This past weekend found me returning from the frozen tundra of Chicago, in search of warmth and unfrozen sidewalks and roads.  So with an evening to cook, I opted for making some soup.  We had frozen our previous week’s san fromage Spaghetti Bolognaise to make the transition back home easy.  So an appetizer of warm soup was on order.  I opted for a simple soup of sautéed onions and winter vegetables fortified with white wine and vegetable stock.

When choosing a wine to pair with the acidity and sweetness of the Spaghetti Bolognaise and the freshness and body of the winter vegetable soup, I chose a bottle of Tzora Judean Hills.  The wine is really nice, not an overly complex wine.  However, for the price, this wine cannot be beat (at least in the US anyway).

The tasting notes follow below:

Tzora Judean Hills 2006 – Score: B++
I have to say that this wine improves with a ton of air.  The ripeness of the nose and fruit become far more pronounced and exciting.  The mouth opens more as well, and the balance and body are more accentuated.

The nose on this bright garnet colored wine is filled with earth, blackberry, cherry, raspberry, and mint.  The mouth on this medium to full bodied wine starts with blackberry, raspberry, and dirt.  The mid palate is highlighted with acidity, integrated tannins, and coffee.  The finish is medium long with spice, coffee, and more tannin.