Hi Harry! Shavua tov folks,
Friday night:
I was hosted by close wine-lovers friends of mine and brought over very proudly a bottle of Psagot Cabernet Sauvignon 2008. Then arrived a couple of guests, also very close friends but not at all vinos who looked like they had absolutely no idea in the world about what they had in their hands. I wasn't able to hold myself back and said out loud in french something like 'holy cow!': Yatir Forest 2008. Believe it or not but almost to my surprise the Psagot gave quite an honorable fight to the Yatir.
Psagot, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008: Very dark garnet towards purple, throwing a good deal of sediments (was probably bottled without filtration, should inquire) great nose here with loads of blackberries, cassis, cherries and sweet cedar wood. Full-bodied with on the palate cassis, dark cherries, blackberries, some licorice, Mediterranean herbs, vanilla and dark chocolate with the tannins rising and gently caressing on the long, mouth-filling finish. Richness, elegance and complexity here again, really velvety. this is exactly my favorite kind of CabSav, I really love this wine and I heartily concur with Rogov z.l. as it's also the best wine I've tasted so far by Psagot. Great job!
Yatir, Forest 2008: I wish we could have given this wine the time it deserves but we still gave it the GG's shock treatment (aerator+ big shake in a decanter carafe, a gift I smartly offered to my host a few years ago) and it definitely helped. As (almost) always, a Bordeaux-blend this time with the 5 varieties: 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 32% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc aged for I-forgot-how-long in french oak barrels. Dark, almost black royal purple with on the nose cassis, plums, blackberries and vanilla. Full-bodied with on the palate ripe blackberries, juicy dark plums, cassis, licorice, vanilla, roasted coffee beans and dark chocolate with still searing tannins on the very long finish. Perhaps that's due to its relative youth but I didn't exactly get the "oh wow, phenomenal!" (no need to open the book or look up his TN, I would have not forgot it anyway) Rogov z.l. wrote when rating it 95 but personally I'd give it 93. That's not so bad, right?
Shabbat lunch:
GHW, Golan Cabernet Sauvignon 2010: Although not as good as the 2008 vintage of which I recently enjoyed a perfectly drinking and nicely matured bottle, this vintage is still one of the best deals out there below 40 shekels/$11-12. Dark garnet with purple reflections. On the nose blackberries, plums and toasty oak. Medium to full-bodied with on the palate blackberries, plums, a hint of pepper and vanilla on the moderately long finish. Quite a good table wine.
Wishing you all a fantastic week,
GG