Carmel Winery Admon Vineyard Malbec 2016, Israel

Dark Inky in color with a short purplish rim.

Strong nose of plums, blackcurrants, blackberries, earth, wood, vanilla, smoke, peppercorn, spices, tobacco, dark chocolates, espresso, light herbs and pencil lead.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black plums, black cherries, black currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, earth, tobacco, herbs, bitter vegetables and peppercorn.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a very nice Malbec from Israel. This Single Vineyard is spicy with a tangy finish.

This Single Vineyard is nicely balanced and fruit forward, with mild complexity and a nice mouthfeel.

I gave it 3 hours to open up, but it is drinkable right out of the bottle (I usually give Malbecs 3 hours of airtime, Probably a personal preference, though). Showing an aromatic nose, once it opens up, so give it time.

I’ve had the 2014 not too long ago, and it was much better, so it would be worth your while to wait with this for a couple of years.

Good by itself as a sipping wine. I paired it with cheeses and crackers.

100% Malbec grapes are grown in the upper Galilee region at 2,200 feet of elevation. Aged for 15 months in French Oak barrels. Kosher and non Mevushal.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$30.

Newton Vineyard Unfiltered Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, California

To support the wineries that are the victims of the Glass fires, here is a delicious one from Newton Vineyard.

Dark ruby in color with a short purple rim.

Great nose of blueberries, cooked cherries, cedar, leather, earth, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, coke, tobacco, light alcohol, mocha and black pepper.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, cooked cherries, dried figs, raisins, vanilla, cedar, licorice, mocha, coke and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This 10 year old Cabernet Sauvignon is drinking wonderfully, right out of the bottle. Very tasty and enjoyable by itself.

Very complex with a great mouthfeel. Rich and smooth. Awesome nose, that I kept smelling on for a long time.

This would have been even better if we had a couple of hours to open it up properly, but it was gone so quickly.

Robert Parker 94 points.

Delicious now and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with beef kebabs.

A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Syrah, 7% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

95 points.

$55 (current vintage).

Netofa Winery Tel Qasser Roussanne 2017, Israel

Golden in color.

Spicy nose with ripen yellow apples, spices, light vanilla, wood, bitter herbs, vegetables, apricots, peppercorn, citrus and lemons.

Full bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with apples, over ripened citrus fruits, lemons, light butter, herbs, limes, spices and black pepper.

Tangy finish with black pepper and limes.

This 3 year old Roussanne from Israel is delicious now. Showing nice complexity with a great buttery mouthfeel.

I had it a year ago, and it is drinking nicer now. Would be nice to see how this evolves in the next year or two. Nicer when it opens up (30 minutes). A good quality wine.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with grape leaves, crackers, cheeses and olives.

100% Roussanne grapes from the Galilee were aged for 10 months in French oak barrels. Kosher.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$32.

Mt. Brave Winery Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Napa Valley, California

Time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a delicious one.

Deep inky in color with a short purple rim.

Fruity nose of black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, light vegetables, herbs, tobacco leaf, spices, graphite, peppercorn, pencil lead, dark coffee and earth.

Full bodied and bold with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, light vegetables and pencil lead.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Napa Cabernet. Showing great complexity and mouthfeel. Big and bold, rich and opulent.

Balanced and enjoyable by itself or with food. A great wine from a great vintage, with great potential.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up (2 hours).

Robert Parker 92 points.

Drinking very nicely now and will be even better in the next 5 years.

I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats, cheeses and light appetizers.

A blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec. Aged in (81% new) French oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$100.

Patland Estate Vineyards Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Napa Valley, California

It’s time to get my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon.

Inky in color with a nice reddish/purple rim.

Beautiful nose of blueberries, cooked cherries, raisins, black currants, vanilla, light cedar, Mediterranean spices, tobacco leaf, earth, sweet tea, light cinnamon, turmeric, coffee, curcumin, graphites and peppercorn.

Full bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked strawberries, spices, pencil lead, tobacco, coffee, earth, vanilla, oak, dark chocolates, herbs, light vegetables and black pepper.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a young and delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley.
Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel and nice complexity.

Rich, extracted and elegant. Spicy with a great balance of earthiness and fruit.

This 4 year old Single Vineyard, is drinking very nicely now, and will age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years. A good quality wine with good potential to get to 95+ points.

Needs 2 hours to open up properly and show the tannins.

This is one you want to have with good friends, and talk about. Really enjoyed the nose, and kept smelling on it for a long time.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with cheeses and crackers.

An interesting blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Malbec. Aged in French Oak barrels for 20 month (80% new). A small production of 4,800 bottles this is bottle number 1,354.

14.8% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$155

King Family Vineyards Meritage 2018, Monticello, Virginia

Time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here is a tasty one from Virginia.

Dark ruby in color with a nice reddish rim.

Fruity nose with blueberries, currants, bing cherries, honeysuckle, light oak, red candy, spices, dark coffee, vanilla, dark chocolates, light vegetables and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and pretty legs.

Dry on the palate with cherries, sweet strawberries, black currants, light wood, spices, black pepper, earth, bitter herbs and tobacco leaf.

Medium plus in finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very interesting wine from Virginia. A nice Bordeaux blend that warrants food, although pretty nice by itself too. Tangy and soft, with a nice mouthfeel and mild complexity.

Needs 30 minutes to open up properly, but so much nicer after 90 minutes in a decanter, when it really comes together.

Could be mistaken for a California Bordeaux blend, except for the honeysuckle nose, that i usually find in wines from the Southeast of the US.

Nice and engaging with lively acidity and a tangy finish.

Would be nice to see how it ages in the next 5 years.

I enjoyed it with Brie cheese.

A blend of 41% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, 23% petit verdot, and 4% Malbec.

13.6% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$38.

Kuleto Estate Frog Prince Napa County Red Wine 2015, California

Time for some #Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Light nose of blueberries, plums, wood, licorice, black currants, herbs, coffee, spices and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with plums, cherries, cooked strawberries, currants, vanilla, licorice, spices, green vegetables, herbs, wood, coffee, earth, toast, tobacco leaf and peppercorn.

Tangy finish with nice length and fine grained tannins.

This is a tasty Merlot based blend from Napa. Well balanced, tangy, smooth and spicy. Shows nice balance with a soft mouthfeel.

I’ve had this vintage a few times before, and it is drinking much nicer now. I’ve been checking it, once or twice a year, to see how it evolves. It is worth keeping for a while longer. Will be better in the next two years.

Good right out of the bottle and a good everyday wine. After an hour of airtime, tannins come out to play, with nice structure. This 5 year old is drinking very nicely now.

A blend of 56% Merlot, 18% Malbec, 14% Petit Verdot and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$22.

Carmel Winery Admon Vineyard Malbec 2014, Galilee, Israel

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Strong nose of blackberries, black plums, cherry pie, wood, light vanilla, licorice, dark chocolates, light earth, alcohol, eucalyptus and leather.

Full-bodied, bold and smooth, with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with black currants, black plums, wood, spices, vanilla, tobacco, espresso, chocolates, earth, herbs, vegetables, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Medium plus on the finish with soft tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a very tasty Malbec from Israel. Showing nice complexity with a great mouthfeel. Well balanced and good by itself or with food.

Fruit forward, rich and opulent with a tangy and spicy finish. Interesting with nice acidity to balance all these fruits.

This 6 year old, Single Vineyard, is drinking very nicely now. Would be good in the next 3 to 5 years.

Needs an hour to open up properly and balance itself out.

Grapes are grown in the upper Galilee region, at an elevation of 2,500 feet above sea level. Aged in French Oak barrels for 15 months. Kosher for passover. Only 6,700 bottles made (this is number 742).

15% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$32.

Baldacci Family Vineyards Fraternity Napa Valley Red Wine 2013, California

It’s time for some Cabernet for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby/purple in color with a nice brick/reddish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, raisins, vanilla, cedar, licorice, chocolates, cola, mocha, coffee, peppercorn, vinaigrette, pencil lead, tobacco leaf and light vegetables.

Full bodied, smooth and elegant, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, tobacco, cedar, leather, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, mocha, coke and vinaigrette.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and cherries..

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon based blend from Napa Valley. This 7 year old, from a great vintage, is showing great complexity and a wonderful mouthfeel. The alcohol is very integrated at this point.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up and brings out the wonderful aromas. (2 hours)

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

Thank you Wendy for sharing this jem with me. Just delicious.

Wine Enthusiasts 92 points.

A blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 9% Malbec.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

95 points.

$50.

Georges Vigouroux Chateau de Haute-Serre Icône WOW Cahors Malbec 2009, France

Deep inky in color with a short purple rim. Not showing age at all.

Strong nose of plums, cherries, black currants, wood, cloves, light vegetables, herbs, forest floor, chocolates, pencil lead, dark coffee, wet leaves, earth and peppercorn.

Full bodied, bold, rich and extracted, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and extremely fruity on the palate with black currants, cooked blueberries, oak, light vanilla, spices, light alcohol, river rocks, eucalyptus, mint, peppercorn, earth and pencil lead,

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a great 11 year old Malbec from the great 2009 vintage. Well balanced with a great mouthfeel and great complexity.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly and show the complexity.

Could age nicely in the next 5 years, but so yummy already.

Wine Enthusiasts 90 points.

Good with food, but great all by itself too. A delicious sipping wine. Loved the long finish with the nice tannins.

I paired it with cheeses and light appetizers.

100% Malbec grapes were aged in New French oak barrels for 24 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$110.