Best Wines of 2013

With the entirety of 2013 now safely behind us, it's time to relive some of the great wines we enjoyed during the course of 2013. I am in the middle of my annual year-end newsletter on the topic and will hopefully post my own lists on this thread shortly but wanted to get the party started.

What were the best wines you tasted this year? Wine can be those tasted and/or drunk, not limited to kosher, I like to the best wines and the most interesting wines, as these are many times mutually exclusive but feel free to make up your own lists! Looking forward to seeing what everyone remembers enjoying this year!

Nothing really fancy, just excellent drinking.

Most outstanding:
2010 Midbar Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc
2008 Yatir Forest (just tasted at winery)

Otherwise, just grouped by Varietal, in no particular order:
2005 Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon
2009 Bravdo Cabernet Sauvignon
2010 Bravdo Cabernet Sauvignon
2008 Midbar Cabernet Franc
2009 Psagot Cabernet Franc
2010 Psagot Cabernet Franc
2009 Gush Etzion Cabernet Franc
2009 Dalton Alma SMV
2010 Vignoble David Reserve
2010 Carmel Kayoumi Riesling

There are so many great wines that I've tasted but didn't really drink so I'll write here down for the most part only those that I actually drank and enjoyed with a meal.

Israeli wines:

GHW, Yarden, Katzrin 1996
HHW, Armagedon 2007
Yatir, Forest 2005
Ella Valley Vineyard's Choice Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Ella Valley, Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Ella Valley, Vineyard's Choice, Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
Ella Valley, Vineyard's Choice, Merlot 2003
Gvaot, Gofna, Pinot Noir 2009 2009
Carmel, Limited Edition 2007
Carmel, Limited Edition 2008
Recanati Special Reserve 2007
GMW, Yiron 2005
GMW, Yiron 2004
GMW, Yiron Syrah 2005
Flam, Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
GHW, Yarden, Noble Sémillon Botrytis 2004
GHW, Yarden, Blanc de Blancs 2007
Domaine du Castel, Grand Vin 2005
Domaine du Castel, Grand Vin 2009
Barkan, Superieur, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Gvaot, Masada 2010
Psagot, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

French wines:

Château Giscours, Margaux 2003
Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac 2003
Domaine Roses Camille, Pomerol 2006
Domaine Roses Camille, Pomerol 2005
Château Léoville Poyferré, Saint-Julien 2002,
Château Guiraud, Sauternes 1999
Château Guiraud, Sauternes 2001
Château Piada, Sauternes 2001
Château Malartic-Lagravière, Pessac-Léognan 2003
Champagne Drappier, Carte d'Or Brut NV
Château Haut-Condissas, Cuvée Prestige, Haut-Médoc 2003
J.-P. Marchand, Pommard 2005

Italy:

Falesco, Montiano, Lazio IGT 2006
Falesco, Marciliano, Umbria IGT 2005

Spain:

Capçanes, Flor del Flor del Primavera 2010
Capçanes, Peraj Petita 2011
Capçanes, Peraj Petita 2009

California:

Hagafen, Prix Réserve, Mélange 2006
Four Gates, Special Reserve, Syrah 2003
Four Gates, Merlot MSC 2008
Shirah, Bro-Deux NV
Shirah, Power to the People 2009
Shirah, Syrah Mourvèdre, Thompson Vineyard 2010
Shirah, Coalition 2010
Hagafen, Prix Zinfandel 2004
Hagafen, Cuvée de Noirs 2007
Four Gates, Petit Verdot 2010

I hope I didn't forget anything...

Best,

GG

Hi Yossie,

Favorite wines I drank/tasted in 2013 in no particular order except from how I recall them in memory...

2007 Golan Heights Winery, Yarden, Blanc de Blancs
2007 Segals Unfiltered
2011 Covenant Chardonnay Lavan
2005 Chateau La Clare
2011 Teperberg Malbec Terra
2010 Brobdingnagian Grenache
2005 Ella Valley vineyards choice Cabernet Sauvignon
2007 HHW Pardess
2010 Shirah Brodeux
2009 Yatir Forest
2012 Dalton El Kosh Semillon
2010 Recanati Special Reserve White

L'chaim to 2014!

I hope I didn't forget anything...

Some still, dry whites, perhaps?

I hope I didn't forget anything...

Some still, dry whites, perhaps?

LOL!!

If you insist...

Tabor, Adama, Roussanne 2012
Tabor, Adama, Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Covenant, Red C, Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Carmel, Kayoumi Vineyard, Riesling 2012

LOL!!! If we were allowed a few days of freedom, I would go with the 2013 Yarden Sauvignon Blanc and the 2012 Tzora Shoresh White for the best whites of 2013 (give or take a few days) LOL!!!

My list and my comments on 2013 kosher wine world:

http://kosherwinemusings.com/2014/02/01 ... -is-ahead/


2008 Covenant Solomon Cuvee – special blend made for Premiere Napa Valley Auction
2004 Covenant Cabernet Sauvignon
2005 Domaine Roses Camille
2005 Chateau Leoville Poyferre
2005 Malartic-Lagraviere
2011 Capcanes Flor de Flor
2010 Doamine du Castel Grand Vin
2010 Flam Cabernet Sauvignon
2010 Midbar Orange Wine
2009 Yatir Forest
2012 Capcanes Carignan
2004 Yarden Katzrin
2003 Chateau Leoville Poyferre
2004 Domaine Chateau De La Tour Clos Vougeot
2009 Elvi Wines Clos Mesorah
2009 Four Gates Cabernet Sauvignon
1999 Chateau Guiraud
2001 Chateau Guiraud
2007 Yarden Blanc de Blancs
2013 Yarden Sauvignon Blanc
2012 Tzora Shoresh White
1987 Les Forges, Cotes de Beaune, Meursault
2008 Yarden Rose Brut

2005 Recanati Special Reserve


Sadly my last bottle, but for me nothing else came close.

2005 Recanati Special Reserve
Sadly my last bottle, but for me nothing else came close.

Happily, I found another bottle of this vintage in the bulk bin of my Eurocave - buried under some later vintages a whole bunch of the 2000 Capcanes Peraj Ha'Abib. [I really need to sort through this stuff more often, but who has time?]

Mr London: son of a B! You stuck a 2005 RSR in your bulk bin? Quel horror! Drink up it should be right now perfectly at peak.

Someone gave me the idea to ask Mr. Recanati if he's got any 2005 RSR left in his "Eurocave", which is the size of my youngest daughter's bedroom... I could trade him 2 Pasco Projects for a 2005 RSR.

So Yossie, what is YOUR top of 2013 list??

Mr London: son of a B! You stuck a 2005 RSR in your bulk bin? Quel horror! Drink up it should be right now perfectly at peak.

Someone gave me the idea to ask Mr. Recanati if he's got any 2005 RSR left in his "Eurocave", which is the size of my youngest daughter's bedroom... I could trade him 2 Pasco Projects for a 2005 RSR.

If its any consolation, this particular "bulk bin" is all premium stuff! Once we moved from the condo to a detached home out in the suburbs, the Eurocave went down to the fairly temperature steady unfinished part of our basement -- and I lost ALL sense of order. Its added another level of exploration to my wine & spirits consumption (I've hundreds of bottles of various high-end Scotch whiskies down there too). So while my lethargy in imposing order on my collection is far from considered strategy, it has mostly worked out well for me. Very often leading -- as with the RSR 2005 -- to "discovering" wines that I thought were long since consumed. I think I only ever had a case of that vintage, and honestly thought it all gone several years ago.

At any rate, I can't wait to taste the Pasco Project! Maybe add a case to my disorderly cellar for future such surprises!