The Vermentino was pressed immediately and fermented separately in stainless steel. The wines were racked, blended, and bottled after six months after malolactic fermentation was complete. It is unfined and unfiltered which results in a slightly hazy appearance.

This Post Flirtation White is a medium gold in color and has a very light spritz (fine bubbles). It has bright fruit aromas of citrus. On the palate it is light and refreshing with bright fruit flavors and good acidity on the finish.

Look for this Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week on-line and through STOMPY. 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 Martha Stoumen Wines

Behind the Cork™ - County Line Pinot Noir

2020 County Line Pinot Noir ($32)

This County Line Pinot Noir is from California’s Sonoma Coast.

The first vintage of County Line was solely dedicated to producing a dry Rosé from a whole-cluster pressed Champagne clone of Pinot Noir. Subsequently, they followed with a handful of varietals including this Pinot.

County Line Vineyards uses traditional winemaking techniques, and a shorter élevage in neutral French oak barrels for stainless steel tanks. Each of their wines is made to provide a snapshot of one of their cool-climate appellations that include the Anderson Valley, Sonoma Coast, Russian River, and the North Coast.

This 2020 County Line Pinot Noir was produced from organically grow fruit, was barrel aged for 10 months in neutral French oak and bottled unfiltered.

It is pale ruby in color with the distinctive cranberry aroma of a Pinot Noir. On the palate it has flavors of sour cherry, raspberry and cranberry, is light in tannin and medium in acidity.

This is a tasty Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir that fits right in as the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Look for it on-line from County Line Vineyards and also from STOMPY. 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 County Line Vineyards