As our community continues to grow, we were thrilled to discover some exceptional wines/producers posted by our CorkRules community in 2023. Check out these fabulous white and red wines:

White Wines:

1) <a href="https://www.klwines.com/p/2021-dyquem-y-bordeaux-blanc/1697735?searchId=863411e7-c495-4eba-ac28-33c1288da6e7&amp;searchServiceName=klwines-prod-productsearch&amp;searchRank=15">Y D&#39;Yquem Bordeaux Blanc:</a> This luxurious French wine is truly a gem. It presents an intoxicatingly rich aroma of honey, apricot, and vanilla. The color is medium gold which reflects its age and oak maturation. On tasting, it&#39;s opulent yet perfectly balanced - dry but with luscious fruit sweetness complemented by vibrant acidity. Its full body envelops your palate while maintaining elegance throughout. Renowned critic Robert Parker described it as &quot;liquid gold.&quot;

<a href="https://www.aowinery.com/product/Chardonnay-Napa-Valley-2020">2) Alpha Omega Chardonnay:</a> From Napa Valley comes this elegant Chardonnay offering soft aromas of citrus blossom mixed with tropical fruits like pineapple &amp; mango &ndash; very inviting! The color is light golden reflecting its youthfulness &amp; varietal character well. Taste-wise, it leans towards high acid coupled with moderate alcohol levels &ndash; crisp yet smooth without being overly buttery or oaky as some California Chardonnays can be.

<a href="https://www.gramercywine.com/wines/Paolo-Bea-Santa-Chiara-2018-w8496386e5">3) Santa Chiara Paolo Bea:</a> An Italian natural wine that&#39;s unlike any other! With medium intensity aromas of ripe stone fruits like peaches mixed with wild herbs and flowers; it&#39;s complex yet intriguing to the nose. A deep golden hue gives away its extended skin contact during fermentation (a characteristic of orange wines). Taste-wise, it straddles between dryness &amp; acidity offering a unique textural experience due to its tannin presence - rare for whites!

<a href="https://commonvines.square.site/product/Dalia-Maris-B-Bianco/3732">4) Dalia Maris B Bianco: </a>Hailing from Italy, this white has a soft floral bouquet intermingled with hints of green apple and pear aromas &ndash; fresh and inviting! Its light straw color suggests youthfulness and vitality. The taste profile leans towards high acid with subtle mineral undertones &ndash; refreshing without being overly sharp or austere. Medium-bodied at most, it pairs beautifully with seafood dishes.

Red Wines: 

<a href="https://www.plummarket.com/store/2021-tenuta-dell-ornellaia-le-volte-toscana-igt.html">1) Le Volte Dell&#39;ornellaia: </a>This Tuscan blend boasts rich dark fruit aromas underscored by notes of tobacco leaf &amp; spice box- truly seductive. The color is a deep ruby, indicative of its concentration and structure. On the palate, it offers high tannins balanced by good acidity &amp; alcohol levels &ndash; a medium to full-bodied wine with complexity and length.

<a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Joseph-Phelps-Insignia-Napa-Valley-2019-w49786770k">2) Insignia: </a>A Napa Valley classic! This Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend exhibits rich cassis, blackberry jam aromas coupled with vanilla undertones from oak aging. Its color is an intense deep purple reflecting its power and depth. Taste-wise, it&#39;s dry with robust tannins that are well-integrated into the wine&#39;s full body &ndash; a hallmark of quality winemaking.

<a href="https://www.ungraftedsf.com/store/p/chappellet-cabernet-sauvignon-pritchard-hill-napa-valley-2019">3) Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon:</a> Another stellar offering from Napa Valley! With opulent dark fruit aromas laced with graphite notes - this wine captivates your senses right away. It sports a deep garnet color denoting its intensity and age-worthiness. On tasting, you&#39;ll find firm tannins supporting ripe fruit flavors along with high alcohol giving it great structure - undeniably full-bodied!

<a href="https://www.totalwine.com/wine/red-wine/cabernet-sauvignon/pine-ridge-cabernet-napa-valley/p/105424750?s=1501&amp;igrules=true">4) Pine Ridge Vineyards:</a> Known for their Cabernet Sauvignons; this particular one didn&#39;t disappoint either! Medium intensity blackcurrant &amp; cherry aromas intermingled with cedar hints make up the nose profile here while its medium-deep ruby hue reflects both varietal character &amp; vinification techniques used (like oak maturation). The taste reveals moderate tannin levels paired well against refreshing acidity- making it more approachable in comparison to others on this list yet still retaining good body.

Thank you to our community, these wine posts were terrific! Keep them coming! Wishing you all the best in 2024.

Cheers! #drinkwhatyoulove

As our community continues to grow, we were thrilled to discover some exceptional wines/producers posted by our CorkRules community. Check out these fabulous white and red wines:

CorkRules App Users Top Wine Posts of 2023

Wines from grapes grown in higher altitude areas with cooler climate has become quite the trend recently. This specific growing environment gives intense flavor but elegance and freshness to the final wines. To highlight and champion these conditions more and more winemakers are starting to use alto as a marketing and labelling term to show their grapes were grown in high altitude vineyards.

Decoding the wine label: Alto

Brut is a word often seen on labels for different kinds of sparkling wine. As you may have discovered when drinking these wines, it indicates that the wine is dry, meaning there is no perceived sweetness in the wine. But how about Extra Brut or Dry, what do they mean and are they the same as Brut?

Decoding the wine label: Brut

Semi-sweet Riesling, a type of wine falling out of style. It’s a shame, since these wines are perfect to pair with flavorful cuisines like Asian or Mexican, or simply drink as they come under the summer sun. The higher level of sugar left in the wine also means that the alcoholic fermentation was stopped before finishing, providing a wine with lower alcohol level and therefor easier grabbing a second glass of.

Decoding the wine label: Spätlese

Have you ever heard the word Xinomavro? Most have not. It is however a word on many sommeliers’ lips today, as it happens to be considered the grape variety with the highest quality in Greece, and one that is trending at the moment. The fact that Greece have been making wine for a long time comes as no surprise, but they have never exported an amount to make sure wine lovers around the globe tried it. With the growing wine tourism many have discovered these wines and are serving them in wine bars and restaurants in many countries today.

Decoding the wine label: Xinomavro

Chianti Classico, Valpolicella Classico, Soave Classico… Why do all these Italian wine regions have the Classico addendum and what does it mean? What is the difference for wines labeled as Classico?

Classico is a wine term in Italy seen on a few wine labels and it indicates that the wine’s from the historic center of the region, the heart. Using Chianti and Chianti Classico and their Sangiovese-based red wines as an example, Chianti is a rather large wine district within the Tuscany region. Chianti Classico is located withing Chianti as the central part and the one that originally existed. Back then this smaller region was actually called Chianti, but as the region grew the quality of the wine plummeted and the well-known characteristics of these red wines were watered down. The reputation took a hit and sales diminished. Eventually this led to the creation of Chianti Classico, which would be drawn from the original Chianti borders to recover the typicity of these wines. Today the quality of both Chianti and Chianti Classico have risen a lot due to modern techniques and knowledge about pruning, planting and temperature control in the winery.

Decoding the wine label: Classico

In the rarefied world of fine wine, where bottles can command prices equivalent to luxury cars, authenticity is everything. Laurent Ponsot's gripping memoir "FBI: Fake Bottle Investigation" reads more like a high-stakes thriller than a traditional wine book, chronicling his relentless pursuit of one of the wine world's most infamous counterfeiters, Rudy Kurniawan.

From Burgundy's Vineyards to the FBI's Most Wanted: A Winemaker's Quest for Justice

Chablis – one of the more popular styles of wine today and a region known by many. Most are familiar with the word Chablis and the light, fresh white wine with a touch of minerality it brings. Even though it’s a renowned wine, few knows what it really is.

Decoding the wine label: Chablis

Many grape varieties around the world of wine have names local to the region or country they’re grown in, even though they’re exactly the same. The most famous example would be Syrah in France where the same grape is named Shiraz in Australia. Another variety with two names is Pinot Grigio, or Pinot Gris.

Decoding the wine label: Pinot Grigio

Have you ever seen the term sur lie on a wine label? It’s not a grape and not a wine region, but a winemaking method used to give certain styles of white wine a rounder texture and a more complex flavor profile.

Decoding the wine label: Sur lie

Ray’s Boathouse

Whitney Grant

Ray's Boathouse

Ray&rsquo;s Boathouse, Seattle

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!

A podcast where, in each episode, we will review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Whitney Grant, wine educator and certified sommelier.

Hello Whitney, it&rsquo;s great to have back on with CorkRules.

WG: Hi Robert! Thanks for having me! I&rsquo;m excited to share these wine selections with you and the CorkRules listeners.

RT:

Before we jump in, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules.

We created CorkRules to demystify wine lists because we know from experience, that sometimes when we get that list handed to us, well&hellip; it can be intimidating, and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, or value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top.

RT: So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list.

RT: Today we are talking about Ray&rsquo;s Boathouse, awarded the prestigious America&rsquo;s classics award from James Beard. Ray&rsquo;s Boathouse is located on the picturesque Puget Sound, right on the water. This iconic Seattle restaurant features elevated Pacific Northwest seafood dishes and excellent wine.

Whitney I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their extensive wine list?

WG: I&rsquo;m excited to chat with you about Ray&rsquo;s Boathouse, they&rsquo;ve got a great selection of wines!&nbsp;

RT: Want to start us off with some recommendations for wines by the glass?

WG: Sounds like a plan! For red wine I would recommend the 2009 Lopez de Heredia Reserva Rioja from the Rioja region of Spain. This wine is composed of 70% tempranillo, 20% grenache, 5% mazuelo, and 5% graciano. To be classified as a Reserva wines must age for an extended period of time before release both in oak and in bottle. As the wine ages the tannins soften, and some of the fresh red fruit characteristics evolve to cooked and dried fruit flavors. The final wines have complex layers of primary fruit flavors, this wine has flavors of berries, cherries and dried flowers. Secondary flavors derived from the American oak influences, in this wine those flavors being cedar, vanilla, and dill. And finally with age develop those characteristic tertiary aromas of flavors of dried fruit and mushroom.

For white wines, I would recommend the 2020 pinot grigio &ndash; Santa Marina from Italy. This wine lovely pale yellow color, crisp with medium acidity, citrus undertones with nectarine and peaches. Italy pinot grigios tend to be simple, unoaked wines that are typically inexpensive yet delicious, a wine you don&rsquo;t need to feel guilty enjoying.

RT: Summer time in the northwest is beautiful, with great outdoor seating options I&rsquo;m sure many guests enjoy a bottle of ros&eacute; in the summer. Is there a ros&eacute; on the list you would recommend?

WG: The 2020 Stoller Estate ros&eacute; is one of my all-time favorite summer wines. 100% Pinot noir ros&eacute; produced in stainless steel. This wine is a delicate pink with aromatics of ripe stone fruit and strawberry. On the palate expect watermelon and key line and the perfect refreshing acidity for a warm summer day on the Puget Sound.

RT: I love pinot noir ros&eacute;! Speaking of pinot noir, the Pacific Northwest is known not only for great seafood but also great pinot noir and this place has a great selection. Is there a pinot noir you would recommend?

WG: There are so many great pinot noirs grown in the Willamette Valley but the one that really caught my eye is the 2018 Sokol Blosser Estate Pinot Noir. This wine has rich flavors of mushroom, truffle, and forest floor, accompanied by blackberry, cranberry, and clove with a dash of black pepper. Medium tannins balanced by acidity.

Sokol Blosser is a family winery in the Dundee Hills of the valley first planted in 1971, perfecting Pinot for over 50 years. Sokol Blosser wines are responded not only in the northwest but around the world.

RT: What would you recommend is someone is looking to branch out and try something new?

WG: I would suggest giving a South African wine a try. The 2020 &#39;Old Vines&#39; Chenin Blanc from the Paarl region would be a great wine. Chenin blanc is the most widely planed grape in South Africa. The old bush or old vine grapes make for a more concentrated and complex wine.

The Paarl region, located further inland is less exposed to the cooling influences of the sea but the mountainous terrains offer a variety of altitudes, aspects, and soil types for grape growing. This Old Vines wine is a light straw color with flavors of white peach, pineapple, passion fruit and citrus. Fermented in 50% stainless steel and 50% neutral oak this wine juice just a hint of vanilla and a creamy texture from lees aging.

Another recommendation would be the 2020 Druids Fluid by Troon Vineyards located in the Applegate Valley of Southern Oregon. This red blend is fun and fruity with a mix of ripe red fruit, herbs, tea and tobacco. This wine has a medium plus body with balanced acidity and lovely texture. A great affordable wine made with quality biodynamic grapes.

RT: Can you tell us, what exactly is a biodynamic winery, is that similar to organic?

WG: It is similar to organic and you may see both terms on a label but they are not necessarily the same thing. Biodynamic farming adopts organic practices but also incorporates philosophy and cosmology.&nbsp; Farming with natural materials like composting are used to sustain the vineyard rather than chemical pesticides and herbicides. Biodynamic certification indicates a holistic, ecological and ethical approach to farming where the vineyard is viewed as one solid organism. Animals such as ducks, chickens, and sheep live on the land and help to make the vineyards a more fertile environment for the grapes. Sustainability is important and a biodynamic certification names the producers are striving to leave the land better than they found it.

RT: I see they have a nice selection of dessert wines, anything you would recommend to end the night on a sweet note?

WG: I would recommend one of the dessert rieslings from Washington&rsquo;s Columbia Valley. These wines aren&rsquo;t just your typical riesling made with higher residual sugar. These grapes are affected by noble rot or botrytis. Botrytis growns on ripe grapes in certain climate conditions - the ideal conditions are damp misty mornings, followed by warm dry afternoons.

The botrytis fungus makes tiny holes in the grape skin which causes the water inside to evaporate concentrating the acids, sugars, and flavors of the grape. The 2019 is available by the glass - expect honeysuckle, orange marmalade, candied ginger, apricot, apple, and raisin with a long finish and rich texture.

With the acidity and concentration of flavors these wines are able to age. There are two older vintages available by the bottle as well a 2005 and a 2010. As these wines age the flavors evolve, honeyed peaches, dried apricots, caramel, and the signature aged riesling petrol.

RT: Whitney Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Ray&rsquo;s Boathouse wine list. They certainly have a great selection of wines.

WG: Thanks for having me, Robert, this was an exciting list to review and I hope you get the chance to enjoy some of these wines!

RT: To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.

If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to: Info@CorkRules.com or visit our web website where we have a request form available and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible.

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists.

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

Thank you.

End

&nbsp;

BRAT

Bocca di Lupe

Gap Weekend: A Film Shoot in Wine Country

Alba Restaurant

Alba

10 Greek Street

L'Auberge Chez Francois

Andrew Edmunds

Salt Seafood and Oyster Bar

Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

Drumheller is a boutique winery located in the heart of Washington's Columbia Valley. Their winemaking team is passionate about crafting wines that reflect the unique character of the region's diverse terroir.

Modern European menu served at candlelit tables in a snug 18th-century townhouse.

Meson

Brasserie Mon Chou Chou

BondST

Buenos Aires Restaurant

Buenos Aires

Meadowsweet

Casa Mono

Atera

La Cava

LAVO Italian Restaurant

Lavo

Quality Italian

homepage

CorkRules application allows you to discover wines at your favorite restaurants, learn with friends and be confident with price transparency. Order wine with confidence at restaurants and retailers. Get personalized recommendations. #DrinkWhatYouLove

Andrew Edmunds

Available Wines
Total Wines - 7

Trinity Hill, Homage Syrah, Hawke's Bay NV

Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

Dom Perignon 2002

Champagne, France

Pol Roger

Reserve Brut Champagne NV

Pinot Meunier

Champagne, France

Bollinger

RD 2002

Champagne, France

Leeuwin Estate

Art Series Shiraz NV

Shiraz/Syrah

Western Australia, Australia

Filliatreau

Les Boiselees Saumur Champigny 2020

Loire, France

Schloss Lieser

Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett 2020

Riesling

Germany