More Wine Tasting Notes
Where do I start? We had so many new wines over the first two days of Passover that it was difficult to keep track of them all, but of particular note were two reds from California and a pinotage from South Africa.
Gan Eden’s 2000 Syrah was surprising: despite its whopping 16% alcohol by volume, this non-mevushal bottle from the always-reliable Gan Eden was more subtle than the Australian Shiraz that I’m used to. I found some fruitiness, a peppery finish, and a heck of a surprise when I tried to stand up (I mean c’mon, 16%ABV?!). There wasn’t even a hint of the syrupy or alcoholic flavors that most of these bruisers exhibit, and if I hadn’t re-read the label I would have thought that it was something in the boiled flaken that kept the room spinning.
Weinstock Cellar’s Lodi 2000 Zinfandel (mevushal) was a cruiserwieght in comparison (13.5%ABV) although I found it too hard-charging and tart for my tastes, but its fruit flavors and low level of tanins were appealling to many of our guests who don?t generally go for dry reds. (This red zin seems to be so new to the market that I couldn?t find a picture of the label or any other reference to it on the Royal Wine Corporation?s
web site).
Even more appealing to those who usually like Moscato with their dinner was the Backsberg 2003 Pinotage. This South African (mevushal) red was soft and almost sweet, with a hint of vanilla. Again not my cup of tea, but a crowd-pleaser with our crowd of dry wine novitiates.
BS"DThanks for your positive comments on my wines, bith the "always reliable" and the specific comments about the 2000 Syrah. It’s one of the wines with which I’ve really had fun.Craig WinchellGAN EDEN Wines
I was recently in a wine store looking to by a few good Bordeau’s. The proprietor advised me that the 2000 vintage had been the best in a long, long time. I have tasted the Chateau Cantelaudette which I thought was very good. Can anybody reccomend any other Bordeau’s or burgundy’s for that vintage or for any other vintage. This is the first time I am posting so I apologize if this is in the wrong forum but I don’t know how to start a new topic in kosher wine because this is the first time I am posting.
Sruli:Youre definitely welcome to post your questions here; your post on Chowhound’s kosher message board was also a good place to ask. To answer your question is difficult because there are quite a number of wines from Bordeaux that have great kosher bottlings, whatever the year. My personal favorite is a Margeaux from Chateau Giscours, but every year there are a couple of new ones; Ive noticed that more kosher wines from Burgundy have been coming out in the last couple of years as well. One general bit of advice I would give is that the non-mevushal French wines are usually head-and-shoulders above the mevushal ones. Weve previously discussed on this blog the issue of what affect heating the wine has on the final product and how not all mevushal wines are necessarily inferior, however I think that in the case of these wines, because of their complex nature and the fact that the non-kosher versions are not heated, flash-pasteurization or other heating processes results in an inferior wine. Indeed, I have yet to taste a mevushal Bordeaux that can compare to any non-mevushal Bordeaux.
Hi Sruli:This is my first time posting as well.For what it is worth, Daniel Rogov, the food and wine critic for the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz, considers the best kosher French wine of the 2000 vintage to be the Chateau Malmaison 2000. All his tastings are very strictly ‘blind tastings’, so his reviews are as "objective" as any professional critic, or consumer for that matter, can hope for. Note, however, that this wine is merely a kosher version of a non-kosher wine, so be sure you get the kosher version if you are looking in a regular wine shop.Here is Daniel’s tasting note for this wine:"Chateau Malmaison, Barone Nadine de Rothschild, Moulis, 2000: My nominee as the best kosher wine out of France from this vintage year and certainly one of the best ever from this Chateau. Full-bodied, with still firm tannins because of its youth, but those well balanced by wood, acidity and fruit. A generous band of blackcurrant, plum and smoke on the first attack, the fruits holding throughout and the smoke yielding nicely to sweet cedar, Oriental spices and a hint of green olives. Approach this one now only if searing tannins appeal, but let it age for several years and the wine will show generosity and elegance. Best 2006-2012, perhaps longer. Score 91. (Tasted twice with consistent notes, 3 Jan and 5 Feb 2004)"I think the kosher Chateau Malmaison 2000 tends to run about $35 to $40 a bottle, depending on your location. I have only tasted the 1999, but it was a lovely wine as well.If, by the way, you have not yet tasted the Gan Eden Syrah 2000 that was featured at the start of this section of the kosherblog, I strongly urge you to do so. It is drinking seductively well now, although I think it will age nicely for five or six years yet, perhaps even longer. It has a deep, deep ruby color, with heavy but not overpowering tannins. It is medium to full bodied, complex, balanced, with white and black pepper notes, very intense fruitsomething like cherry, black cherry, currant, and blackberry, with a luxurious spiciness, and definite hints of toasty oak. The finish is a little mild, but distinctive. The wine is perfect for a hearty meat-heavy meal. Indeed, I think all of the Gan Eden wines, particularly the 2000 vintage releases, are superb and well worth tasting. Although it is, I think, becoming increasingly easier to find good quality kosher wines, it is still very hard to find interesting and distinctive kosher wines of exceptional quality, real staying power, and good value for money. Thankfully, Craig Winchell’s Gan Eden wines reliably provide all this and more.
My thanks to you, Josh. I guess it’s worthwhile noting that your tasting notes appear on a wide variety of wines on kosherwine.com, and that anyone can post tasting notes there. So all of you winelovers out there, get it together and post your notes and impressions of the wines you try. It’s really the only way to let others know what wines you feel are superior or inferior, so that they can have the opportunity to try your gems, or you can alert them to drek. Interaction and socialization have always gone hand-in-hand with wine enjoyment, and posting tasting notes is one way to spur this and enhance the wine drinking experience.
I just read in the Wine Enthusiast that the 2001 vintage of Napa Cabernet was an exceptional year. I did not see any kosher wines reviewed. Has anybody tasted any kosher 2001 Napa or California Cabs that they could recommend . Thanks.
Try the Covenant Cabernet from my friend Jeff Morgan. Pricey but one of the best, “true” Kosher wines ever made.
See http://www.covenantwines.com/
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