Rules / WeeksEnd wine

[Harry J]

bsd
Both gravity and not stealing are laws.Yet trying to defy one of them isnt illegal and can even be constructive.Innovation can fuel growth yet rebellion can breed anarchy. A system is planted in our world sometimes referred to as nature. We would like to see it continue. And even human logic dictates we need rules and regulations. From within, the human spirit can soar beyond restrictions.May we find the balance in our world.
Have a good one; h

[Isaac C]

I'm planning on having the Yiron 2005 with a huge (2.5 lb) Dry-aged Prime Rib Steak. Looking forward!

[Adam M]

Hey Isaac - now that's a sight I'd like to see!

I'm debating between the Pacifica Meritage and the 05 Yarden Tel Phares Merlot. Will probably flip a coin a little later

[Daniel Monsey NY]

elijah craig 12yo
four roses small batch
forty creek double barrel reserve
AnCnoc 16yo
Michael Collins whisky
bruichladdich peat
aberlour a'bunadh batch #15

and perhaps some Tamdhu 10yo.

Have to spread them out over the Shabbos

[YoelA]

It's my annual Valentine's Day present to my wife, where I do the cooking for Shabbat (except for the rice, which I neve make properly). Tomato soup, sweet & sour beef & mushroom stew, eggplant/tomato casserole, leeks with vinaigrette sauce, all of which needs a rich and hearty wine to match, which will be Joseph Swan 2001 Stellwagen zinfandel.

[Gabriel Geller]

I'm planning on having the Yiron 2005 with a huge (2.5 lb) Dry-aged Prime Rib Steak. Looking forward!

I'm debating between the Pacifica Meritage and the 05 Yarden Tel Phares Merlot. Will probably flip a coin a little later

Hi Harry, folks, shavua tov,

Seems that for some random reason, this weekends wine was 2005-oriented not only for me!

Thursday night, chillin' late with my business partner in front of a good movie and some french baguette and cheese after a long and exhausting day of work, we decided to treat ourselves with some serious stuff:

GHW, Yarden Pinot Noir 2005: So long have I waited to finally taste this unique Pinot Noir (I've got one more bottle left in my cellar, and I know where and will buy the 2 last bottles for a steal! Like almost all wine shops owners in Jerusalem, that specific one - that I wont name here of course - doesn't have a clue how great is this wine, he believes that it has fallen off the cliff )

I will simply copy-paste Daniel's z.l. note and add a few comments below as I agree almost 100% with what's said there:

Dark ruby, full-bodied enough to be thought of as fleshy, and with spicy wood and gentle tannins in fine balance with acidity and fruits. Opens with near-sweet, liqueur-like berry aromas and flavors, those yielding in the glass to reveal a crisply dry wine on which you will feel hints of kirsch, dark chocolate and lightly smoked meat, all climaxing in a long and generous blackberry finishing. Drink now-2013. Score 93. K

I totally second our dear and missed Rogov on the "fleshy", it has a strange feeling in the mouth while being very pleasant, I loved that! I didn't catch the smoked meat however, never mind, and the tannins were not gentle but mouth-coating with bracing acidity, outstanding, will probably last even longer than expected, 2014, perhaps even 2015. This is now my second best ever Pinot Noir (1st would be Herzog's 2007, I wonder btw why so little info is available online on this one).

Friday night: Tishbi Estate Merlot 2005: Another great bottle of this surprisingly good Merlot, my previous note holds firmly. Paired well with a roasted chicken with prunes and sweet potatoes.

Shabbat Lunch: Once again, GHW Yarden Blanc de Blancs 2005 paired also with a choucroute a l'alsacienne (into which a glass was poured prior to cooking), as good as always.

Have all a great week!

Best,

GG

[Sam M]

Hagafen cab franc, 2007- I opened this accidentally. I was intending to hold it a litte longer. Still asleep , I think. But not as bad as others have commented.

GM yiron 2007, - as usual A pleasant , fruit forward wine. Very enjoyable Fri night. It flattened out by Saturday afternoon.

Sam m

[Jeff Adler]

Hi Harry - Shavua Tov

Shabbat Dinner - Yarden Cabernet 2005. Hmm - another 2005 vintage.

Shabbat Lunch - Galil Mountain Barbera 2007

[Adam M]

So I ended up having the 2010 Pacifica Meritage. Started it last night and finished it this pm. Last night, I got very disjointed layers of chocolate, oak and iodine. Today, with the benefit of about 14 hours of controlled oxidation, these layers came together a lot better and actually was pretty enjoyable, though in my view at least a year away from its peak. Overall, I think it would be wise to cellar this wine for at least one year before opening. Alternatively, I would open the bottle the day before drinking and keep it open for a half hour or so and then vacuum close it and cellar it over night. Despite the rich blend of (I think) 4 grapes and the dark, medium-to-full body, I think this wine is about $10 overpriced based on kosher standards. To me, It has more of a feel and taste of a $25 or so wine rather than a $35 or so wine. But the extra $10 could be justified by some by the fact that the wine comes from a unique region (the "Walla Walla valley" (love saying that!)) in Washington state, from which there is (to my knowledge) currently no other kosher wine made.

[Jonathan K]

Four Gates 2008 Chardonnay. Medium bodied. Dominated by peach. Lovely Understated.

[Pinchas L]

Hi Harry,

Asif Classique 2009 - After several weeks in which the white at the dinner table was a Viognier, my palate was primed for one that is floral and aromatic. Having designated this wine for dinner, and armed with the knowledge that semillon makes up 69% of this classic Bordealaise blend--the remaining 31% Sauvingon Blanc--I expected more of the same. My expectations were based on my only previous encounter with Semillon, a Gan Eden bottling from the 1994 vintage made by Craig, which I remembered as round, lush and fruity. With the first sip, I realized just how off my expectations were and it took me several more sips to re-caliberate my palate. Sometimes, when drinking a wine for the first time I like to record the first associations that come to mind, in this case those were fino sherry and martini bianco. Rather than expand on the reasons that these were the associations I made, I'll proceed to describe the wine. While the nose did show some citrus, the palate was void of it until the finish when traces of lime made themselves felt. The green notes that dominate the wine in the form of green grass, pine needles, pine nuts, and finally green olives, make this quite an austere wine. I suspect that this profile might be due to early harvesting of the grapes. With a body that is medium, acidity that is at a reasonable level, and some soft tannins, this wine should pair well with food; however, the wine didn't pair that well with gefilte fish, tahini and eggplant, but was a much better match with deviled eggs and avocado salad. I think it will be an even better match with chicken breast. 13.5% AbV. I paid 62.5 NIS to the winery.

Vignobles David, Le Mourre De L'isle 2010 - The components of this blend are Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre, with their respective shares at 60%, 30% and 10%. The wine is savory, sanguine, packed with raspberries, and redolent of perfume and dried flowers. The tannins do not dominate but provide sufficient structure so that the fruit, spice and perfume are focused. This Cote du Rhone seems meant for early drinking, and is very enjoyable now. I wouldn't bother to cellar it. The body is perhaps lighter than the Dalton's Alma Rhone blend, and is not as gamey, but is more perfumed and savory. This wine whets my appetite for its bigger brother, the Reserve. 14% AbV. I paid about 20$ at Tops.

Best,
-> Pinchas

[David Raccah]

Pinchas I am happy you liked the GSM from Vignobles David! Indeed the GS Reserve shows more of the animal favors and huge tannin - loom for it.

David

[David Raccah]

Well, I took some bottle from Craig's new winery, after a tasting, and I enjoyed them again at my house. The clear winner for now is the 2010 Agua Dulce Cabernet - here is my initial posting on the winery - much more to come - God Willing. Again, THANKS to Craig and Gabe again for hosting the lovely tasting!

http://kosherwinemusings.com/2012/02/19 ... hort-ribs/

David

[Craig Winchell]

I should say that the wines that David brought back are "barrel samples" and have not been bottled. We have not bottled any of the kosher wines, nor do we have any idea when we would do so. I'm glad you enjoyed some of my wines, David. I don't think the pepper flavor was contributed by the pink pepper trees that grow so readily in the area. But perhaps the trees have pink peppercorns so flavorful because of the area. Also, I think the wines you liked worst are the 2011 Paso Robles Cab (which came in tremendously underripe, but we crushed it since the planting belonged to the boss) and the rose', which has microbial stability and oxidation problems for a variety of reasons, all related to my neglect, unfortunately. I'm working on ways to mitigate those problems.

I like the 2010 Cab, but I think you like it more than me. I think your views of it are skewed by the fact that you can only compare it to kosher wines, and frankly, there are so many closed, tannic, oaky wines out there that this open and classic wine becomes seductive in comparison. I really thnk of it as more of a "cru bourgeois", a small but balanced representation. I am a believer in the potential of the vineyard, however, and think it could produce some "A list" wine in a favorable year. There are many who would throw the new oak at this wine, hjust to try to give it something it will never have. But as you know, this was not in new oak except for a short stint to provide some surface toast character.

[David Raccah]

Indeed - the peppercorns may well be a cause of or a canary in the mine, because the land's ability to express black pepper. Either way I have updated the blog posting to show the points you have raised here, including the fact that the wine is a barrel sample, and the fact that the wines are not yet available for sale.

David

[E Segel]

Bazelet Hagolan Cabernet Sauvignon 09 - don't know what took me so long to try this wine, great great bottle.

[Jon Tabak]

Bravdo Coupage 09
Bravdo Cabernet Sauvignon 09
Bravdo Shiraz 09

All approachable and delicious, but best in 8 months. Hope to post my notes soon.

Best,
Jon

[David Raccah]

Craig - indeed I did like the wine, and no it not because I have not tasted that many wines. I think the number of kosher wines that I have been privy to taste is a fairly close proximity to the reality out there. That said, the wine does have overly harsh astringency that I hope will die down in time, hence my comment on needing time...

Jon - did you like the Merlot? I agree on the need for time. My notes on the entire line of Bravdo wines:

http://kosherwinemusings.com/2011/12/23 ... rofessors/

I liked the Merlot and I agree that these wines are still in need of time to open up and get integrated in a manner that can be truly enjoyed.

[Shawn Johnson]

Dalton Alma Cab-Sauv-Merlot-Cab Franc 2009

Teperberg Israeli Cab Sauv-Merlot 2010

Teperberg LH Riesling 2009

Good week to all.

[gaston k]

Yatir Red 2006 - My fourth and last bottle and definitely the best. Drinking great right now, with the components really working together for a smooth and long finish. Very enjoyable with both spare ribs and roast chicken.

[Adam M]

Hey Gaston - FYI, I'm drinking the 2007 Yatir red blend right now. It is really good and goes great with Jeremy Lin

[Yehoshua Werth]

Shavua Tov,

Yoram from Alexander came by and brought us the new:

2009 Alexander Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve and had for Shabbos until my wife tasted it and said;"the rest is mine."

Just yum in a bottle. great fruit, incredable balance and the bouquet does justice. Will post Video of the Tasting this week.

SOLID!

also Had
2009 Bartenura Ovadia Estates Chianti -
Solid fruit, nice drinking yet the Alcohol is a little too present. ? 14.5% seemed a little high for a Sangiovese grape.. Any thoughts. With food it was nice just on its own had a little heat.

[Shlomo R]

2006 Yarden Merlot this weekend. Bit of sediment, but in fine shape.

[Stephen Weil]

Quiet weekend but enjoyed the second of the Assemlage from Barkan
THE RIcham. a gem and well done Barkan
also managed Sunday evening at a party
Ella Chardonnay 2009 very nice fresh not too oaky
Yiron 2007
Recanatti Reserve Cab 2008

Shavua Tov