Bordeaux Blend

Always a classic.  At age 27, this still has plenty to offer.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has tobacco, earthiness, dried cherries, cassis and spice.  Full bodied.  Tannins mostly resolved.  On the palate, this is fully mature and past prime but still has a lot going on.  Layers of dried and fresh cherries with some cassis and spice.  A bit of a leathery quality as well as earthiness.  Good finish.  This will benefit from food.  A Beef stew would work well.  Drink up.  

This is a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot, and 4% Syrah.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has big black cherry fruit with some raspberries and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this drinks easy.  Black cherry fruit with some depth.  Also some spice notes.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own and would work nicely at the Seder table.  Drink over the next three to five years. 

This is the third label in the Castel red wine offerings.  It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Syrah aged in stainless steel.  Purple in color, shimmering bright.  The nose is complex with a nice earthiness.  Notes of cassis, black cherries, plums and slight chocolate.  On the palate, this is ripe/slightly sweet.  Flavors of cassis, cherries and black cherries.  Nice finish.  This drinks easy and should work well with food.  Drink over the next five years.  Nice value.

This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Carignan and Marselan from northern Israel.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with attic dust, cassis, black cherries, char and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is drinking well.  Lots of black cherry fruit with some spice and char.  Good finish.  This should drink well over the next three to five years.  It is nice on its own but would be better with food.  It will work well with braised meat dishes.