Rain/WeeksEnd wine

bsd
Falling from the sky and seeding the ground.A connection which actualy helps sustain life.
And sometimes its very pitter pattter can sing a song.
Kind of the same with us.Taking the tools were naturaly given and elevating them beyond the self
we can dance so very high.
have a good one ; h

On tap for tonight: 2009 Don Ernesto Crescendo, a mainly cabernet blend from Hagafen. the Don Ernesto wines have not disappointed yet.

Friday night: Tishbi Estate Merlot 2007,Barkan Tzapit 2009, Barkan Pinotage 2007,DaltonPetit Syrah 2010, Shiloh Mor 2009
Shabbat Lunch: Recanati Petit Syrah Zinfandel 2010, Carmel Cab Franc 2008

Shavua tov Harry,

Friday night:

Midbar, Red 55 2008: Really a nice and different Israeli Bordeaux blend.

Shabbat lunch:

Binyamina, Zinfandel Reserve 2008: Initially planned on having this one in the sukka, I couldn't resist to this old love of mine (I was offered 2 bottles last week). Best vintage so far, yet it has evolved since the last time I had it almost a year ago. The color has turned from purple to more red-ish, the tannins have mellowed a bit, and it's now clearly tasting like a Zin but an excellent one!

Best,

GG

Hi Harry.
Gvaot Herodion Vineyards Dance 2008 and Merlot 2009.
Shavua Tov.
Zvi

Hi Harry
Ella Valley Syrah 2007 - Enjoyed immensely
Hagafen Lodi Roussanne 2006 - this was well off peak and barely drinkable. Might have been a result of bad storage conditions. I bought it from a local wine shop which could have had it sitting on the shelf for a few years.

Hi; galil mt barbera 07 drinking nicely but still has that twist in the finish. And here's a shocker,Anav cabernet 2002,this wine is fine.full bodied some fruit on the pallete,licorice and a medium finish. H

2007 Yarden Merlot this weekend. Not sure what I am going to have over the first 2 days of Sukkot, but I'll be at home with my entire cellar theoretically available (let's face it - some wines are being held for future events and are not really options).

Recanati Special Reserve 2007 - Excellent, opened up quickly and was enjoyable throughout the meal. Paired with a 40 oz Dry Aged Rib Steak. Shabbos day - La Trappe Quadruple Barrique Aged Beer - very good and the peaty oak flavor was unusual in a good way but definitely not worth the $20 for a 12.7 oz bottle.

Friday night: Shirah Counterpunch 2010. Reticent on the nose. Dark fruits. Wife really liked it. I remember it being a bit more forward a few months ago but I had a little congestion so my nose/ taster may have been off.
Saturday- my last bottle of 2009 Covenant Lavan Chardonnay.Fruit has faded a bit. Seemed quite oaky. I think the 2008 is holding up better. I have one more bottle of that so I'll find out soon.

indeed Jonathan, the 2008 covenant lavan is really lovely and is not a wine that needs to be rushed. I just had it over Rosh Hashanah, and it was only great after four hours, so there is no reason to rush this wine.

Fri Night - came off a transcon flight a little stuffy so went with a Amarcord Birra Da Tavola. Nice Blonde ale.
Sat Lunch - Glass of Gamla CS 2010 and a short bottle of Duvel. Both fine.

2000 Patris
2003 Covenant
2007 Prix Sav Blanc

Had the 2010 Barbara by Ramot Naftali with osso buccu. Very impressive acid, restrained but pleasant fruit, an array of spices (I want to say nutmeg, anise and cumin?) and a decent finish, even on day two. A bit too much citrus there on the mid-palate for my tastes, but a very good effort indeed. It worked well with the osso buccu which had a heavy sauce with some lemon peel grated into it. The acid cut through the sauce amazingly and the wine as a whole was certainly big enough to handle the juicy veal and bone marrow with its bold Israeli structure and its 14%+ alcohol. By far the best Israeli Barbara known to me or any anyone I've asked who's tried this wine. Payed about 130nis, which unfortunately, makes it more expensive than some good Italian Barbara D'Albas out there. Still, if you are looking for kosher Israel, I really do recommend this wine.

2009 Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon

Needed about 4 hours and then.. .. I think this will be a good one

Hi Harry,

Having contracted a stomach flu, and a running a fever Friday night, I was not consuming much alcohol and when I did I suspect that my perception was off.

Tzora Shoresh Blanc 2009 - This is a dry wine made primarily of Gewurztraminer (85%) with the remainder Chardonnay. My qualifying statement not withstanding, I'm starting to believe that the best style of Gewurz is that which is off-dry or technically even sweet, containing up to 1.5% residual sugar. I have several more bottles and I'll labor through them. If I'm not mistaken Tzora decided that the Shoresh Blanc will no longer be made of Gewurztraminer. I suspect they'll start making it of Sauvignon Blanc, reserving the Gewurztraminer grapes solely for their dessert wine, the Shoresh Or.

Best,
-> Pinchas

Had the 2010 Barbara by Ramot Naftali with osso buccu. Very impressive acid, restrained but pleasant fruit, an array of spices (I want to say nutmeg, anise and cumin?) and a decent finish, even on day two. A bit too much citrus there on the mid-palate for my tastes, but a very good effort indeed. It worked well with the osso buccu which had a heavy sauce with some lemon peel grated into it. The acid cut through the sauce amazingly and the wine as a whole was certainly big enough to handle the juicy veal and bone marrow with its bold Israeli structure and its 14%+ alcohol. By far the best Israeli Barbara known to me or any anyone I've asked who's tried this wine. Payed about 130nis, which unfortunately, makes it more expensive than some good Italian Barbara D'Albas out there. Still, if you are looking for kosher Israel, I really do recommend this wine.

Hi Joel,

I did not find it in Israel during my last visit in late August. Their website has an ambiguous statement that might be interpreted as meaning that they will no longer be producing a Barbera.

As an aside, I tried another Israeli attempt at producing an Italian styled wine, the Rosso from Lueria, but I walked away not all that impressed.

Best,
-> Pinchas