2017 Tzora Vineyards Judean Hills Blanc, Israel, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is a 75/25 blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.  It is quite lively and enjoyable. Light golden in color with some silvery/green swirls.  On the nose, this has some peach and some citrus with a slight minerality and herbal note.  On the palate, this is slightly crisp with good fruit.  It seems like it probably needs to be consumed quickly.  Right now it has nice peaches but they dissipate in the glass.  Good finish.  This worked well with an Israeli Chapped Salad and also with Matzoh Ball Soup (Veg broth).  Get the most current vintage you can.  

2010 Golan Heights Winery Yarden Blanc de Blancs, Israel, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$29.00USD

This is much better than the 2009 (tried two years ago).  The 2010 should, however, be consumed now.  It is not really showing oxidation, but the fruit is fading.  That said, this is a solid wine that made for a fun start to our Passover Seder.  We consumed it before actually sitting down to the Seder.  It went well with dried fruits and nuts and "mock" liver.  Light golden in color with a fair amount of medium-ish bubbles.  The nose has some green apples and minerals with slight ginger and slighter oxidation.  On the palate, the apples carry thru along with some minerality.  Not a lot of a

2012 Catabbo Molise Tintilia del Molise Riserva, Italy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is a Riserva (the 2013 regular version is reviewed separately).  Frankly, this was not as good as the regular and cost $10 more.  Now, that may be a vintage thing and I don't have a lot of experience with this grape (Tintilia) or region (Molise).  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has boysenberries and smoke.  On the palate, this has some boysenberries but not a lot.  A slight bitter note on the finish.  Some acidity.  Its a fine wine that is drinking well right now but not the value the regular bottling is.  Perhaps it is just in an awkward phase and needs time.  

2017 False Bay Chenin Blanc, New Zealand, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$10.00USD

This is a relatively inexpensive Chenin Blanc that makes for fine sipping.  Light golden in color.  The nose has pear and lemons and a slight minerality.  On the palate, this is clean and easy to drink.  Pears with slight waxy finish.  Light bodied.  It works with lighter foods or on its own.  Drink these sooner than later though Chenin does have the ability to age.  

2013 Catabbo I.A.C. Molise Tintilia del Molise, Italy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

Every year I get invited to a St. Joseph's day celebration by a friend who is originally from Molise.  It's a BYO event at a local hall with hundreds of people, tons of homemade food and a lot of fun.  I try to bring appropriate wines.  There are not a lot of wines made in Molisse and available here in the US.  This one retails for about $20 and is really good and a bit different.  Tintilia is the name of the grape.  I liked this vintage slightly more than a 2011 I had a couple  of years ago.  Purple in color.

2014 Aeris Wines Etna Bianco Superiore, Italy, Sicily, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

This is an Italian white from Kevin Harvey.  If that name sounds familiar, he is the owner of Rhys in Santa Cruz, California and a maker of wonderful Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.  This is his first vintage and is made from the Carricante grape, a white grape indigenous to Sicily.  The wine itself is delicious.  Light golden in color.  The nose is reminiscent of a Hermitage Blanc.  It is very waxy with lemon curd.  There is also a slightly smokiness to it.  On the palate, this has great acidity.  The wine is fresh with lots of energy.  The lemon curd carries thru but there is also a nice und

2007 Bodega Numanthia Toro Numanthia, Spain, Toro, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$29.00USD

Deep ruby in color.  The nose is slightly dusty with black cherries.  On the palate, this has ripe black cherries.  This seemed different than earlier vintages.  LVMH bought this winery in 2008 so perhaps a bit different in philosophy.   Not as concentrated and wild.  It is a very good wine that will work with a wide variety of foods.  

2005 Bodega Numanthia Toro Numanthia, Spain, Toro, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

An excellent bottle but not one of the better vintages of Numanthia.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has clay, dust and plenty of black cherries.  A bit thinner in body than other vintages.  Nice black cherry fruit on the palate.  Drinking fine right now.  Very food friendly for a wide range of foods.  

2003 Bodega Numanthia Toro Numanthia, Spain, Toro, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2003
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

Of course, 2003 was an extremely hot vintage all across Spain.  Some wines were over ripe while in other cases, the vines simply shut down causing under ripe wines.  No worries here.  This wine was excellent.  Deep ruby in color if a bit flat.  The nose is interesting.  Dusty with cherries and black cherries and a hint of mint.  On the palate, this has lush black cherries.  Some initial heat but it smoothed out with a bit of air.  It is a bit riper than most vintages but not too much.  Drinking well now and for the next five to ten years.  

2009 Château Nairac, France, Bordeaux, Barsac, WIne Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

I seem to have had a lot of bottle variation with this one.  Or, given that this is usually the last bottle of the night, maybe it is palate variation.  In any event, this wine is always good to great and this bottle was in the middle.  Deep golden/orange in color.  The nose has honey and apricots.  On the palate, this is sweet but nowhere near cloying.  Enough acidity.  The honey notes come thru and pick up peaches.  Nice finish to the wine and to the evening!

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