As always, my last post in the series deals with the hotel tastings that I do each trip with David Raccah of Kosher Wine Musings. At this stage, while there are still some more big wines to taste (IDS and a couple of Mercier releases primarily), I have already reached conclusions about the ’22 vintage. … Continue reading France, January 2025 – Part 4 – Hotel Tastings
Sancerre
France, January 2025 – Part 1 – Royal
When I first made the decision to bump my visits to France to twice a year, I expected to have less wine to taste per trip. These trips to France are always with my friend David Raccah of Kosher Wine Musings, and he has been doing this twice a year since the start. When I … Continue reading France, January 2025 – Part 1 – Royal
France – May 2024 – Part 3 – Hotel Wines
Note: I am embarrassed at how late this post is. It was 95% complete by mid-June. I just never got around to finishing and editing due to my work schedule and of course the ongoing situation here, which as I have noted, does not leave me in the headspace for writing. But as I have … Continue reading France – May 2024 – Part 3 – Hotel Wines
France – May 2024 – Part 1 – Royal
I have been doing these France trips with my friend David Raccah of Kosher Wine Musings for five years now. Until now, David has always come twice a year - in May and November - while I only joined for the November trip. This was mostly due to work scheduling issues, family commitments, etc., and … Continue reading France – May 2024 – Part 1 – Royal
France – November 2023 – Part 4 – Hotel Wines
This post will (finally) wrap up my trip with my friend David Raccah of Kosher Wine Musings to France this past November. I have to say the most fun part of each of these trips is the time that we get to spend together when we are NOT at formal tastings with other people. Its … Continue reading France – November 2023 – Part 4 – Hotel Wines
France – November 2023 – Part 2 – IDS
Our next organized tasting was at IDS, which really needs no introduction from me. They are responsible for some of the very best kosher wines ever produced. They are a permanent stop whenever I am in France. Unfortunately, the problem is that David (of the Kosher Wine Musings blog) tastes in France at least twice … Continue reading France – November 2023 – Part 2 – IDS
KFWE 2023: NY & Tel Aviv
Let me start by with the obligatory apologies for the lateness of this post. My work schedule unfortunately has not let up – and is forecasted to continue this way until at least November – so I am constantly playing catch up. This year, due to work, I was unable to do the full KFWE … Continue reading KFWE 2023: NY & Tel Aviv
ESSA Emunah and other odds and ends
Most winemakers do not care what wine writers have to say about their wines (unless it’s positive of course). Nor should they. As I have noted numerous times, what makes my palate any better than theirs – or anyone else’s for that matter. But every once in a very long while I get sent wines … Continue reading ESSA Emunah and other odds and ends
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