This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Inky purple in color. The nose has cassis, cherries, slight chocolate, char and spice. On the palate, this is soft, accessible and easy drinking. Layers of black cherries, cassis and char. Light tannins. Medium finish. This probably should be consumed over the next five years. It will go great with burgers, ribs or pasta.
This is the best Israeli wine I have had. It is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petite Verdot. Purple in color with a thin ruby line at the rim. The nose is very nice with spice, black raspberries and tobacco. With air, some milk chocolate comes out. On the palate this has a lovely texture. Medium tannins. Black raspberry fruits, cherries with a forest floor base. Great balance. Long finish. This seems just a touch young but is drinking very well. Probably about five to seven years from peak and should be good for another ten to twenty a
Castel is probably the consistently best top winery in Israel. Although modern Israel wine is a very young industry, so this is always changing. Castel has a proven track record. The Grand Vin is the best wine that they make. This is quite young and just not giving up much right now. After a couple of hours of air, it had improved but its best days are at least five years in the future. Inky purple in color. The nose has nice baking spices along with some cherries. On the palate, firm tannins. Black cherries. Monolithic at present. It is tasty but needs time develop a complexity
Bonterra wines are made from organically farmed grapes. This is a blend of mostly Merlot and Petite Sirah. It is a different take, a bit lighter and easier, but a delicious and well priced wine. Deep ruby in color, lighter at the rim, mostly clear and bright. The nose has raspberries and cranberries with a bit of char. On the palate, this has raspberries and candied cherries with an underlying char. Some complexity. This is clean and easy drinking. It is not likely to get any better but should be good over the next three to five years. It drinks well on its own and will work with f
This is from the younger wines at Chateau Pavie (under 10 years old). It is a blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep ruby in color. The nose has cherries with a bit of cigar box. On the palate, this is drinking well now. Nice cherry fruit with a bit of cocoa and slight tobacco. Not a lot of concentration or complexity but it is tasty. Good acidity. It seems as though this will be as good as this gets and thought it should do another five to ten years, the safer bet is to drink it now. It will go well with stews and medium weight foods.
Bordeaux wines from 1982 are often still drinking great. While one might think a wine such as this might be over the hill, that is not true. At least for this bottle. It still has some youthful freshness. It is 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. No real bricking or browning. On the nose there is cassis, dust, slight cigar box and hints of cherry. On the palate, this has lively energy. Cassis and cherries with some underlying dried herbal notes. Not a big wine. Some depth and slight layering. Nice finish.
75% Langhorne Creek, McLaren Vale & Eden Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - 20% Langhorne Creek Merlot - 5% Eden Valley Shiraz. This is the flagship wine of this property. The bottle was gifted to me a couple of years ago, and it got opened at the end of a 1980's Bordeaux tasting which seemed appropriate. It did not disappoint and held its own in the tasting. Purple with ruby swirls, ruby at the rim, not much bricking. On the nose, this is dusty with black cherry fruit and a bit of black pepper. On the palate, this has some depth with nice layering that is immediately apparent. Good aci
I have been lucky enough to have this on a few occasions. Never has it been open or showing anything like it's lofty status with the critics would indicate so I approached with trepidation. No need. This bottle was amazing. Everything it was supposed to be including still a bit on the young side. It is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Inky purple in color, ruby at the rim. Bright but mostly opaque. On the nose, lovely cassis, cigar box, ash and slight pencil lead. The lead becomes more pronounced with air and there is some chocolate and spi
This wine showed quite well considering the vintage and pedigree and age of the wine. Ruby in color, purple at its core, clear and bright. The nose has dried cherries, slight dust, a bit of mint. With air, some fresh cherries. On the palate, fresh and dried cherries above a baseline of tea leaves. Medium bodied. A bit of drying tannins underneath. Nice finish. This is very food friendly and easy to drink. Probably a bit past prime but still enjoyable. Drink up now.
Stunning showing for this wine. Its about 50/50 Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Still youthful and might indeed improve a bit more. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is complex and enticing with black raspberries, dust, cherries and a slight cocoa note. With air, a bit of char comes out. On the palate, this has a "jelly-like" texture which is great. Lots of black cherry fruit over and char and slight tobacco base. Tightly layered, the layers unwind nicely in the glass. It might improve more over the next five years, but should easily be at this level for ten to fifteen years mo
