As I previously mentioned, a good part of the tasting on this year's trip to France with my friend David Raccah was done in the hotel and the VAST majority was blind. In fact, there was really only one exception to tasting blind and that was the 2021 Jean-Phillipe Marchand releases produced by Taieb. This … Continue reading France Trip 2022 – Part 4 – 2021 JP Marchand Burgundies
Tasting Notes
France Trip 2022 – Part 3 – IDS
The way this trip to France worked out, David and I visited a single producer each of the three days I was there and left the rest of the time for tasting in the hotel. On this last day, our trip outside the hotel was to IDS, which I consider a mandatory stop. There is … Continue reading France Trip 2022 – Part 3 – IDS
France Trip 2022 – Part 2 – Royal
Really, the high point of my visit to France each year, besides hanging out with my friend David Raccah for a week tasting wine and eating good food, is getting to spend quality time with Menachem Israelievitch, head winemaker for Royal Europe. It’s not just that he’s a consummate professional, managing dozens of productions at … Continue reading France Trip 2022 – Part 2 – Royal
France Trip 2022 – Part 1 – Bokobsa
Time for my posts on my annual trip to France with my friend David Raccah of kosherwinemusings.com. Like last time, we spent the entirety of this trip in Paris rather than visiting any specific wine-making area. The real benefit here is in our ability to taste a larger number of wines in the hotel, so … Continue reading France Trip 2022 – Part 1 – Bokobsa
Ya’acov Oryah’s 2022 Releases
A couple of weeks ago I was invited to a launch event for Ya'acov Oryah’s current releases. The event was held in Tel Aviv at the loft of Borgogne Corwn. This was a bit of a switch for me. I’m not usually invited to press-specific events with other wine and food writers. And specifically with … Continue reading Ya’acov Oryah’s 2022 Releases
Seder 2022
Finally, things in Israel at least have basically returned to normal. The airport is fully open, and people citizens and tourists alike are free to come and go as they please. Incredible! As I try to do each year, I will give you my strategy for wine selection for the Seder. If you are looking … Continue reading Seder 2022
Paris – November 2021 – Part 3 – Royal’s Truly Royal 2019 Vintage with Menachem Israelievitch
Finally, we are on to the main event. Honestly, the real reason I try to fly to France - besides hanging out with David - is to hang out for a day with Menachem Israelievitch and taste through Royal’s current French portfolio. It is truly the highlight of my trip each time. It’s not just … Continue reading Paris – November 2021 – Part 3 – Royal’s Truly Royal 2019 Vintage with Menachem Israelievitch
Paris – November 2021 – Part 2 – Christophe Bardeau of Domaine Roses Camille
Continuing with my posts from my most recent trip to France, the second day's slot was reserved for a meeting with Christophe Bardeau, winemaker of Domaine Roses Camille. This was a meeting that I had been looking forward to for some time. There are no other winemakers whom I can think of and say - … Continue reading Paris – November 2021 – Part 2 – Christophe Bardeau of Domaine Roses Camille
Paris November 2021 – Part 1 – IDS
A couple of years ago, I decided that to really get a feel for what is being produced in the kosher wine world, I needed to make a yearly visit to France to taste through as much as I could, as only a percentage of these productions gets exported to the US, and an even … Continue reading Paris November 2021 – Part 1 – IDS
Golan Heights Winery Merlot Through the Years
Over the last decade or so, there has been much discussion among oenophiles as to the direction that Golan Heights Winery has taken with its wines. Many feel that, as of 2009, there was a significant shift in style from more refined and restrained wines to a big opulent more fruit-forward style. There are those … Continue reading Golan Heights Winery Merlot Through the Years