'So-called' wine expert
1513
Tue Nov 24, 2009 5:46 pm
Jerusalem, Israel
Pinchas L wrote:Hi Harry,
I utilized this weekend to drink the wines I served at my daughter's wedding, in the comfort of my home, and at the leisurely pace of the lazy weekend.
Hagafen Roussanne 2011 - This Rhone varietal offers more fruity notes than a typical Chardonnay, complementing the fruit with a floral bouquet, yet retaining a somber composure with the aid of tea-leaf tannins and the grown-up bitter streak that runs through it. To me, it is closer in character to a Chardonnay than to its Rhone cousin, Viognier, or to a Riesling, What differentiates it most from the fragrant Viognier, Riesling and Gewurztraminer, is that its fruit and floral tones give no illusions of sweetness nor honeyed texture. It turned out to be a good choice as the white wine at the wedding, offering my guest something novel without an accompanying shock. 13.5% AbV and $18 directly from the winery. B/***/Y
Hagafen Prix Cabernet Franc 2008 - For those to whom Cabernet Franc is synonymous with bell pepper, this wine is anathema, lacking any trace of green notes. However, those like me, who appreciate a Cabernet Franc offering its traditional elegance, refined--but present--tannins, and floral character, will adore this wine. It is perhaps on the young side, and should develop added complexity over time, but because of its elegance and restrained tannins it is approachable and enjoyable now. 13.5% AbV and a $55 list price. B+/**/Y
Best,
-> Pinchas
Grading for quality: A - marvelous, B - good/intriguing, C - mediocre/uninspiring, D - subjectively flawed, F - objectively flawed
Grading for value: *** - it's a steal, ** - it's a reasonable deal, * - you've been robbed
Indication of further interest: Y - would purchase again, N - no desire to purchase more
Craig Winchell wrote:My first real delve into a Pro-Am wine, Just a Narrow Bridge 2011 Sonoma County Cab, produced and bottled at Brooklyn Winery. I should also say this was a gift from Levi Chitrik Purec, under his own hashgacha, a customer of mine who makes his own wine in fairly commercial quantities (except as a cooperative with enough partners to make the per-person quantities small). Fairly well balanced with plenty of flavor, it was nevertheless dull and off in its character, giving rise to a feeling of slight spoilage yeast activity, though without any of the overt characteristics of Brettanomyces. Could be a bit of mold from the wood. It reminded me of some of the lesser appellation reds from Bordeaux, those which I wouldn't drink because of lack of concentration together with off flavors, whereas this has enough concentration, but still off flavors. Of course, that wasn't enough, so I opened a bottle of AD Syrah that I had hand bottled for one of the chagim, without SO2. A bit of aldehyde production in bottle, certainly not clean and tight. It just didn't stand up to the hand corking, which pushes air into the wine.
'So-called' wine expert
1513
Tue Nov 24, 2009 5:46 pm
Jerusalem, Israel
That's correct, it's 2010.Elie Poltorak wrote:'Netofa Port (I think '10 but not sure): A-/**
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