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

Union Square Cafe

Michaela Quinlan

Union Square

Music Intro:

RT: Hello and Welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

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 Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier.

Hello Michaela,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to be back together for another episode.

MQ: Hi Robert!

RT:

Before we jump in, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules.

We created CorkRules to demystify wine list&rsquo;s 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.

&nbsp;

RT:&nbsp;So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list.

RT: Today we are talking about Union Square. Established in 1985, Union Square draws inspiration from Union Square&rsquo;s Green Market, by incorporating local ingredients with contemporary dining.

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list?

MQ: I could spend all&nbsp;afternoon enjoying some of their famous bar nuts and perusing this extensive wine list. I&rsquo;m looking forward to sharing some old-world and new-world classics.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked at the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: I spotted the Etna Bianco Benanti 2020 from Sicily. This white wine from Mt.Etna is 100% Carricante. We have already discussed many unique white grapes from Italy, however, this Carricante is dry, with aromas and flavors of fresh green apple and of course that hint of salinity on the finish. As you may know by now, I love to add details about the climate and soil&hellip;all of these attributes that add to the character of the wine. Here, of course, the minerality is due to the volcanic soil and salinity from the Mediterranean climate offering ocean breezes. This grape can be compared to Sauvignon Blanc, or Assyrtiko, and would pair beautifully with all seafood.

RT: That is for sure unique.

So, Michaela, their list seems to have lots of range but was there anything that you would say is a &ldquo;must-try&rdquo;?

MQ: Absolutely! Staying in Italy I would certainly consider the Crivelli Grignolino d&rsquo;Asti 2020 from the Piedmont region. Another unique Italian grape, the Grignolino is a medium-bodied red wine that offers aromas of violets with red cherries and pepper. This would be a must-try if you are a Pinot Noir fan. Look for the Grignolino if you are looking for a pairing for your mushroom, or savory dish.

RT: These are some great calls. So, you know I&rsquo;m getting thirsty and will need to order a bottle with my dinner, where would you guide us?

MQ: I love to mention wines of excellent quality and value. I would offer the table a bottle of the Domaine de la Grosse, Pierre Douby Morgon 2019 from Burgundy, France. Morgon is a sub-region within Burgundy specializing is Burgundy&rsquo;s other red grape, Gamay. Gamay is medium-bodied with blackberries, black cherries, with a balance of smoke and spice. This is a wonderfully food-friendly wine, especially if you are considering pasta or veal, all at an excellent price.

RT: Ooh, Terrific.

Michaela, speaking of price, sometimes people have a budget in mind..&nbsp; any other great value wines you&rsquo;d point us to?&nbsp;

MQ: Of course. Heading back to Italy, I would recommend the Tiberio Trebbiano d&rsquo;Abruzzo 2020. Abruzzo is located along the calf of the boot of Italy. Here we find ourselves again facing ocean breezes from the Mediterranean climate. I&rsquo;m sure by now, you can sense the bright acidity of the Trebbiano. This dry, organic, white wine also features fresh apricot, peach, and grapefruit flavors and aromas with a beautiful mineral finish. Perfect for seafood and anything fried.

RT: For me personally&hellip;

MQ: Absolutely!

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

&nbsp;MQ: Time to head back to the New World for a Napa classic. I would consider the Mayacamus 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon from the iconic and storied vineyard established in 1889. With a 95-point rating from Decanter, this is your classic CA Cabernet. The rich black current, ripe blackberries, cinnamon, and nutmeg from the oak aging, along with a note of violets on the finish certainly allow for this wine to showcase any celebration.

RT: Michaela, thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Union Square&rsquo;s wine list. I can&rsquo;t wait to go try them myself. &nbsp;

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: <a href="mailto:Info@corkrules.com">Info@corkrules.com</a> 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.&nbsp;

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

Thank you.

&nbsp;

End

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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

AXR is a small, family-owned winery located in the heart of Napa Valley. We specialize in producing high-quality, small-batch wines that showcase the unique terroir of the region.

Spacious & vibrant pizzeria serving Neapolitan pies, pastas, salads, cocktails & craft beer.

GlenArbor

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

Porta

Available Wines
Total Wines - 10

Renzo Masi Chianti M Docg Fiasco Red Tuscany Italy NV

Tuscany, Italy

Mosquita Muerta

Malbec Mendoza 2018

Malbec

Mendoza, Argentina

Peirano Estate

The Heritage Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Cabernet Sauvignon

Lodi, USA

dough

Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Cabernet Sauvignon

North Coast, USA

dough

Pinot Noir 2020

Pinot Noir

Oregon, USA

Giulia

Conte Brandolini d'Adda Pinot Grigio, Italy, Friuli-Venezia 2015

Pinot Grigio

Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

Cusumano

Alta Mora Etna Rosso 2018

Nerello Mascalese

Sicily, Italy

Coltibuono

Cultus Boni Chianti Classico Riserva 2016

Blanding

Chianti, Tuscany, Italy

Il Fauno di Arcanum

Tenuta di Arceno, IGT 2018

Tuscany, Italy

Orin Swift

Machete 2018

Petite Sirah

California, USA