2019 Recanati Chardonnay Reserve, Israel, Galilee, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$32.00USD

Another winner in the Recanti Reserve lineup.  Served with our 2023 Seder meal.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has some grapefruit, slight vanilla and peach.  Full bodied.  On the palate, yellow grapefruits, slight spice and vanilla.  This vintage is starting to show a bit of age but still drinking just about at peak.  This is nice on its own and worked well with Roasted vegetables with an avocado cilantro sauce.  Drink over the next few years.  

2018 Recanati Petite Sirah Reserve, Israel, Galilee, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$33.00USD

What a nice showing for this wine.  We served it as the red wine for our Passover Seder 2023.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is correct with boysenberries, char, and a bit of swisher cherry cigars.  Full bodied.  Nice depth.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is smooth.  Boysenberries with underlying char.  Long finish.  Tasty.  This is drinking well now and should continue for the next five to ten years.  Nice on its own, this worked well with Charoset, Bitter herbs, etc. (and also Eggplant Parmesan).  

NV Golan Heights Winery Gilgal Brut, Israel, Galilee, Wine Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is a sparkling wine from northern Israel.  It is Kosher for Passover.  A blend of 50/50 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  Light golden in color with just a hint of pale ruby.  A nice mousse of small bubbles.  The nose is nice with lemons, minerals, slight strawberries and a slight almond note.  Medium bodied.  11.5% abv.  On the palate, this drinks easily.  Lemons with some minerality.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This is nice on its own and would work with most foods.  It went well with "mock" liver at our Seder.  Drink over the next few years.  

Firriato, 2014 ‘Harmonium’ Nero d’Avola

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

Outside of Italy, Nero d’Avola sees little production elsewhere. But in the hands of the right winemaker, Nero can be a beautifully complex wine, as is the case here. On the nose, it is fruit-forward with notes of rhubarb, pepper, tobacco, and nutmeg, which makes this a sultry wine to indulge in. Lively tannins and supple softness blend together to a harmonious whole. An intense wine that shows a little of its age, it drinks like a beautiful layered wine.

2018 Bodegas El Nido Jumilla Clio, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$90.00USD

A very consistent wine from vintage to vintage.  This is a big wine that drinks more "new world'.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, char, spice, slight blueberries and a hint of roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is up-front and delicious.  Lots of black cherry fruit with some smoke and spice.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for another twenty years.  Great on its own, this works well with big flavors.  It can stand up to chorizo sausages.  

2019 Carlisle Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

From Mike Officer's home vineyard, another in the Carlisle collection of excellent Zinfandels.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, raspberries, slight leather and citrus.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is young but delicious.  Black raspberries, black cherries, and spice.  Some minty on the finish.  This should drink well for the next ten to twelve years.  Great on its own, this will work well with a burger or ribs off the grill.  

2019 Mending Wall Petite Sirah Palisades Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

Palisades is one of the best Petite Sirah Vineyards anywhere.  Now, that is somewhat a backhanded compliment as there just aren't that many of those vineyards.  Still, this is one worth checking out.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, char and slight spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, juicy black raspberries with underlying gravel and char.  Long finish.  This is very young and although approachable, it will get better.  It could really use about ten years in the cellar.  Patience will be rewarded.  In any event, this makes good drinking

2020 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is their basic Gewurztraminer (they have many higher end ones worth exploring).  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with lychees, slight minerality, and lemon peel.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is pretty much dry.  Notes of lemon and minerals.  Great texture.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next few years.  Very nice on its own, this will work nicely with Thai food.  

2020 Bedrock Wine Co. Zinfandel Teldeschi Ranch, USA, California, Sonoma, Dry Creek Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$44.00USD

Deep ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, bramble and black pepper. Medium bodied.  Moderate acidity. On the palate, this is upfront with good black cherry fruit.  Some depth.  Good finish.  Tasty.  Drinking well now and should for another five to eight years.  A nice wine with pizza.  

2007 Dehlinger Pinot Noir Goldridge Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

The label lists this as 33 year old vines.  Great showing.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, slight cola, cherries, spice and slight earthiness.  Wonderful round texture.  Tannins resolved.  On the palate, this seems to be at peak.  Black cherries with slight cherries and a bit of spice.  No signs of age but certainly mature.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  Nice on its own, this would work well with roasted chicken.  

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