I have been behind in posting. However, I am back in the swing of things, and after this post, I owe you a post on the new Royal Wines in Paris. Then an IDS post – with some CRAZY wines, and finally the Hotel wrap-up with some REAL SHOCKERS (in a good way) and of course some massive failures (AKA Classic Paris Hotel tasting).

This post is not as long as my last QPR (Quality to Price Ratio) post, but it still weighs in at 86 wines. The last one I did was in December 2024. That one had around 90 wines, and 17 of them garnered a QPR WINNER score. The latest post with the largest number of wines winning a QPR Score of WINNER was the May 2023 post, with 19 wines garnering a QPR score of WINNER. This one tops them all, in regards to QPR scores, with 21 wines winning the WINNER QPR score.

QPR (Quality to Price Ratio) Wines

It has been six or so months since my last QPR (Quality to Price Ratio) post, and many people have been emailing me about unique wines I have tasted and lovely wines that are worth writing about.

Thankfully, no matter how much garbage and pain I subject myself to, we are still blessed with several excellent QPR wines.

Throughout the year, I post many QPR posts for almost all of the main categories. I will continue down this road until I find a better way to categorize and track QPR WINNERS wines. People are still asking me what a QPR (Quality to Price Ratio) Wine is and what the score of WINNER denotes. Once again, those are explained here in this post.

Some things that made me stand up and take notice (AKA QPR WINNERS):

There are many wines here, as stated, and I have been behind on this. So, these wine notes are coming from a collection of times. Some of them are the actual notes from the KFWE events in February that I posted about in March. Some of these wine notes are from personal tastings. Finally, some of these wine notes are from group tastings with friends.

Terra di Seta

Terra di Seta has returned to that special place where its wines are TOP-Tier QPR WINNERS. The 2020 Terra di Seta Chianti Classico Riserva was just lovely! Follow that with the even more affordable, yet lovely, 2022 Terra di Seta Classico. Bravo guys! Here is a slight sneak peek. I tasted an even better terra di Seta in Paris, but that is still three posts away!

Kosherwine.com Wines

I tasted two wines from KW: the 2003 Clos de Menuts and the 2015 Chateau Lavagnac. I found both of them were lovely, though some other people told me I was lucky. Clearly, these wines are on the edge, as my notes state, and they may be good or may not. However, I found the Menuts to be truly enjoyable. Hoping you all have success.
There were more French/European wines from KW that I bought, but they were less interesting.

However, there were two Sleight of Hand (wines made by Ari Lockspeiser) wines that I think KW sells exclusively, and they were both solid. Fruity, with enough brightness to pull it together.

Hajdu Wines

I bought and tasted all the Hajdu current releases, and while I found the white wines WINNERS, more on that below, the red wines are not my cup of tea. They show more fruit and power than I wish for in my cup, but I am sure there are many who will love these wines!

Alex Rubin Wines

Like the Hajdu wines, I bought all of the current releases, and again, the red wines are Cali wines, and the white wines are incredible. The 2023 Arinto is a BLOCKBUSTER and should be sold out already. His Riesling, which was macerated, is also a solid wine that I posted back here. Still, his red wines are more controlled than other Cali producers and I think many people would appreciate them.

Covenant Wines

Jeff, Jonathan, and the gang continue to impress, with no breaks so far. The latest wines I tasted were the 2024 Covenant Rose, the 2024 Mensch Zinfandel, the 2022 Covenant Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard, and the 2024 Mensch Roussanne.

The Rose is lovely, with no bitter notes, a thing I hate in rose wines. The balance and fruit are there as well. Further proof that even in a weak vintage, the Covenant team delivers value and quality! Great work, guys!

The 2024 Mensch Zinfandel is a Zin that I would buy. Zin used to be my favorite fruit, but that blew off quickly as the wines started getting unruly and unbalanced. Still, if you can create a wine like Covenant did in 2024, my hat’s off to you!!

The 2022 Covenant Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard is another solid wine, garnering a 92 score and showing the power of California. It was a hot season, and while I found the wine lovely, it is a slight step behind the 2021 vintage, which may well be the best Syrah I have had out of California!

Finally, the Roussanne is solid enough; it is a bit too fruity, but overall, a solid quaff. Keep up the GREAT work, guys!

White Wine WINNERS:

Of the 21 WINNERS, 11 are White or rosé wines! We are getting better in this space, year after year!

I must START with one of the best white wines I have had recently, that is not a Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Semillon, or Chardonnay, and that is the 2023 Alex Rubin Arinto. This wine has not undergone maceration, although the mouthfeel suggests it may have had a touch. The wine overall is rich, layered, fruity, intensely acidic, refreshing, and a NO BRAINER BUY! Bravo Alex!

Herzog has two Chenin Blancs, and I posted about them back in September of last year. I tasted the Mevushal one in Oxnard, as the non-Mevushal one was not yet released. The wine does show the oak now, but I found those notes recede over time and show fun wines. These will require some patience, but you will be rewarded.

The 2023 O’Dwyers Creek Sauvignon Blanc continues its torrid run on the kosher wine market! There has yet to be a bad vintage, and while I know of people who are too snooty for the tropical notes, you guys ALL know who they are; these wines hit on all levels for me. This vintage is more steely, more citrus-driven, while still showing enough tropical notes to make me interested. Nice!

The two Hajdu white wines were lovely, the Vermentino and the Proprietary White (a new thing) showed well.

The Otter & Fox (a wine by David Edelman) showed quite nicely! Fruity, balanced, and controlled.

Israeli WINNERS

Yes, there were some good wines from Israel, and they were all Rose or Whites. The 2024 Puzzle Rose is lovely! As was the 2023 Dalton Sauvignon Blanc, Family Collection, the 2024 Netofa Latour Tzahov, White, and the 2024 Dalton Sauvignon Blanc, Fume. Solid choices to enjoy this Summer.

The outlier is the 2023 Matar Cumulus. The 2022 vintage was Shmita so I have no idea what that one tasted like, but the 2021 and the 2023 vintages were both QPR WINNERS! Good for them!

Two Outlier Wines

Every so often, the Vieux Chateau Chambeau Reserve has a good wine! I have tasted three of these wines, which were good, and the rest were not. They are a classic, Mevushal French wine, Russian Roulette. The 2015 was a solid wine, though not the reserve. 2018 was a WINNER under the Reserve label, and it happened again in 2022. The 2022 Vieux Chateau Chambeau Reserve, Lussac Saint-Emilion, has the same score and almost the same notes – perhaps they require a hot vintage to make the wine work; I have no idea.

The other outlier is the 2023 Quinta do Cerrado da Porta Troviscal Tinto, Reserva, Lisboa. Andrew Breskin, of Liquid Kosher, asked me to taste it, and thanks to him, the winery sent the wines to my hotel. I tasted them here in the USA, after they rested for a long time. I sent one or two to him as well, so we both enjoyed this WINNER. I am not sure if they want to export the wine. The notes indicate how much I enjoyed this wine, as does the score; however, it’s essential to understand that the price of this wine in Europe is incredibly affordable.

Other Wines of Note (not WINNERS)

I posted the notes for the 2023 Jean-Philippe Marchand Burgundies – but as I stated, I was not able to taste the Pommard or the Aloxe Corton. In the post coming up, I will post the Aloxe Corton score that I tasted with Avi, in Paris, in May. I tasted the 2023 Jean-Philippe Marchand Pommard, Le Dome, Pommard in San Jose. Great wine and worth buying!

I tasted the 2019 Herzog Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap, Limited Edition wine at the KFWE in LA and it is a lovely wine with good pop and structure.

The 2021 Herzog Generation IX Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap is the best one so far and quite lovely!

I already stated the 2022 Covenant Syrah, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley was a lovely wine, another great wine by Covenant!

Finally, I tasted the 2022 Chateau Giscours, Margaux, again, at home, and I gave it lots of time, and while it eventually showed a bit more control, in the end, it is the wine that I thought it was.

Final Thoughts

OK, that is a wrap! I keep saying how impressive the Covenant run has been, at this point, I need to stop and just say – Covenant is on point and we should just take that for granted, until, otherwise notified!

I have grouped all the QPR WINNER wines at the top. The rest of the wines are listed in the order they were tasted (AKA Timeline order). The wine notes follow below – the explanation of my quality “scores” can be found here, and the explanation for QPR scores can be found here:

WINNER

1. 2020 Terra di Seta Chianti Classico, Riserva, Chianti Classico – Score: 93
2. 2003 Clos de Menuts, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru – Score: 93
3. 2023 Alex Rubin Arinto, Monterey, CA – Score: 92+
4. 2022 Vieux Chateau Chambeau Reserve, Lussac Saint-Emilion (M) – Score: 92+
5. 2022 Terra di Seta Chianti Classico, Chianti Classico – Score: 92
6. 2023 Herzog Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg Reserve (M-Series), Clarksburg, CA (M) – Score: 92
7. 2023 Herzog Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg Reserve, Clarksburg, CA – Score: 92
8. 2023 Hajdu Proprietary White, California – Score: 92
9. 2023 Quinta do Cerrado da Porta Troviscal Tinto, Reserva, Lisboa – Score: 92
10. 2021 Sleight of Hand Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Kosher Magic, Walla Walla, WA – Score: 92
11. 2023 O’Dwyers Creek Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough (M) – Score: 92
12. 2023 Matar Cumulus , Galilee – Score: 91+
13. 2024 Covenant Mensch Zinfandel, Lodi, CA – Score: 91+
14. 2024 Otter & Fox Fiano, Sierra Foothills, CA – Score: 91+
15. 2024 Puzzle Rose, Samson (M) – Score: 91
16. 2023 Dalton Sauvignon Blanc, Family Collection, Galilee – Score: 91
17. 2024 Netofa Latour Tzahov, White, Galilee – Score: 91
18. 2024 Hajdu Vermentino, Mendocino County – Score: 91
19. 2015 Chateau Lavagnac Bordeaux Superieur, Bordeaux Superieur – Score: 91
20. 2024 Covenant Red C Rose, Lodi, CA – Score: 91
21. 2024 Dalton Sauvignon Blanc, Fume, Galilee – Score: 91

GREAT

1. 2023 Jean-Philippe Marchand Pommard, Le Dome, Pommard – Score: 93
2. 2019 Herzog Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap, Limited Edition, Stags Leap, Napa Valley, CA (M) – Score: 92
3. 2021 Sleight of Hand Cellars Mystic Red Blend, Walla Walla, WA – Score: 91
4. 2023 Herzog Choreograph, Lineage, Clarksburg, CA (M) – Score: 90+
5. 2024 Bat Shlomo Sauvignon Blanc, Galilee – Score: 90
6. 2024 La Foret Blanche Talpiot, White Wine, Judean Hills – Score: 90
7. 2023 Dalton Chenin Blanc, Wild One, Galilee – Score: 90
8. 2024 Gush Etzion Sauvignon Blanc, Judean Hills – Score: 90
9. 2022 Casa Vitivinicola Tinazzi Desto Pinot Grigio, Veneto Delle Venezie – Score: 90
10. 2018 Teperberg Cabernet Sauvignon, Essence, Judean Hills – Score: 90
11. 2024 Hajdu Pinot Blanc, Mendocino County – Score: 90
12. 2024 Hajdu Riesling, Carneros, CA – Score: 90
13. 2023 Hajdu Zinfandel, California – Score: 90
14. 2022 Alex Rubin Syrah, California – Score: 90
15. 2023 Binyamina Yogev White Blend, Galilee – Score: 90
16. 2024 Hajdu Rose, California – Score: 89
17. 2019 Alex Rubin Merlot, California – Score: 89
18. 2019 Alex Rubin Syrah, California – Score: 88
19. 2024 Unorthodox Sauvignon Blanc, Coastal Region (M) – Score: 88
20. 2023 Rocca delle Macie Chianti Classico, Chianti Classico – Score: 87

GOOD

1. 2021 Herzog Generation IX Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap, Stags Leap, Napa Valley, CA – Score: 94
2. 2022 Covenant Syrah, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, CA – Score: 92
3. 2023 Raziel Blanc, Judean Hills – Score: 91
4. 2023 Vitkin Pinot Noir, Samson – Score: 91
5. 2019 Teperberg Petite Sirah, Legacy, Judean Hills – Score: 90+
6. 2018 Golan Heights Winery Yarden Rose, Brut, Golan Heights, Galilee – Score: 90
7. 2023 Mayacamas Chardonnay, Mount Veeder, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley, CA – Score: 90
8. 2017 Alex Rubin Sangiovese, White Hawk, Santa Barbara, CA – Score: 89
9. 2024 Covenant Mensch Roussanne, Lodi, CA – Score: 88
10. 2024 Tabor Sauvignon Blanc, Adama, Galilee – Score: 88
11. 2023 Hajdu Grenache, California – Score: 87
12. 2023 Pacifica Riesling, Evan’s Collection, Washington (M) – Score: 87
13. 2021 Shirah Geshem, Paso Robles, CA – Score: 87

EVEN

1. 2022 Chateau Giscours, Margaux – Score: 91+
2. 2023 Vitkin Galia by Zahav Grenache Blanc, Galilee – Score: 91
3. 2023 Chateau Golan Naveh White, Galilee – Score: 90
4. 2021 Psagot Peak, Judean Hills – Score: 90
5. 2024 Mayacamas Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, CA – Score: 90
6. 2024 Flam Rose, Judean Hills – Score: 90+
7. 2023 Hagafen Hagafen Family Vineyard, White Blend, Napa Valley, CA (M) – Score: 90
8. 2022 Hagafen Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA (M) – Score: 89
9. 2022 Hagafen Blanc de Blancs, Brut, Napa Valley, CA (M) – Score: 89
10. 2024 Bat Shlomo Rose, Galilee – Score: 88
11. 2023 Domaine du Castel Petite Castel, Judean Hills – Score: 87
12. 2022 Le Baron le Selicate, France – Score: 87
13. 2023 Hajdu Barbera, Sierra Foothills, CA – Score: 85
14. 2023 Hajdu Petite Sirah, Dry Creek, Sonoma, CA – Score: 85
15. 2024 Unorthodox Chenin Blanc, Coastal Region (M) – Score: 85
16. 2024 Matar Rose, Galilee – Score: 85
17. 2023 Univitis Marquis des Bois, Bordeaux (M) – Score: 81
18. 2023 Univitis Larmoni, Bordeaux (M) – Score: 81
19. 2023 Cristia Collection Cotes du Rhone, Cotes du Rhone (M) – Score: 81

Wines that garnered a QPR Winner Score

2020 Terra di Seta Chianti Classico, Riserva, Chianti Classico – Score: 93 (QPR: WINNER)
The nose of this wine is a crazy dirt bomb, with notes of soy sauce and balsamic vinegar, accompanied by incredible minerality, smoke, dirt, lovely graphite, intense mushroom, and toast. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is outstanding, with layers upon layers of dense fruit, great acidity, intense fruit focus, draping tannin, and lovely tension, featuring rich black plum, dark cherry, raspberry, and graphite, which is truly gorgeous. Wow! The finish is long, dirty, smoky, and earthy, with excellent minerality, soy sauce, and smoke; Bravo! Drink from 2029 until 2034. (tasted February 2025) (in KFWE, NJ) (ABV = 14%)

2003 Clos de Menuts, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru – Score: 93 (QPR: WINNER)
This wine is a blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc. It features a 2-inch old-world cork, which is awesome to see!
The nose of this wine is lovely, for me, it has classic barnyard, smoke, dirt, leather, black and red fruit, great pop, gorgeous minerality, black olives, tar, and smoked herbs. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is lovely, layered, not extracted, and plush, with good acidity, lovely mouth-coating, and elegant tannin, smoke, rich scraping graphite, lovely blackberry and raspberry, more barnyard, and an overall plush, refreshing, elegant, with an old-world twist. The finish is dirty, earthy, smoky, and mineral-driven, with great saline, more black olives, tar, dried tobacco, and lovely leather. This is a great wine, but it is ready now, and I am not sure there is much more in the tank. It is good for one Shabbat and that is all! Pop and go! Drink now! (tasted February 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2023 Alex Rubin Arinto, Monterey, CA – Score: 92+ (QPR: WINNER)
This wine feels like it had a touch of maceration, but unlike the 2022 Riesling, the 2023 Arinto is 100% pressed. The nose of this wine is sheer joy: salty, rocky, flinty wine backed by green apples, white flowers, and more hay. Lovely! You can feel the pop in the nose, and it starts to make you salivate. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is pure acid, followed by an almost plush, acid-sparking mouthfeel. The mouth feels like a Chard, but the minerality and salinity take you away from that fruit and make you think akin to an Old-World Chenin or maybe New-World Albarino, who knows. This is a delicious, dry, tart wine that rakes the palate with acidity, salinity, and minerality, backed by a good fruit profile and lovely overall plushness that brings it all together. The finish is consistent, but what remains are notes of apples, dried almonds, dried white flower petals, and a hint of acidity and salinity. Bravo, great work! Drink by 2027. (tasted April 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 12.8%)

2022 Vieux Chateau Chambeau Reserve, Lussac Saint-Emilion (M) – Score: 92+ (QPR: WINNER)
The nose of this wine pops, showcasing the brightness that follows in the mouth. It has lovely notes of dirt, loam, tar, and black and red fruit, all while maintaining a solid balance. The nose also has lovely floral and fruity notes. This is a great example of balance between ripe fruit and nice control. The mouth of this medium-plus-bodied wine has great control, with great acidity and solid tannin, with an attack of blackberry, dark cherry, raspberry, and rich minerality. The tactile mouthfeel is on point; you feel the fruit, the acidity, followed by the scraping minerality. This is not a complex wine, but rather a well-balanced, fruity one. Nice! The finish is long, tannic, balanced, fruity, and mineral-driven. Nice! Drink until 2032. (tasted March 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13.5%)

2022 Terra di Seta Chianti Classico, Chianti Classico – Score: 92 (QPR: WINNER)
The nose of this wine is nice and fruity but controlled, with good pop, tart fruit, cherry, rich smoke, floral notes, and nice toast. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is on point, with great acidity, great pop, refreshing, with dark cherry, lovely dirt, great tactile and grippy tannin, and lovely minerality. The finish is long, dirty, smoky, and mineral. Nice! Drink until 2031. (tasted February 2025) (in KFWE, NJ) (ABV = 15%)

2023 Herzog Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg Reserve (M-Series), Clarksburg, CA (M) – Score: 92 (QPR: WINNER)
The fruit had botrytis, modeled after Savennieres, old vines Chenin Blanc. This is the Mevushal version. This is the third time I have tasted this wine, and it continues to evolve. The oak is now evident, along with notes of butterscotch and sweet brioche. The nose of this wine is lovely, showing white peach, pear, apricot, quince blossom, rich honeysuckle, pear blossom, sweet Lipton lemon tea, and sweet oak. The mouth of this medium-plus-bodied wine is fun, bone dry, showing great acidity and a lovely mouthfeel, almost oily, with a plush texture that starts with notes of Lipton tea, honeysuckle, honeyed melon, and pear, finishing with white peach.
The finish is long, tart, funky, and rich, with green and floral notes abound, and a bone-dry, rich, sweet oak character. Drink by 2028. (tasted January 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2023 Herzog Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg Reserve, Clarksburg, CA – Score: 92 (QPR: WINNER)
The fruit had botrytis, modeled after Savennieres, old vines Chenin Blanc. This is the NOT-Mevushal version. I was shocked by the amount of oak in the non-Mevushal version. The nose of this wine is deeply oaked. I am sure the wine is the same; one has undergone the Mevushal process, and the other has not, but the oak presence is striking. Thankfully, after a bit of time, the oak does recede; still, the oak sticks out, along with the peach, lovely waxy notes, citrus, orange, pear blossom, sweet Asian Apple, sweet dill, coconut, and sweet dry hay.
The mouth of this medium-plus-bodied wine is fun; it is bone dry, showing less acidity and pop than the Mevushal version. Instead, it has a more oily and lovely mouthfeel and texture, with a plush mouthfeel. It shows sweet oak, sweet dill, honeysuckle, honeyed melon, pear, and white peach. Along with a lovely mouthfeel, it is a true joy! The oak dominates in this non-Mevushal version, but time will tell. The finish is long, tart, funky, and rich, with green notes and floral notes abound, dry straw, and a bone-dry character, while backed by rich, sweet oak. Drink by 2028. (tasted January 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2023 Hajdu Proprietary White, California – Score: 92 (QPR: WINNER)
The nose of this wine is really nice. It exhibits sweet oak in a manner that complements the wine rather than dominating it, along with notes of sweet melon, apricot, and yellow flowers. It has good pop, plush, and redolent. Lovely!
The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is plush, showcasing great acidity, good pop, and a lovely fruit focus, along with sweet oak, melon, ripe yellow apple, pear, lovely kaffir lime, Meyer lemon, and a refreshing attack. Nice!
The finish is long, plush, and refreshing, with saline, toast, and more citrus. Lovely! Drink by 2027. (tasted February 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 12.5%)

2023 Quinta do Cerrado da Porta Troviscal Tinto, Reserva, Lisboa – Score: 92 (QPR: WINNER)
The nose of this wine is impressive, and the pop is there, as is the tension. Syrah is screaming out of the glass with black and blue fruit, dense smoke, toast, roasted animal, and the classic blackcurrant notes of a ripe region. Still, this is balanced and shows pop for a hot region. Good work! The mouth of this medium-bodied wine has good acidity and a nice pop; the weight develops slowly, with notes of blackberry, plum, blackcurrant, hints of boysenberry, nice tension, good minerality, smoke, scraping rock, graphite, and a mouth-coating tannin. This is nice! There is a bit too much sweet oak and milk chocolate, but an overall good approach.
The finish is long, dense, and ripe, yet balanced with good acidity, featuring notes of leather, smoke, ripe fruit, sweet oak, more milk chocolate, and green tobacco. This is a fun, refreshing, balanced, ripe wine. I wish there were more of this around. Drink by 2028. (tasted February 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2021 Sleight of Hand Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Kosher Magic, Walla Walla, WA – Score: 92 (QPR: WINNER)
The nose of this wine excites me. It starts with pop, followed by good salinity, and then come the classic WA Cab notes: chocolate, big and bold black and blue fruit, controlled, with lavender, plum liqueur, good earth, smoke, lilac, and rich fruit. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is a beast; this is a wine for the long haul, with great acidity, lovely mouth-draping, and elegant tannin, with rich and ripe but well-controlled blackberry, plum, boysenberry, and dense smoke. The wine comes at you in layers, and the intensity of the fruit, along with its balance and acidity, is shocking, like an elegant middle linebacker in a China shop. The fruit is there and has nowhere to hide, but what is so great is that you do not want it to! The sweet oak, tannin, ripe but controlled fruit all interplay very well in this massive mouthfeel. My only real issue is that the oak lingers forever, and the fruit slows down after a day. Solid wine but not for the real long haul. The finish is long and ripe, not candied. The immense amount of sweet oak elevates the fruit experience, but the acidity balances it. Along with supple leather, more lavender, smoking tobacco, roasted mint, and sweet spices, this is a unique wine that shows the potential in a great vintage! Drink until 2031. (tasted March 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2023 O’Dwyers Creek Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough (M) – Score: 92 (QPR: WINNER)
The rumors abound of this wine – it is lean, not the fruit bomb I adore, less gooseberry – more lemon, while I can say that exists – this is a WONDERFUL wine. In my opinion, this wine has the gooseberry, the cat pee, the guava, passion fruit, and minerality/salinity I deeply crave from south of the equator. So far, this wine is undefeated! Bravo! The mouth of this medium-bodied wine shows leaner than previous vintages, but its true nature exists, and given time, this will emerge. If you crave acid, lemon, lime, and no tropical fruit, this is not your salvation. This wine can help those who desire Sauvignon Blanc wines with less tropical fruit. If you consume it within the first 30 minutes, but in a year, maybe less, that buffer will dissipate, and you may find the wine less appealing. For those who crave the fruity, balanced, and racy acidity of classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, while also appreciating calmer tides, this wine is for you. The acidity is insane; the cat pee is in your face, the gooseberry is there, the guava and passion fruit, which normally lifts this wine into the stratosphere of hatred, for folks like AD, is less apparent; they will emerge, fear not. This wine is another WINNER. Bravo, guys! The acidity is just crazy! Drink by 2028. (tasted April 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 12.5%)

2023 Matar Cumulus , Galilee – Score: 91+ (QPR: WINNER)
This is another hit, nice wine The nose of this wine is pleasant, with notes of blackcurrant, blackberries, smoke, lanolin, tar, blue fruit, and root beer. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is nicely layered, extracted, and on point, with great acidity, subtle sweet oak, lovely mouth-draping tannin, and notes of good raspberry, blackberry, plum, and blueberry, along with some earthy undertones. The finish is long and ripe but controlled with good acidity and lots of fruit. Drink by 2030. (tasted February 2025) (in KFWE L.A. Oxnard, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2024 Covenant Mensch Zinfandel, Lodi, CA – Score: 91+ (QPR: WINNER)
This is a classic Cali fruity Zinfandel. The nose of the fruity Zin hits the notes with ripe red and blue fruit, tar, orange rind, and hints of pomegranate. The mouth of this fruity, medium-bodied wine is balanced and so spicy. It has lovely cloves, Asian five spice, plum, boysenberry, and strawberry, all coming together nicely with good acidity and focus. It is a lovely Cali expression of Zinfandel. The finish is spicy, clove-driven, fun stuff! Go out and get some! Drink by 2027. (tasted April 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14.6%)

2024 Otter & Fox Fiano, Sierra Foothills, CA – Score: 91+ (QPR: WINNER)
The nose of this wine smells nice, it has notes of peach, apricot, bright lemon, good pop, white flowers, and some flint. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is nice, the mouthfeel is elevated, it is not oily but a bit plush, along with great acidity, dare I say, maybe too much, and lovely peach, apricot, orange, Meyer lemon, and nice smoke. The finish is long, tart, refreshing, with more acidity, smoke, ripe peach, saline, and flint. Nice! Drink by 2026. (tasted May 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 12.8%)

2024 Puzzle Rose, Samson (M) – Score: 91 (QPR: WINNER)
The nose is lovely, showcasing a precise Grenache approach, with notes of grapefruit, strawberry, and cream, as well as nice salinity and a refreshing finish. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is nice, with great acidity, strawberry, and cream, showing a bit of a plush mouthfeel, great pop, and a nice attack. The finish is a bit short, but it is a lovely Mevushal rose. Drink now. (tasted February 2025) (in Brooklyn, NY) (ABV = 12%)

2023 Dalton Sauvignon Blanc, Family Collection, Galilee – Score: 91 (QPR: WINNER)
The nose of this wine is richly floral, with nice gooseberry, nice saline, peach, grapefruit, and ripe passion fruit. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine has nice acidity, good fruit focus, a nice mouthfeel, and a lovely finish. Drink now. (tasted February 2025) (in Brooklyn, NY) (ABV = 13%)

2024 Netofa Latour Tzahov, White, Galilee – Score: 91 (QPR: WINNER)
This wine is a blend of Roussanne & Chenin Blanc. Solid, great acidity, balance, and tension, with gooseberry, grapefruit, nice salinity and minerality, and intense acidity. Nice! (tasted February 2025) (in KFWE, NJ) (ABV = 13.5%)

2024 Hajdu Vermentino, Mendocino County – Score: 91 (QPR: WINNER)
This wine cannot be enjoyed at fridge temp, it needs to be closer to cellar temp. The nose of this wine is not a peach bomb; rather, you get notes of citrus, white flowers, salinity, stone fruit, orange, and nectarines. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is on point, showing enough complexity, nice saline, and good acidity. It is refreshing with pear, peach, nectarines, grapefruit, nice saline, slate, and smoke. Nice! Drink now (tasted February 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2015 Chateau Lavagnac Bordeaux Superieur, Bordeaux Superieur – Score: 91 (QPR: WINNER)
This wine is a blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc. As always, I am very suspicious of a wine that has come out of nowhere with a vintage that is 10 years old! However, this wine is solid. Another thought I had was that this wine was dead, but it is closed at the start. This is no surprise for a good wine, as 10 years for a good Bordeaux is standard. Still, a 10-year-old Bordeaux Superieur is surprising that it is so closed. The nose of this wine is closed at the start, and with time, it opens to red fruit, smoke, loads of dirt, loam, sweet mint, and good minerality. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is solid, the acidity is on point, and the fruit is fresh, with raspberry, dark cherry, smoke, enough tannin, and nice minerality. This wine will not blow anyone’s mind, but it is quite enjoyable. It is a pop, decant for an hour, and go wine. The finish is good, with more cherry, loam, and minerality. Drink now. (tasted February 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2024 Covenant Red C Rose, Lodi, CA – Score: 91 (QPR: WINNER)
The nose of this wine is a fruity version of Grenache Rose, with nice flint, smoke, ripe grapefruit, strawberry, dragon fruit, and watermelon. It starts a bit ripe and fruity but quickly comes around to show nice minerality and control. The mouth of this medium-bodied rose is fruity; it shows ripe strawberry, raspberry, grapefruit, dragon fruit, and nice flint. Drink now! Nice! (tasted April 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2024 Dalton Sauvignon Blanc, Fume, Galilee – Score: 91 (QPR: WINNER)
Please give this wine a chance and some time, maybe 15 or 20 min open in your glass. Once the wine has opened, the nose of this wine is spot on with nice pop, gooseberry, flint, orange, ginger, and peach. The mouth of this wine opens nicely to show good acidity, nice mouthfeel, good orange, peach, gooseberry, guava, and honeysuckle. A nice wine with a good finish. Drink now. (tasted June 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 12.5%)

The Rest of the wines – in timeline order

2023 Cristia Collection Cotes du Rhone, Cotes du Rhone (M) – Score: 81 (QPR: EVEN)
The nose of this wine shows its black and blue fruit with smoke and too many tinny and green notes. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is painful, with some acidity, too many tinny notes, and pain with blackberry, blueberry, smoke, and dirt. Sadly, the wine is so out of whack and painful. Drink now. (tasted February 2025) (in Brooklyn, NY) (ABV = 14.5%)

2022 Herzog Cabernet Sauvignon, Limited Edition, Atlas Peak, Napa Valley, CA – Score: 89 (QPR: POOR)
The nose of this wine is crazy ripe, black and blue, with rich oak, sweet vanilla, rich lanolin, and some tar. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is missing acidity and is ripe with blackberry, plum, boysenberry, and sweet oak. Overall, the wine is too ripe. It does have nice layers and good tannin, but the sweet fruit and oak are overpowering. Drink from 2028 until 2035 (tasted February 2025) (in Brooklyn, NY) (ABV = 14.5%)

2021 Le Clos du Beau-Pere, Pomerol – Score: 88 (QPR: POOR)
The nose of this wine is green, herbal, and smoky, with red and green fruit, some floral notes, lanolin, and tar. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is just there; it has lovely acidity, some blackberry, and raspberry, with too many green notes and some tinny notes in the background. The wine is pleasant enough and not bad for 2021. Drink by 2031. (tasted February 2025) (in Brooklyn, NY) (ABV = 13.5%)

2024 Bat Shlomo Sauvignon Blanc, Galilee – Score: 90 (QPR: GREAT)
The nose of this wine is clean, with good grapefruit and green notes, yellow flowers, and honeysuckle. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine has great acidity, grapefruit, orange, tangerine, great pop, and lovely salinity. Pleasant enough with some gooseberry, but the finish is short. Drink now. (tasted February 2025) (in Brooklyn, NY) (ABV = 13.8%)

2024 Bat Shlomo Rose, Galilee – Score: 88 (QPR: EVEN)
The wine is straightforward with strawberry and cream and enough acidity—a short finish. Drink now. (tasted February 2025) (in Brooklyn, NY) (ABV = 11.2%)

2024 La Foret Blanche Talpiot, White Wine, Judean Hills – Score: 90 (QPR: GREAT)
This wine is a blend of 40% Roussanne, 30% Sauvignon Blanc, & 30% Chenin Blanc. The nose is lovely, with pop, straw, white flowers, saline, white peach, and smoke. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is nice and solid with white flowers, grapefruit, smoke, and peach, with great acidity. The finish is short and nice. Drink now. (tasted February 2025) (in Brooklyn, NY) (ABV = 11.5%)

2023 Dalton Chenin Blanc, Wild One, Galilee – Score: 90 (QPR: GREAT)
The nose of this wine shows floral notes, almonds, white fruit, and straw. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is nice enough, with peach, lemon, and enough acidity. Drink now. (tasted February 2025) (in Brooklyn, NY) (ABV = 12%)

2023 Vitkin Pinot Noir, Samson – Score: 91 (QPR: GOOD)
The nose of this wine is lovely, showcasing ripe red fruit and finesse with subtle floral notes. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is nice, showing good control and more floral notes, not overripe, balanced, with dark cherry, raspberry, smoke, and nice mouth-coating tannin. Drink by 2027. (tasted February 2025) (in Brooklyn, NY) (ABV = 13%)

2024 Tabor Sauvignon Blanc, Adama, Galilee – Score: 88 (QPR: GOOD)
A lovely nose with good gooseberry and grapefruit. The mouth is nice, but there is too much RS, and the finish is short. (tasted February 2025) (in KFWE, NJ) (ABV = 13%)

2024 Gush Etzion Sauvignon Blanc, Judean Hills – Score: 90 (QPR: GREAT)
Solid with lovely floral and good gooseberry and grapefruit. The mouth is solid but still has residual sweetness (RS) with some acidity, and it has a sufficient finish. (tasted February 2025) (in KFWE, NJ) (ABV = 13.5%)

2024 Flam Rose, Judean Hills – Score: 90.5 (QPR: EVEN)
Tension, grapefruit, orange, strawberry, and smoke with great acidity and fruit focus. (tasted February 2025) (in KFWE, NJ) (ABV = 13.5%)

2023 Raziel Blanc, Judean Hills – Score: 91 (QPR: GOOD)
The nose of this wine is solid, with notes of pith, orange, sweet oak, and nice sweet apple and pear. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is nice with good acidity, nice sweet oak, great tension, and orange, with great pear and saline very nice. (tasted February 2025) (in KFWE, NJ) (ABV = 13.5%)

2023 Herzog Pinot Noir, Lineage, Clarksburg, CA (M) – Score: 76 (QPR: N.A.)
I normally love the Lineage Pinot Noir on release; however, this one is a disappointment. I am not sure what this really is; you get a sense of cherry, but the heat and ripe fruit do not work with the body, and the overall composition of this wine. It feels off and not enjoyable. (tasted February 2025) (in KFWE L.A. Oxnard, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2023 Herzog Choreograph, Lineage, Clarksburg, CA (M) – Score: 90+ (QPR: GREAT)
The nose of this fruity wine is correct with smoke, blue, black, and smoky notes. Great BBQ wine, solid acidity, nice smoke, blackberry, blueberry, and nice sweet oak The finish is long, smoky, and fruity. Drink by 2026. (tasted February 2025) (in KFWE L.A. Oxnard, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2023 Hagafen Hagafen Family Vineyard, White Blend, Napa Valley, CA (M) – Score: 90 (QPR: EVEN)
The nose of this wine is ripe and showing loads of sweet oak, guava, passion fruit, apple, pear, and sweet smoke. My main issue is the coconut and sweet oak followed by the dill they are overpowering. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is dominated by sweet oak, nice acidity, and notes of sweet guava, apple, and pear, with a hint of sweet smoke, and the oak lingers long. The finish had a great focus on fruit, refreshing, with more ripe fruit, sweet oak, slate, lemongrass, and citrus notes. Drink from 2026 until 2030. (tasted February 2025) (in KFWE L.A. Oxnard, CA) (ABV = 14.7%)

2022 Hagafen Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA (M) – Score: 89 (QPR: EVEN)
Classic nose of Napa cab with smoke, tar, sweet fruit, overripe for my tastes, with tar, cacao, but the root fruit overpowers. The mouth of this full-bodied is ripe, candied, with intense fruit, smoke, intense tannin, candied blackberry, cassis, and plum. The finish is long, featuring more candied fruit, dark chocolate, and sweet tobacco, with nice smoke. Drink by 2030 (tasted February 2025) (in KFWE L.A. Oxnard, CA) (ABV = 14.7%)

2022 Padis Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Brilliance, Napa Valley, CA (M) – Score: 87 (QPR: POOR)
The nose of this wine exhibits an intense oak and fruit profile, featuring notes of blackberry and ripe fruit. The mouth of this full-bodied wine lacks acidity, with too much blackberry, smoke, and fruity notes to balance the mouth. The wine is overpowered by sweet oak, candied blackberry, and blueberry. The finish is short. Drink by 2030. (tasted February 2025) (in KFWE L.A. Oxnard, CA) (ABV = 14.7%)

2022 Hagafen Blanc de Blancs, Brut, Napa Valley, CA (M) – Score: 89 (QPR: EVEN)
The wine has a nice nose, brioche, and apple, but it feels a touch oxidized. The wine has a nice attack of medium-sized mousse, with enough acidity, more apple, pear, and brioche. The mouthfeel is there, but the finish feels short. (tasted February 2025) (in KFWE L.A. Oxnard, CA) (ABV = 12.8%)

2021 Capio Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast – Score: 80 (QPR: NA)
I had this wine twice, and while I saw many like it, I was unable to appreciate it. It was overoaked, candied, and heavily manipulated. It feels like a Chardonnay highly exaggerated for the needs of a comic book. Big, loud, and bombastic, but it has no soul. Not a wine for me. Drink by 2028. (tasted February 2025) (in KFWE L.A. Oxnard, CA) (ABV = 16.5%)

2022 Capio Petita, Napa Valley, CA – Score: 84 (QPR: POOR)
The nose is ripe, with ripe red and black fruit, hints of tar, and so much milk chocolate and sweet ripe fruit. All you feel is ripe fruit and heat. The mouth is full-bodied, with no noticeable acidity; it assaults the palate with loads of sweet oak, intense tannin, candied and liquorish blackberry, plum, and overripe raspberry, accompanied by excessive oak and sweet fruit that feels disjointed and out of balance. The finish is overripe, candied, and not refreshing, with more milk chocolate covered tobacco and fruit. Drink by 2030. (tasted February 2025) (in KFWE L.A. Oxnard, CA) (ABV = 15.5%)

2022 Capio Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA – Score: 87 (QPR: POOR)
The nose is ripe and candied, and over the top, it is not as controlled as the Kasher, with black and blue fruit, loads of sweet oak, and milk chocolate. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is correct; it has nice acidity, good blackberry, dark plum, smoke, nice milk chocolate, intense tannin structure, it attacks and almost feels astringent, but it has enough control to keep it acceptable, and it may mellow out with time. The finish is pure oak, tannin, milk chocolate, smoke, and tar. Drink from 2028 until 2035. (tasted February 2025) (in KFWE L.A. Oxnard, CA) (ABV = 15.5%)

2018 Teperberg Cabernet Sauvignon, Essence, Judean Hills – Score: 90 (QPR: GREAT)
The nose of this wine is ripe, but the mouth is correct with black and red fruit, blackberry and cassis with some blackcurrant and nice oak. The mouth is balanced but ripe with smoke and plush. Drink by 2028. (tasted February 2025) (in KFWE L.A. Oxnard, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2019 Teperberg Petite Sirah, Legacy, Judean Hills – Score: 90+ (QPR: GOOD)
This is nice, balanced with good pop, nice fruit, including black and blue notes, nice toast, sweet oak, and lovely root beer, making for a quite solid offering.
With time, it opens to reveal a wine that is fruitier and weightier, with less balance than I would like, but this is a wine that many would appreciate.
The mouth of this full-bodied wine is almost balanced with good acidity, nice smoke, lovely blackberry, boysenberry, plum, and sweet smoke notes, complemented by blackcurrant and additional root beer flavors. The fruit level, though, is a bit much for me. The finish is long, a bit too ripe for my taste, but it remains balanced and correct. Drink until 2029. (tasted February 2025 & June 2025) (in KFWE L.A. Oxnard, CA and in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2023 Domaine du Castel Petite Castel, Judean Hills – Score: 87 (QPR: EVEN)
The nose of this wine is nice with bright fruit, ripe blackcurrant, plum, and smoke with dark chocolate, and sweet mint. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is simple with enough acidity, blackberry, plum, but sadly not much else. Drink by 2029 (tasted February 2025) (in KFWE L.A. Oxnard, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2023 Pacifica Riesling, Evan’s Collection, Washington (M) – Score: 87 (QPR: GOOD)
The nose of this wine is fine with petrol, smoke, guava, melon, and orange. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is where the issue is; it is lacking with a hole, the fruit is also missing, there is some acidity, not enough of a finish, just missing all around, but nice enough. Drink by 2027. (tasted February 2025) (in KFWE L.A. Oxnard, CA) (ABV = 11.5%)

2021 Herzog Generation IX Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap, Stags Leap, Napa Valley, CA – Score: 94 (QPR: GOOD)
The nose is this lovely, just beautiful, with rich sweet oak, lovely minerality, great control, tar, cacao, dark red and black fruit, and smoke. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is layered, lovely, with good acidity, nice plush and rich mouthfeel, loads of elegance, rich sweet oak, sweet spices, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, with blackberry, plum, raspberry, total control, and rich minerality. Impressive. The finish is long, balanced, with sweet cacao, sweet dark chocolate-covered tobacco, and lovely notes of smoke and graphite. The oak, minerals, sweet tobacco, and sweet blackberry linger forever. Bravo. Drink from 2030 until 2036 (tasted February 2025) (in KFWE L.A. Oxnard, CA) (ABV = 15%)

2019 Herzog Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap, Limited Edition, Stags Leap, Napa Valley, CA (M) – Score: 92 (QPR: GREAT)
The nose of this wine is ripe, not candied, with pop, but the fruit is on point with ripe black and red fruit, rich tar, dark tobacco, and rich minerality. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is nice, it has pop, it shows great acidity, ripe blackberry, plum, hints of boysenberry, great searing tannin, lovely mouth-draping approach, with graphite, milk chocolate, rich black and blue fruit, and a plush approach. Nice! The finish is long, tannic, chocolaty, with nice graphite, ripe black and blue fruit, some elegance, nice fruit focus, and tobacco notes. Nice! Drink until 2031. (tasted February 2025) (in KFWE L.A. Oxnard, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2024 Hajdu Pinot Blanc, Mendocino County – Score: 90 (QPR: GREAT)
Although the nose of this wine shows too much pith for me, it is still a solid wine overall. The nose of this wine shows good, clean fruit, apples, pears, straw, smoke, and yellow flowers, a bit too much pith. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is good enough, with some acidity, but the main issue is the pith. It makes the wine feel off balance with apple, pear, smoke, some salinity, and grapefruit. Drink now. (tasted February 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 12.5%)

2024 Hajdu Riesling, Carneros, CA – Score: 90 (QPR: GREAT)
The nose of this wine is clean; it shows intense honeysuckle, honeyed melon, ripe apple, orange, and yellow nectarines. The mouth of this light to medium-bodied wine feels a bit off, but the middle feels light, with intense acidity, lovely pear, honeysuckle, honeydew melon, intense Meyer lemon, key lime, and salt. Drink now. (tasted February 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 12%)

2024 Hajdu Rose, California – Score: 89 (QPR: GREAT)
The nose of this wine is candied ripe, with candied cherry, strawberry, but also shows pop, with hints of mint, rock, lime, and tart plum. The mouth of this medium-plus bodied rose has enough acidity but it lacks the pop in the mouth, the acidity is there but there is not enough to make this weighty rose refreshing. It shows ripe raspberry, pommagrante, dark plum, smoke, and more ripe berry fruit, without the acidity to makke this pop. Drink now. (tasted February 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13.5%)

2023 Hajdu Alicante Bouchet, Contra Costa, CA – Score: 83 (QPR: POOR)
This is only the fourth Alicante Bouchet that I have tasted. I have had three vintages from Weinstock (2010/2011/2012) and now this. The nose of this wine is too much for me—it’s big, bold, and aggressive, with blackcurrant, boysenberry, spicy oak, sweet and spicy spices like cloves, nutmeg, black pepper, and hints of garrigue. The mouth of this medium-plus-bodied wine is ripe and candied, with sweet oak, over-the-top blackcurrant, blackberry, smoke, and cloyingly ripe fruit. Not for me. This wine demands more acidity and more balance. The finish is long, cloyingly ripe, and not balanced. Drink by 2027. (tasted February 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2023 Hajdu Barbera, Sierra Foothills, CA – Score: 85 (QPR: EVEN)
The nose of this wine smells nice enough, with ripe fruit, smoke, roasted animal, lanolin, roasted and sweet mint, black and blue fruit, hints of raspberry, and spicy oak. The mouth of this full-bodied wine has some acidity; it could use more. Still, it is almost balanced, with ripe fruit, ripe raspberry, blackberry, plum, boysenberry, milk chocolate, sweet oak, sweet tobacco, and loads of more ripe fruit. The finish is long enough. The ripeness, oakiness, and leather linger. Drink by 2029. (tasted February 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2023 Univitis Marquis des Bois, Bordeaux (M) – Score: 81 (QPR: EVEN)
This wine is made by the wine Co-OP Univitis. The nose of this wine is another tinny, simple, Mevushal Bordeaux. The nose of this wine screams of tin, metal, green notes, some herbs, and that is it. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is a lifeless soul; there is no acidity, flat fruit, tannin, smoke, or finish. The tannin that is there is harsh and astringent, making the wine unbalanced and unenjoyable for me. Drink now. (tasted February 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13.5%)

2023 Univitis Larmoni, Bordeaux (M) – Score: 81 (QPR: EVEN)
This wine smells and tastes just like the other Mevushal wine made by the Co-Op of Univitis that KosherWine sells, Marquis des Bois (though there is no Bois). The nose is the same. It smells of tin, metal, green notes, and some smoke, and that is it. This medium-bodied wine’s mouth is the same as most of these lifeless Mevushal Bordeaux wines, made for the USA. It has no acidity, flat fruit, some tannin, and that is it. The tannin that is there is harsh and astringent, making the wine unbalanced and unenjoyable for me. Drink now. (tasted February 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13.5%)

2021 Sleight of Hand Cellars Mystic Red Blend, Walla Walla, WA – Score: 91 (QPR: GREAT)
This wine is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon & 37% Cabernet Franc. In contrast to the Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine’s nose lacks that pop. It feels/smells riper, rounder, and less balanced, with less oak but much riper and rounder black and blue fruit. The fruit dominates, with cacao and more loam. The mouth of this full-bodied wine has enough acidity, a nice punch of boysenberry liqueur, blackberry, plum liqueur, with a rounder and a more fruity approach, showing more milk chocolate, a riper and aggressive approach but still good with less layers but more chocolate and cassis. The finish is long, chocolatey, oaky, and much riper. The overall approach is just that ripe and almost candied Boysenberry, blackberry, oak, and milk chocolate. Drink until 2029. (tasted March 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2024 Covenant Mensch Roussanne, Lodi, CA – Score: 88 (QPR: GOOD)
The nose of this wine is fruity; there is nowhere to hide here, the fruity notes of guava, honeysuckle, straw, lemon, pomelo, and some lemongrass. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is good; it has enough acidity, sweet lemon, guava, smoke, and orange. Drink now. (tasted April 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2023 Hajdu Zinfandel, California – Score: 90 (QPR: GREAT)
The nose of this wine is solid. It has good acidity and fruit. It shows red and blue fruit, some dirt, nice spice, and smoke. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is ripe, but balanced with good acidity, showing juicy blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, and cloves. Drink by 2027. (tasted April 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2023 Hajdu Grenache, California – Score: 87 (QPR: GOOD)
The nose of this wine shows loads of flowers, with rose petals, violet, red fruit, roasted herbs, and smoke. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is ripe, and shows nice acidity, the mouth is overpowering with floral flavors of rose petals, roasted herbs, raspberry, and smoke. Drink by 2027. (tasted April 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2023 Hajdu Petite Sirah, Dry Creek, Sonoma, CA – Score: 85 (QPR: EVEN)
The nose of this wine is ripe, candied, roasted animal, smoke, tar, and root beer. This one is a bit too much for more. The mouth of this full-bodied wine lacks the acidity that is needed and shows blackberry, boysenberry, plum, smoke, and nice tannin. The fruit is not balanced, but nice enough. Drink by 2028. (tasted April 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14.8%)

2022 Covenant Syrah, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, CA – Score: 92 (QPR: GOOD)
The nose of this wine is lovely. It starts a bit ripe, but with a couple of hours, the wine comes together, with hickory, charcoal, smoke, earth, black, blue, and dirt. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is fruity, candied, and floral, with jasmine, violet, blackberry, plum, boysenberry, smoke, sweet spices, hickory, sweet oak, and vanilla. The finish is long, spicy, and fruity. Drink until 2030. (tasted April 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14.8%)

2021 Shirah Geshem, Paso Robles, CA – Score: 87 (QPR: GOOD)
This wine is a blend of 45% Grenache, 45% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah. The nose of this wine is simple, with red fruit, smoke, and candied and smoked meat. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is lacking the acidity it needs to pull this all together, with raspberry, boysenberry, peach, nectarines, and smoke. The finish is long, ripe, candied, and smoky. Drink by 2028. (tasted April 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14.6%)

2022 Le Baron le Selicate, France – Score: 87 (QPR: EVEN)
The nose of this wine is musty, stinky, and cooked. Good enough for a Mevushal wine, but next! It has some red cooked fruit and musty notes in the mouth. Drink by 2024. (tasted April 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 15%)

2022 Alex Rubin Syrah, California – Score: 90 (QPR: GREAT)
The nose of this wine is lovely, ripe, not candied, with smoke, blue and red fruit, roasted animal, salami, and root beer. The mouth of this medium-bodied is nice enough; it is a bit too simple, but it has the plum and raspberry fruit with boysenberry that makes it nice and enjoyable. Drink by 2026. (tasted April 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14%)

2019 Alex Rubin Syrah, California – Score: 88 (QPR: GREAT)
The nose of this wine is a bit too ripe for me, showing black and red fruit, smoke, earth, tar, wax, and smoke. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is too candied for me, smoky, dirty, and waxy, with plum, blackberry, and boysenberry. The smoked meat, dirt, and candied boysenberry, and root beer linger. Drink by 2027. (tasted April 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 15%)

2019 Alex Rubin Merlot, California – Score: 89 (QPR: GREAT)
The nose of this wine is ripe and candied, showing waxy notes, cranberry, blackcurrant, dark smoke, and rich earth. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is ripe, candied, smoky, and dirty, with sweet oak, smoke, roasted herbs, blackcurrants, cranberries, and plums. The finish is long, ripe, and dirty. Drink by 2027. (tasted April 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14%)

2017 Alex Rubin Sangiovese, White Hawk, Santa Barbara, CA – Score: 89 (QPR: GOOD)
The nose of this is nice with smoked animal, soy sauce, cranberry, smoke, and earth. The mouth of this wine is candied and ripe, smoky and dirty, with candied cranberry, cherry, and smoke, with lovely tannin and great acidity. The finish is long, ripe, candied, and smoky. Drink until 2027. (tasted April 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 15%)

2018 Golan Heights Winery Yarden Rose, Brut, Golan Heights, Galilee – Score: 90 (QPR: GOOD)
This is my third tasting, and it is slightly improving. I like the acidity, I like the bubbles, but it has no color and it has no complexity. This wine is a blend of 73% Chardonnay and 27% Pinot Noir. It is NOT a rose; it is more of a Blanc to Noir or even a Blanc de Blanc with some Blanc de Noir. In the end, while I NEVER talk color, this wine is NOT a Rose; IMHO, it should NOT be in a Rose bottle. The best part of this wine is its nose. It has clear orange peel notes, intense yeast, brioche, and lovely notes of pear and apple. It has no red fruit notes, but it has a nice nose! The mouth of this wine is where it fails. The wine is just a tart acid bomb with very little behind it. The orange peel and orange notes are here, along with some pear and yeasty notes, but the middle and end feel lacking. Drink by 2026. (tasted October 2024) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 12.5%)

2023 Chateau Golan Naveh White, Galilee – Score: 90 (QPR: EVEN)
The nose of this wine is nice but subtle, with funk, smoke, flint, quince, and citrus. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is simple, not bad, just not complex. It has good acidity, nice mouthfeel, with hints of oak, smoke, citrus, quince, and gooseberry. Sadly, the fruit never got to the level of something that would excite me. The finish is long, but a bit simple and lacking the pop or bite. Drink now. (tasted May 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2023 Binyamina Yogev White Blend, Galilee – Score: 90 (QPR: GREAT)
This wine is a blend of 60% Chardonnay & 40% Sauvignon Blanc. The nose of this wine is fun, a bit more than simple, with funk, smoke, fruit, salinity, with gooseberry, citrus, apple, Asian Pear, violet, floral notes, and smoke. Fun! The mouth of this medium-bodied wine has the pop and acidity I want, nice! The mouth is great, with funk, quince, saline, rosehip, good bite, fruit focus, with gooseberry, apple, Asian Pear, and citrus. Nice! The finish is long, tart, showing nice bite, citrus, funk, and salinity. Drink now. (tasted May 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2023 Rocca delle Macie Chianti Classico, Chianti Classico – Score: 87 (QPR: GREAT)
At opening, the nose of this wine takes a step back from the 2022 vintage, with too many green notes, smoke, red fruit, dirt, and earth. The green notes calm with time. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is simple and has good acidity, but the green notes overpower the mouth, with asparagus, bell pepper, cherry, and loam. The mouthfeel overall has chunky tannins and greenish dirt notes, just a bit too simple. The finish is long with smoke, more green notes, cherry, and earth. Drink by 2027. (tasted May 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 15%)

2023 Jean-Philippe Marchand Pommard, Le Dome, Pommard – Score: 93 (QPR: GREAT)
The nose of this wine is ripe, beautiful, ethereal, smoky, with notes of ripe and sour cherry, raspberry, rosehip, lovely floral notes, mushroom, forest floor, and a lovely earthiness. Nice! The mouth of this medium-plus bodied wine is lovely, ripe, not candied, with smoky, earthy notes, great acidity, and a hint of soy sauce and umami, along with dark sour cherry and raspberry, and a lovely mouth-draping tannin. The mouthfeel is lovely, precise, piercing, tart, and dirty. Lovely! The finish is long, tart, dirty, earthy, with nice tannin, floral notes, graphite, rock, and dried nuts. Drink from 2028 until 2033. (tasted May 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2022 Chateau Giscours, Margaux – Score: 91+ (QPR: EVEN)
This is the second time I have tasted this wine, and it is showing better than it did in January. It still feels a bit fat and has that milk chocolate approach, but a bit better. The nose of this wine still starts with milk chocolate, rich oak notes, dark and brooding with black and blue fruit, some minerality, sweet spices, menthol, tar, and roasted herbs. The good news is the lack of heat and a bit more balance. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is nice; it shows better acidity, but the pop I want is not there, with blackberry, plum, and boysenberry. Thankfully, it is not as cloying as it was in January, showing a bit more balance. The mouth is plush, big, and bold, but it needs more minerality and more pop. The finish is okay, with ripe fruit, followed by milk chocolate, tobacco, and smoke. Drink from 2029 until 2039. (tasted January 2025) (in Paris, France) (ABV = 14%)

2024 Mayacamas Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, CA – Score: 90 (QPR: EVEN)
The nose of this wine is okay; it lacks pop, but it has nice fruit, showing passion fruit, gooseberry, lemon, and grapefruit pith. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine has good acidity, but it lacks pop or complexity. It does not feel fake like last year, with absurd tartaric acidification. The fruit is gooseberry and passion fruit; the lemon is stunted. It is not hollow, but it feels lifeless. The finish is long, round, with sufficient acidity and some slate notes. Drink now. (tasted June 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13.5%)

2024 Mayacamas Rose, Grenache, Napa Valley, CA – Score: 87 (QPR: POOR)
The nose of this wine is the best part, and that is not very impressive, with notes of peach and strawberry, but the grapefruit pith is really over the top. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is lacking in acidity, and what acidity it does have shows as fake, with strawberry and peach. The finish is very short, making the wine feel hollow, and drink up now! (tasted June 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14%)

2023 Mayacamas Chardonnay, Mount Veeder, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley, CA – Score: 90 (QPR: GOOD)
The nose of this wine is quite lovely, showing balance, fruit, smoke, peach, pear, yellow flowers, Asian Pear, and citrus. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine feels almost like it never kissed oak, the acidity is there, it is acidified, but not as aggressively, with pear, round apple, Asian pear, sweet oak, and some tannin. The finish is okay, but it is not very exciting. Overall, a straightforward wine that works well. Drink by 2027. (tasted June 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14%)

2023 Vitkin Galia by Zahav Grenache Blanc, Galilee – Score: 91 (QPR: EVEN)
This wine goes by two names: Vitkin Grenache Blanc and Galia by Zahav Grenache Blanc. Zahav is a restaurant, and this was meant to be their wine, but it seems like they bailed on that idea. The nose of this wine is nice, probably the best part of this wine, with nice notes of orange, lemon, lemon blossom, honeysuckle, and lemon zest – a lovely nose indeed! The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is okay, and while it is not hollow or short, it feels less interesting than the nose, with Meyer lemon, Kafir lime, and honeysuckle. The acidity is on point. The finish is okay with some more fruit. Drink by 2027. (tasted June 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 12%)

2024 Unorthodox Sauvignon Blanc, Coastal Region (M) – Score: 88 (QPR: GREAT)
The nose of this wine is muted, and sadly, just move on. The wine is correct, but it lacks a certain happiness, with notes of citrus, orange blossom, and grass. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is nicer than I thought, but still simple, unimpressive, yet has enough acidity, with orange, lemon, and some grass. Drink now! (tasted June 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 12.5%)

2024 Unorthodox Chenin Blanc, Coastal Region (M) – Score: 85 (QPR: EVEN)
The nose of this wine nice and maybe correct, with average fruit, dull, with smoke, and dry flowers. This is less interested than the SB. The mouth of this meedium-bodied feel stunted and it feels empty, maybe a bit short, with apple, pear, and some citrus. Next! Drink now. (tasted June 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2022 Casa Vitivinicola Tinazzi Desto Pinot Grigio, Veneto Delle Venezie – Score: 90 (QPR: GREAT)
The nose of this wine is the best part, with lovely pear, apple, quince, white flower, and minerality. It shows enough pop to interest you. The issue lies in the mouth of this medium-bodied wine; it has the acidity, but what is missing is the complexity.
The mouth shows good pear, lemon, lime, and bruised apple.
The finish is okay, with lingering acidity and saline. nice. Drink now. (tasted June 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 12.5%)

2022 Casa Vitivinicola Tinazzi Desto Valpolicella, Valpolicella – Score: 72 (QPR: NA)
Sorry, this wine is vile. Simple as it comes, fruity, candied, showing RS, and no acidity. The purpose of this wine is unknown other than to make some fruit juice. Next! (tasted June 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2024 Matar Rose, Galilee – Score: 85 (QPR: EVEN)
The nose of this wine is just not there; it has fruit, it has the notes, but they are so muted. The strawberry, lemon, and lime, with honeysuckle, are there, but you need to reach for them. The mouth of this light to medium-bodied wine is the real issue – it tastes like rose water. The strawberry is there, but it feels watered down with some flint and citrus. Sorry, not working. Next! Drink now. (tasted June 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 11%)

2024 Yarden Rose, Galilee – Score: 82 (QPR: BAD)
The nose of this wine has some fruit, with some strawberry and peach, but otherwise, not interesting. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine has no acidity, some weight, some strawberry, is watered down, and not refreshing. Next! (tasted June 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2021 Psagot Peak, Judean Hills – Score: 90 (QPR: EVEN)
This wine is a blend of 51% Petite Sirah & 49% Shiraz. The nose of this wine is nice; it shows control, it has no pop, but the fruit smells juicy with red and blue fruit, smoke, and dirt. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is characterized by sufficient acidity, complemented by notes of black plum, cherry, blueberry, and smoke. The tannin is there, but not aggressive. Drink by 2028 (tasted June 2025) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14%)