Assaf Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2011, Golan Heights, Israel

Ruby in color with a hint of brick.

Spicy nose of peppercorn, blueberries, cherries, sweet raspberries, tobacco, earth, Indian spices, wood, cardamom, light vegetables, cinnamon, vinaigrette, and dark chocolates.

Medium plus in body and elegant with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, sweet cherries, raspberries, spices, tobacco leaf, graphite, herbs, black pepper, chocolates, black olives, earth and black tea.

Nice length on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This 9 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Israel is delicious now. Easy drinking and elegant with nice complexity.

Still drinking very nicely, although this was probably better a couple of years ago.

Needs 3 hours to open up, but after 4 hours, nice tannins come in with nice structure, so be patient.

A good quality wine. Spicy, tangy, elegant and interesting.

A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 20 months in French and American oak barrels. Grapes are grown in the Golan Heights region.

Thank you Sean for sharing this with me.

I paired it with cheeses, olives and nuts.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$45.

Teperberg Winery Legacy Cabernet Franc 2017, Israel

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Strong fruity nose with blackberries, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, spices, earth, tobacco, coffee, herbs light alcohol, light vegetables and peppercorn.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with black currants, plums, raspberries, cooked cherries, cedar, leather, earth, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco, chocolates, light vegetables, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy strawberries.

This is a delicious Cabernet Franc from Israel. Nicely balanced and good by itself or with food. Tangy, interesting, spicy and attractive. Rich and elegant.

Showing nice complexity at this point, and will age nicely in the next five to seven years.

Needs 90 minutes to open up properly, but good right out of the bottle as well. After 2 hours of airtime, more red fruits come in, and dominate both the palate and the nose.

I paired it with cheeses and crackers. Delicious.

Grapes grow in the Judean Hills region, and fermented on their own yeast. Aged for 18 months in Oak barrels. Kosher and non Mevushal.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$68.

DNA Vineyards Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, California

It’s time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a delicious one from California.

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Fruity nose of black plums, black cherries, light wood, vanilla, licorice, spices, cola, peppercorn, vinaigrette, dark chocolates, light vegetables and espresso.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, tobacco, vanilla, licorice, spices, espresso, cola, light vegetables, chocolates, leather and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a very tasty wine from Dry Creek Valley. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Shows nice complexity with great structure.

I had it blind and I was really impressed with the complexity here. Drinks more like a Washington State Bordeaux blend. Delicious.

Thank you Wendy for sharing this with me.

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

13.8% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$28.

Mascota Vineyards Eccentric Merlot 2018, Argentina

Time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

Purple in color with a wide purplish rim.

Fruity nose of blueberries, plums, spices, light tobacco and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with plums, black cherries, blueberries, spices, light wood, earth, chocolates and black pepper.

Medium on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a nice and easy drinking Merlot from Argentina. Feels more like a California Merlot.

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

13.5% alcohol by volume.

87 Points.

$10.

Oakwild Ranch Winery Toboni Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2016, California

Reddish in color with a wide reddish rim and medium plus intensity. Very pretty.

On the nose bing cherries, blueberries, spices, light oak, light red candy, earth and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with bing cherries, raspberries, blueberries, light wood, light earth, spices and peppercorn.

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

This 4 year old Pinot Noir from Sonoma County is drinking very nicely now. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel.

Fruit forward and easy drinking with a spicy finish. Fun wine and very tasty now. Alcohol is nicely integrated by now.

Will continue to drink nicely in the next 3 to 5 years.

Good right out of the bottle. I gave it a light chill and had it by the pool. Paired nicely with a Double cream Brie cheese.

100% Pinot Noir grapes from a Single Vineyard. A small production of only 92 cases. Aged in 30% new oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$45.

Eos Estate Winery Tears of Dew Late Harvest Moscato 2006 Paso Robles, California

This is a delicious 14 year old, Moscato from Paso Robles. Showing ripen apples and citrus fruits, cooked oranges, honey, melons, tropical fruits, peaches, light vanilla, bananas, apricots, guava, tangerines, mediterranean spices and black pepper.

Sweet on the palate and nicely balanced, with high acidity to balance it out.

Full bodied with great complexity and a nice mouthfeel.

Long finish with tangy lemons.

Loved the nose, but the palate is much more interesting and tasty. Usually it’s the other way for me.

Wine Enthusiasts 95 points.
Thank you Elvira and David for sharing this with us.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with an Italian berry tart. Delicious.

11.5% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$25 (current vintage, half bottle).

Binyamina Wines Ha’Shomer Marselan Reserve 2017, Galilee, Israel

Dark ruby in color with a wide and cloudy reddish rim.

Strong nose of blueberries, black currants, plums, licorice, oak, spices, dark coffee, black pepper, earth, herbs, light alcohol, wet leaves and black tea.

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

Dry on the palate with plums, black currants, coffee, oak, earth, tobacco leaf, green vegetables, spices, black tea, bitter herbs and black pepper.

Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a nice surprise coming from Israel. This Marselan is earthy and interesting. Very tangy, spicy and engaging. The aromatic nose makes it fun to smell on for a while.

Needs an hour to open up properly to bring out the tannins, and show good structure. Much better after 3 hours of airtime, so be patient. Would be interesting to see how it evolves in the next couple of years.

The Marselan grape variety is a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache, and I like both. Interesting stuff.

Good by itself and better with food. I paired it with Brie cheese and olives. Would pair nicely with game meats or lamb dishes.

100% Marselan grapes from the Galilee region, were aged in French oak barrels for 16 months. Kosher. Mevushal.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$25.

Grand Napa Vineyards The Big Pink 2019 Napa Valley, California

Dark salmon in color with an orange/ peach hue.

On the nose raspberries, strawberries, limes, citrus, grapefruits, earth, vegetables, herbs, green apples and spices.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity, crisp and refreshing.

Dry on the palate with lemons, citrus, green apples, grapefruits, light raspberries, bitter herbs, vegetables, earth, spices and white pepper.

Medium finish with bitter almonds and black pepper.

This Rosé from Napa Valley is showing like an old world one. Earthy and spicy with a very pretty color. Feels like a Provence Rosé.

This wine needs food and paired Very nicely with the brie cheese by the pool.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$43.

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.

Château Peynaud-Bagnac Bordeaux 2012, France

This is a nice surprise for #MerlotThursday.

Pretty color of dark ruby with a wide brick rim.

On the nose, red currants, plums, blueberries, cherries, vanilla, black tea, tobacco leaf, light vegetables, cedar, licorice, mint, spices, vinaigrette, earth and black pepper. Really lovely nose.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco, dark chocolates, espresso, black tea and peppercorn.

Medium finish with medium plus tannins and pomegranates.

This 8 year old is still drinking nicely, although past its peak. Showing nice complexity, especially on the nose. Tangy and very easy to drink, with a nice mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle and better after 90 minutes of airtime.

Wine Enthusiasts 89 points.
Thank you David and Elvira for sharing.

I paired it with a big piece of steak and grilled asparagus.

A blend of 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc.

13% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$15.