Converting / WeeksEnd wine

[Harry J]

bsd
Grapes to wine. Intentions to action. Sometimes we know, however were not yet willing.
The desire to become needs to be stronger than the desire to just be.Otherwise the grape remains a grape.
Have a good one; h

[Gabriel Geller]

Hi Harry, shavua tov! And yep! That's exactly what I'm doing right now...

I was hosted this shabbat by close friends in Efrat and brought over with me a bottle of the new Galil blend, Alon '09 as well as a bottle of Zion Dolev CS '10 following a previous discussion I had with my host 2 weeks before (that you may find good wine at all price ranges in Israel) as that bottle cost only 27 shekels (about $ 7). The only "problem" was that the other guests invited also brought wines among which a Teperberg Collage, a GHW Yarden Mount Hermon White '10 and a bottle of cheap (by all means!) french K Cabernet Sauvignon "Tour de Paris" '09, so my host could not politely open only my bottles and those folks were not heavy enough wine drinkers to drink 'em all...

Friday night: Zion, Dolev, Cabernet Sauvignon 2010: Deep purple toward garnet, very fruit forward and almost refreshing with on the nose and palate dark fruits, essentially ripe blackberries with lightly sweet soft tannins rising on a moderate finish. An amazing QPR!

Shabbat lunch: First, we opened the Yarden Mount Hermon White '10: Better than all the previous vintages that I had in mind, light gold in color, showing some citrus and tropical fruits on the nose and palate and playing not badly with spicy food, not a bad wine.
BUT THEN: Tour de Paris, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009: A french CS varietal, not very common and usually not very appealing. Dark garnet with an almost muted nose, then showing behind unbalanced , strong, extreme and unpleasantly mouth-coating alcoholic and chunky country-style tannins that make almost impossible to detect the hints of forest fruits hidden under, those leading to an unfortunately long finish...

Best,

GG

[Or Shoham]

After being nudged by Harry on several occasions, I feel bad not posting, so here's a perfectly inane post for you: no wine this weekend. All of the usual suspects to share it with were either unavailable, or unable to drink due to medication.

I do expect to pick up the pace a little soon, with at least three sets of tastings scheduled in the upcoming fortnight, and hopefully a chance or two to open wine over the weekend. Hopefully I'll have something a little more interesting to share than "Nothing to report".

[ChaimShraga]

Georges Dubeouf, Moulin-A-Vent, Flower Series, 2009

Very nice, if not profound Gamay fruit, with earthy notes and soft, lightly bitter tannins. I'm still not convinced the Flower Series has a lot of cellaring potential.

[Jeff Adler]

Hi Harry - Shavua Tov

We had some friends for Shabbat Dinner prior to a siyum/dessert reception that my Chevruta and I threw in honor of our finishing Masechet Kiddushin last shabbat.

Red - Psagot Edom 2007 - Wonderful wine, enjoyed by all.

White - Molon Lave Vineyards Riesling - Earlier in the week I received a case of the new Kosher offerings from this Northern Virginia Winery. It was well received by our dinner guests who enjoy semi-sweet whites. I am not personally a big fan of Riesling but enjoyed the few sips I had. We will try the Red Noiret next week.

[Pinchas L]

Hi Harry,

Asif Viognier 2008 - This bottling is Asif's off-dry version of this wine, containing about .8% residual sugar and an alcohol content of 14.5%. For the first half hour white pepper is the most dominant attribute of this wine, both on the nose and the palate. Once it releases its hold, nice fruit makes itself felt in the form of poached pears that is complemented by dusty pollen. The dustiness quite likely the effect of the tannins. The residual sugar adds to the weight of the wine, making it medium bodied, and giving it a creamy texture. The wine saw some barrel aging and some of the grapes had extended skin contact during fermentation, a protocol that gives the wine some tannins, and perhaps a whiff of vanilla. In comparison with Asif's 2009 vintage that I had last week, this release is not as floral as that one, nor does it show the same range of fruity flavors. Interestingly enough the dry '09 vintage feels sweeter than the semi-dry '08, with the residual sugar of the '08 not making itself felt until the finish, at which point it is quite apparent that the sweetness is the result of residual sugar and not that perception one gets from the wines strong floral and fruity attributes. While I consider the '09 to be a nicer expression of the variety, the '08 perhaps shows greater complexity, especially once the pepper loosens its grip.

Chateau Montviel Pomerol 2004 - This wine is made of Merlot. The tannins are silky and smooth, the body is of medium weight, and the flavors are quite green, vegetal and with dark fruit. The fruit is not very pronounced, and the storyline is mostly about the taninns. Last time I found more forest floor and earth, that I didn't detect this time around. 13.5% AbV. I have one bottle left, and might wait another year before drinking it.

Best,
-> Pinchas

[YoelA]

Shabbat dinner at a friend's house; 2009 Baron Herzog cabernet and 2010 Bartenura pinot grigio. Both drinkable but not worth describing.

[Yossie Horwitz]

Bustan Merlot 2004 & Teperberg Malbec 2009.

[Isaac C]

I had the Galil Yiron 2007, once again delicious.

[Jonathan K]

Went to a vertical tasting of Silver Oak- the most memorable wine being the 1991 Bonny's Vineyard- beautiful array of green pepper, tobacco, and menthol on the nose, vegetable and spice on the palate. Long lingering finish. Beautiful wine.

Shavua Tov!!!

[Yakov F]

Tavor Mescha 2005 - This is drinking very nicely now. A real pleasure. Even the non aficionados at the table liked it. I've had this a few times in the past, liked it, but it didn't stand out . This time it was memorable. The wine is on the bright side. The cab stands out (75%) and is complemented nicely by the Merlot and Shiraz components. I found it medium to full bodied (unlike Daniel who found it to be full) with flavors of red berries and light and dark red fruit not too heavily stated that pleased the palate and similar fragrances filling the nostrils simultaneously. This somewhat reminded me of some of the younger Yarden Cabs unlike Gabe who thought it was similar to Yatir msc but I do agree with him that it is delicious and the guests agreed since the bottle was easily finished. Rogov has the drinking window through 2014. I'm not sure if this will continue to improve a bit or is close to its peak but it is certainly worth drinking now. Not sure about the full retail price but a good value on sale.

I thought it was worthwhile to quote Gabriel's recent notes as well as Daniels.

Tabor Mes'cha 2005: Had offered this bottle to my host about a month ago for his birthday, we wanted for his son to be there to open it so last night was the right opportunity to do so. Dark Garnet toward ruby, full-bodied, a muscular but elegant wine (a CS-Merlot-Shiraz blend) that can be easily mistaken for the Yatir Blended Red. Dark fruits, blackberries and perhaps even some cranberries, mouth-coating tannins and plums all lingering nicely with some spicy oak on the long finish. The bottle was emptied out in no time.

Tabor, Mescha, 2005: Holding its own very nicely indeed. Dark garnet with orange and purple reflections, full-bodied with once firm tannins and generous oak now settling in nicely and showing in fine moderation and in fine balance with fruits. A concentrated wine, opening in the glass to reveal red currants, wild berries and red licorice, those with light overlays of herbal and cigar tobacco. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Shiraz and 10% Merlot, aged partly in 2000 liter casks and partly in 225 liter barriques for 18 months. Long, generous and elegant. Drink now–2014. Score 91. K (Re-tasted 2 Nov 2009)

[Gabriel Geller]

I thought it was worthwhile to quote Gabriel's recent notes as well as Daniels.

Yakov, I'm very flattered if not even embarrassed with you quoting my TN side by side with Rogov's. The least I can say is that I certainly don't deserve it!

[Jon Tabak]

Drank 2007 Capcanes Peraj Ha'abib Flor de Primavera. Bottle held through Sunday. It's still young and will last.

http://www.kosherwino.com/index.php/201 ... vera-2007/

[Stephen Weil]

Shavua Tov to all.
Nice to read about wines that you drank and I still have and have not drunk.
Very intersting Friday night dinner at friends, all of whom enjoy wine.
Opened with a Yarden Chardonnay not sure which year but did not like it. Nothing like a Katzrin and was extra dry.
We had 3 reds but not in the correct order so it went as follows
Cab Sav El Rom 07
Cab Sav Yarden 04
Yiron from Galil 05

This with a supurb dinner was a perfect start to shabbat

[David Raccah]

Thanks Harry for keeping the theme alive!

I had a bottle of the Hagafen Cuvee de Noirs that I bought at the winery and did not like that much. I tasted some nice - but too ripe (read new world) 2003 Yarden Merlot - nice but not for me. Finally, had a bottle of the new 2009 Four Gates Cabernet Sauvignon from Betchart Vineyard on Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains. - KILLER!!!

http://kosherwinemusings.com/2012/02/13 ... sauvignon/

David

[Yakov F]

I'm very flattered if not even embarrassed with you quoting my TN side by side with Rogov's. The least I can say is that I certainly don't deserve it!

Gabriel,

Your notes were most recent. What else could I do?

[Gabriel Geller]

Not sure about the full retail price but a good value on sale.

The full retail price is usually somewhere around 130 shekels but I paid 85 on sale, including a couple Stölzle glasses as a gift.

[Yakov F]

Wow. Never seen it as high as 130.

[YoelA]

why would you buy a Gamay wine for cellaring potential?

they're not making it for that.... I can assure you...they're neighbors in the north have that market for Burgundy wines

True for most beuajolais but good Moulin-a-Vent has the potential for aging, perhaps up to 5 or 6 years (some say up to ten). But the flower series isn't DuBeouf's top-grade beaujolais so I wouldn't know about this particular wine.

[Harry J]

Hi; revisited galil mt shiraz 2009 and its drinking so nicely.probably more aptly described as syrah.a well defined package.
and by the way some were discussing the meshcha 2005-saw it for twenty dollars on m and east 4th. h

[ChaimShraga]

why would you buy a Gamay wine for cellaring potential?

they're not making it for that.... I can assure you...they're neighbors in the north have that market for Burgundy wines

True for most beuajolais but good Moulin-a-Vent has the potential for aging, perhaps up to 5 or 6 years (some say up to ten). But the flower series isn't DuBeouf's top-grade beaujolais so I wouldn't know about this particular wine.

What Yoel said.

[gaston k]

Passed on tasting some Altoona Hills 2007 Merlot. Went with beer instead, Jenlain Blonde, a French farmhouse style-ale. Good enough but no match for spare ribs and minute steak. Preferred the Jenlain Amber that I had a few weeks ago.

[Sam M]

Capscanes peraj petita 2008-I really enjoyed it with Asian vegetables and chicken .

Hagafen , Chardonnay 2009 - very nice, fully body, great aroma.

[Yehoshua Werth]

2009 HaChavit from Tanya...

still working on wrapping my head around this one.. Fruit forward and firm about it ; yet realy dry back. Might need some time to settle down. Seemed a little off yet great flavors and liked it very much during my meal with Shabbos.