I have refrained from visiting wineries over the last couple of months out of necessity. Guidelines during this crazy period of time simply prevented most wineries from receiving visitors in person. Many if not most wineries were forced to adapt to the changing times and embraced some kind of direct to consumer delivery model to … Continue reading Netofa’s 2020 Lineup
2 Sister Wines with the Same Bottom Line
For Shavuot I decided to splurge and try inaugural releases of two top tier rosés from sister wineries Golan Heights Winery and Galil Mountain Winery (GHW owns about 2/3 of GMW). Both of these rosés retail for about NIS 99 ($28 or so) and as such are among the most expensive Israeli rosés produced. Neither … Continue reading 2 Sister Wines with the Same Bottom Line
2019 Faustino VI Rioja – and example of what is right… and wrong with Egoz-Muscat
Readers of this blog know I am a huge fan of the Tempranillo grape. I can appreciate it in almost any style from every-day drinking Elvi semi-crianza Herenza Rioja to the upscale Herenza Reserva, from the big bold Israeli 2016 Netofa Dor to the beautifully refined Yaacov Oryah 2011 Iberian Dream series. I have liked … Continue reading 2019 Faustino VI Rioja – and example of what is right… and wrong with Egoz-Muscat
2017 Backoushe Winery The Tailor Semillon – and a possible future change in the way I score
It’s been a while since I wrote a straight wine review - months in fact. I am sorry for that. Not sure if that is going to change any time soon as I am really trying to evaluate whether or not to change my scoring system after some intense conversations on methodology with my friend … Continue reading 2017 Backoushe Winery The Tailor Semillon – and a possible future change in the way I score
Seder 2020
Wine writing is something that I take pleasure in ordinarily. It allows me to crystallize my thoughts about whatever topic it is that I am writing about. If I happen to be writing about specific bottles, as opposed to a general topic, it actually helps me to commit the notes to memory - as well … Continue reading Seder 2020
An Evening with M & M Importers
Over the past year or so, I have been trying to sit down and write a full article on M&M Importers in the US. Besides being the US importer for IDS wines, they also have imported a number of French kosher productions on their own. Even more impressive, they have begun contracting their own kosher … Continue reading An Evening with M & M Importers
Sommelier 2020
For quite some time Sommelier has been THE Israeli wine event. It ushers in the new vintages each year and allows people within the industry to sample the new releases from a wide variety of wineries across the country, ostensibly to allow stores, hotels, and restaurants to knowledgably place orders. For the last couple of … Continue reading Sommelier 2020
KFWE 2020 – Tel Aviv (Zur)
This year, life does not permit me to go on a full KFWE tour. Besides KFWE London conflicting with day one of Sommelier here in Israel, and KFWE Paris (Bokobsa really) conflicting with the second day of Sommelier, I need to be in NY the week after KFWE, which effectively rules out the rest of … Continue reading KFWE 2020 – Tel Aviv (Zur)
RCC Israel # 35 – Shevat 5780
This month we had the opportunity to work with a chef whom I have been wanting to try for a long time - Amrom Pitterman. Each time I would try, he was busy or abroad, and so other arrangements were always made. But the stars aligned this month, and we were beneficiaries of five excellent … Continue reading RCC Israel # 35 – Shevat 5780
Taieb Wines in Israel
During my trip to Taieb last year, the topic of wines making their way to Israel came up. Only three of the wines that I tasted on that trip – the Joseph Mellot Sancere, the Chateau Castelbruck, and Chateau La Naud. Of those, the Mellot and Castelbruck are still on back (and inferior) vintages here, … Continue reading Taieb Wines in Israel