Monthly Archives: March 2008
This Past Friday Night Wine…
No guests this week – taking a breather, so I only opened a single bottle.
Rothberg Cellars Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 - Score: A-
The nose on this Garnet – purple colored wine is filled with nice fruit, blackberry, cassis, and coffee. The mouth of this medium-full bodied wine is filled with fruit carry over. When I first opened the bottle, the mouth had blackberry, cassis, and a nice finish of coffee and oak. At the mid point of the meal, the wine went French and became insanely mineral and earthy. It overshadowed the fruit and the oak. When it settled more, the wine lost the lovely coffee – but the fruit returned, the mouth was smooth, and the finish was filled with nice spicy oak. A funny wine – but one that I enjoyed a lot over the two meals.
Purim 2008
This Purim I drank wine with friends on Thursday night and at Friday lunch. After all that, Shabbos was a nice break from wine. Thursday night I did not take notes. So these are more memory of what I tasted than actual facts.
Thursday Night:
Rothberg Cellars Pinotage 2004 – This wine exhibits classic Pinotage stylings with a bit of tannin and spicy oak. The nose was flush with cherries and red fruit. The mouth was medium bodied and fruity. The finish was medium long and had a bit of spicy oak. An OK attempt at a Pinotage – I liked the Welnerberg Pinotage 2005 more, but that is my take.
Cantina Gabriele Sangiovese 2005 - This wine is a classic fruit bomb, and a bit too much for my taste. The saving grace was that it had enough oak to dull the fruit but it had a bit more tannin than I was expecting. The tannins actually accentuated the fruit bomb – almost making it worse. To that I will say that this wine has a chance to age a bit more and maybe calm down. The fruit forwardness of the wine is evident from the nose – filled with cherries, cherries, and more cherries. The mouth was medium – full bodied with sour cherry and briar. The finish is very long with more sour cherry.
Monte Olivo Umbria Rosso 2005 – This wine was a real winner. Huge nose and an awesome specimen. For being a house wine this is a real winner. The wine is reasonably priced to boot. The wine has a wonderful nose of blackberry and tobacco. The mouth on this full bodied wine was fruity but the tannins have yet to integrate, but the mouth coating wine will be better over time for sure. The mouth is filled with blackberries and cassis, the finish is long and loaded with oak and tobacco.
Friday Lunch – with real notes:
Bashan Merlot Eitan 2005 - Score: B+
The nose on this mature garnet colored wine is filled with blackberry, old socks, oak, vanilla, and sour cherry. The mouth on this medium bodied wine has nice integrated tannins, vanilla, black fruit up front and then a medium finish that is filled with a spicy oak finish.
Bashan Cabernet Sauvignon Eitan 2005 – Score: A-
Notes still hold true to my tasting that we had in Israel in the Bashan Winery.
Mount Meroma Cabernet Sauvignon 1993 - Score: B-
This one was definitely passed its time. It is a shame because it was ready to go about 5 years ago. The crazy thing about this wine was 10 minutes after it was opened, it was gone. Nothing left. These notes are right when it was opened and seems to have been from its last gasps of life – if that 
. The nose on this almost brown colored wine has light aromas of oak and red fruit. The mouth on this medium – full bodied wine has integrated tannins, dirty socks, oak, and raspberry. The finish was almost non-existent, but had hints of vanilla and mint.
Baron Herzog Cabernet Sauvignon Special Reserve Napa Valley 2002 - Score: A-
The nose on this garnet colored wine was packed with blackberry, cassis, figs, and oak. The mouth on this full bodied wine starts with well integrated tannins, than the blackberry, cassis, and sweet wood mingle together into a complex blend that is quite intriguing. The finish is medium long with tobacco and sweet oak.
Four Gates Winery Pinot Noir 2000 FFB – Score: A
This wine has a special designation of FFB. The FFB stands for – François Fréres Bertranges, a specialized french oak barrel that Four Gates used on one part of the 2000 vintage. Four Gates Winery specially bottled a few that were not blended and never sold them to the public. However, the few that I have received have been absolutely fantastic. I just opened one a few weeks ago and wanted to write about it. The wine has come to life and is now showing a civilized brute than in the past. The nose is vibrant with blackberries and cherries. The body is full and the mouth feel is velvety. The finish is strong and the acid balances out the wine to make it a firm and complex wine. The tannins are easing up so it is probably at its peak. Drink now till 2009.
This past Friday Night’s wines….
This week we had some people over so the selection was larger. In the order they were drank….
Chateau Yon-Figeac 1995 – Score: B-
The nose was nice and opened over time, but this was way over its life. The color was still Bordeaux red, and the mouth was a bit tannic still, but the wine was oxidized and worse – it had an almost cooked flavor to it. Shame really, as a few years earlier and it may have been fun.
Recanati Cabernet Franc Reserve 2004 – Score: A-
Not a fan favorite – which I believe has far more to do with the fact that we had people over who are particular about their Franc . This is not a classical Franc. Not much has changed from the previous note I made on this wine. Open early and it will be enjoyed. But just remember this is not a Cab Franc – this is a Cabernet is a Franc’s clothing.
Carmel Cabernet Franc Appellation 2002 - Score: A-
Again – not a fan Favorite. If this was renamed Cabernet it would have been a smash hit. Huge wine (like the Recanati). Bold and spicy with a very long and generous finish. The mouth on this medium – full bodied wine is chuck full of red fruits and a large dollop of tannins. Open early and drink soon.
Herzog Syrah Special Reserve 2001 - Score: B+
This one was a bit more what people expected – but an interesting split down the middle some liked some did not. Mainly I think because of the wines aggressive nature. It has a beautiful purple color. The nose is filled with dark fruit and a ton of black pepper. The mouth first hits you with tannin, pencil shavings, and mineral flavors that are not so appealing. They give way to nice fruit, a touch of tar, and a long and peppery finish. Drink up.
Herzog Syrah Special Reserve 2002 - Score: A-
This one was a bit more what people expected – and liked by everyone at the table. Again a deep purple color, and a nose of pepper, dark fruits, and tobacco. The mouth is much smooth, balanced and really a nice fullness that gives this full bodied wine a good showing. The mouth gives way to a fair amount of dark fruit, and then again to a long and peppery finish. Showing well, but drink up.
Hagafen Syrah 2000 - Score: B+
Another winner of the evening. This wine is still going strong. Again the color was a nice purple. The nose was not peppery like the Herzog wines. This one was more red with a tinge of green. The mouth on this medium – full bodied wine was smooth with a fair amount of red fruit and almost no tannins to perceive. The oak is still present and almost sweet. The fruits give way to a long and fruity finish. Not my cup of Syrah – but others may disagree.
Yarden Syrah 2002 – A-
In my humble eyes – the winner of the night by FAR! This wine is still brooding and will be a huge winner for years to come. In retrospect – 2002 was a bad year for Israeli wines, but a good year for the bottles we opened this evening. The wine’s color is a deep red to purple. The nose is still teeming with red fruit, oak, and tobacco. The mouth on this full bodied wine is still a bit tannic, though integrating nicely. The mouth gives way to a nice amount of fruit, but the star is the chocolate and tobacco that come along for a nice and long finish. This wine should hold out a bit more.
This past Friday Night’s wine…
This week we had no guests – so fewer bottles We had some wonderful spicy food so a Chardonnay filled in nicely.
Four Gates Chardonnay 2004 – Score: A-
The nose on this straw colored wine has lychee, citrus, apple, and wood aromas. The mouth of this medium bodied wine is filled with citrus, peaches, and lychee. The wine is complex with sweet wood and spice that play in tandem with each other and make the long finish quite enjoyable.
Tanya Winery
Tanya Winery
On a clear and cool winter day we meet up with Chaim Feder – one of the investors in the Tanya Winery. The winery is tucked away in Ofra where the wonderful and eccentric wine maker Yoram Cohen lives. When we first met Yoram he was hard at work building a barrel. Yes, he was hand building a barrel that he had just finished shaving down and toasting, and was now applying the finishing touches to a recycled barrel with equal care that he gives his wines. It was fitting that this is how we met Yoram. In an almost poetic manner, Yoram was doing what he does best – recycling, rebuilding. He is one of those ever restless artists on the hunt for his next challenge. The good news for us oenophiles – is that he chose to ply his new trade in the world of wine. Yoram had a very successful photography business and left it all for the ever finicky world of wine making. In 2002 Yoram started to make wine out of his house. In 2007 one of Chaim’s friends tasted Yoram’s wines and was sure that Yoram was the next big thing in wine. Chaim and his partners met Yoram and the rest is history. They upgraded the winery’s future productivity by purchasing new equipment, plantings new vineyards, and leasing more space for the winery. They hope to be producing 40,000 bottles as soon as the newest vineyards come on line sometime next year.
Upon meeting Yoram and the almost completed barrel, Yoram showed us the newly built wine cellar and tasting room – that is behind his house, and that he built by hand. Anchoring the middle of this beautiful hand crafted structure is a 40+ year old vine! The vine was there before Yoram bought the house.
Yoram showed the way to the slightly smaller cellar and gave us a taste of a 2005 Cabernet from a 5 liter wine cask. Chaim said Yoram was hoping to sell them for the seder table. Yet another example of his eccentric but wonderful artistic talents that Yoram brings to the staid and stogy world of wine making – a truly refreshing attitude and perspective that we are sure will do him and the winery well. Upon tasting the wine and some other white vintages we drove to the newly minted headquarters in Ofra’s industrial area. There we were given to taste a myriad of bottles and barrel tasting that gave us an appreciation of the upcoming wines and the up and coming winery’s main talent – Yoram and his artistic spin on wine and life as a whole.
We want to thank Yoram, Chaim Feder and their respective families for their very kind hospitality and time. Following are the tasting notes which we sampled at the winery.
Tanya Cabernet 2005 (Small Cask) – Score: B+
This garnet colored wine (grapes from Har Bracha) has a nose of date, vanilla, and oak. The mouth of this balanced medium bodied wine is filled with cherry and raspberry. The finish is long with a wooden cloak and cherry clinging on.
Tanya Jerba 2003 (fortified desert wine) - Score: A-
The nose of this honey colored wine is packed with honey, pineapples, and dates. The mouth on this full bodied and fortified wine is still a bit too hot. This will calm down as time progresses. Citrus fruit, honey and apple come in early and stay along for the long finish. This is a wine that one can enjoy with almost any desert – once it calms down a bit. Read the rest of this entry
Tzora Winery
We made an unplanned stop at the Tzora Winery on a cold winters day and we are so happy we did. We arrived in the late afternoon and there was quite a party going on. A bunch of kids from America had arrived and they were making the most of the winery’s insanely kind hospitality. When we arrived the party was in full swing and we did not want to bother them or the winery staff. As we were getting ready to leave (please folks – always make reservations in advance – do not expect to be as lucky as we were), the staff was super kind and was able to squeeze us into the wine tasting that was in progress. The sad aspect is that though Tzora has increased the volume of wine – the best wines will continue to stay in Israel and not be imported abroad.
The thing that makes Tzora such a special winery are their vineyards. Ronnie James tends to the vines, and it is a labor of love. Unfortunately, as we write this article we are told that Ronnie has passed away. Ronnie and Tzora wines were built on the ideal that terroir makes the wine. The land that the vineyards sit on are the names given to the wines (Shoresh, Neve Ilan, Givat Hachalukim).
Ronnie was growing grapes since the 50s for himself and many other wineries. We will all miss him and his wine and vines will continue to pay tribute to him and his legacy.
We would like to thank the staff at the winery for allowing us to join in and enjoy the tastings. Following are the tasting notes which we sampled at the winery.
Tzora Judean Hills 2004 - Score: B+
The nose on this ruby red colored wine (60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot) is laden with raspberry, cherry, and oak notes. The mouth on this medium bodied wine fat with tannins and cherries. The finish is medium long and quite enjoyable.
Tzora Givat Hachalukim 2006 - Score: B+
The nose on this garnet colored wine (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) is laden with red berries and cherry. The mouth on this medium bodied wine is smooth and balanced with oak and soft tannins giving way to cherry and spice. The finish is not so long, but the wine lingers long on your palate after the wine is gone.
Tzora Shoresh 2004 - Score: A
The nose on this garnet colored wine (100% Merlot) is laden with red berries, mineral aromas, and cherry. The mouth on this medium bodied wine is balanced with integrated tannins giving way to red berries and oak. The finish is medium long with cherry and spice.
Tzora Or 2006 - Score: A+
This wine has quite a story around it as Robert Parker gave it one of the highest scores in a recent Israeli wine expose that he conducting along with Mark Squires. We were able to taste the end of the bottle and it was still quite impressive – none the less. Gewurztraminer grapes are harvested and then deep frozen for two months. Then they are extracted for 24 hours and only the first drips of the grape juice become Or. The nose of this golden wine is filled with honey and tropical fruit. The mouth of this full bodied and almost syrupy wine is fruity with citrus, pineapple and a touch of mint.
Mony Wine
We recently tasted some Mony wines that we liked so we thought we would share them with you.
Mony Chardonnay 2005 - Score: A-
This golden straw colored wine has a nose of apples, lychee, and oak. The mouth of this medium bodied wine is balanced with just enough oak and abundant fruit. The apple, lychee, and citrus jump out at you. The finish is long and laden with spicy oak which makes for quite a nice white wine experience.
Mony Shiraz Reserve 2005 - Score: A-
This ruby colored wine’s nose is earthy, musty, and oaky. The mouth on this medium bodied wine has strong notes of integrated tannins, dirt, leather, and pomegranates. The finish is long and generous with spicy wood and more leather.
Zemora Winery
On a dry but cold winter morning we set out for Zemora Winery. Tucked in Moshav Beit Zayit – just below Jerusalem and in particular, Har Nof can be found a small but budding kosher winery. The winery has been in business for some time now, but only started producing kosher wines as of the 2004 release. We had heard of Zemora from Rogov’s site and we contacted Baruch Yosef and he agreed to meet us at the winery in the morning. Unfortunately he was not available to meet us in the end, but Moshe the masgiach was more than happy to assist. The road into Beit Zayit is quite windy as we came down from Har Nof into the moshav. The road down passes through the Jerusalem Forest – which is a one way road and quite harrowing given the wet roads from the previous days rain. Once down we winded to the entrance only to find out that the road into the moshav was actually the easy part! The road to the winery was a dirt road made for 4 wheel drives – not the low framed Toyota that our friend was driving. In the end, we made it to the winery and it was well worth the trip. The winery overlooks the Moshav’s lake/creek that fills in as the winter rains increase. The lake is home to many a social scene during the late winter and early spring days when the banks are overflowing from the winter’s abundance.
The winery’s output is now around 50,000 bottles and produces wines from the following varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot (for blending), Cabernet Franc, Shiraz, Viognier and Chardonnay.
We would like to thank Baruch and Moshe for their hospitality and time when visiting the winery. Following are the tasting notes which we sampled at the winery.
Zemora Viognier 2006 - Score: B-
The nose on this straw colored wine is filled with honey and apricots. The mouth of this medium bodied wine has honey, apricots, citrus, and ripe fruit. The finish is medium long with a nice crisp sensation.
Zemora Chardonnay 2006 - Score: B+
The nose on this straw colored wine is filled a strong aroma of burnt wood and citrus. The mouth of this medium bodied wine is filled with spicy wood, apples, strong acidity and medium structure. The finish is medium long and filled with spice and lychees.
Zemora Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 – Score: A (aged in oak for 15+ months)
The nose on this purple to black colored wine is strong with black cherries, currants, and cassis. The mouth on this medium – full bodied wine is filled with black fruit, spicy wood, and cassis. The finish is long and laden with black cherries and wood.
Zemora Cabernet Franc 2006 (Barrel Tasting) - Score: A
The nose on this light garnet colored wine is green with red fruit. The mouth is floral with strong cherry notes, and more vegetation. The finish is medium long with a bit of acidity and toasted oak.
