West Coast Wine Group Pure Bred Old Vine Zinfandel 2017 Lodi, California

Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim and medium intensity.

Fruity nose of cherries, strawberries, currants, vanilla, wood, spices and black pepper.

Medium bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with blueberries, cherries, plums, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, spices, dark chocolates and peppercorn.

Medium finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a nice Zinfandel from Lodi. Lighter than one might expect from this region.

Fruit forward and simple. Good by itself or with food. A good everyday wine and good for parties.

14.8% alcohol by volume.

87 Points.

$7.

Tussock Jumper Malbec 2018 Mendoza, Argentina

Dark purple in color with a short reddish rim.

Nose of cherries, blueberries, oak, spices, tobacco, coffee, chocolates and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, oak, vanilla, light vegetables, spices, chocolates, tobacco and peppercorn.

Short finish with fine tannins and herbs.

This is a simple Malbec from Argentina.

Easy drinking and good by itself or with food. I paired it with BBQ meats and grilled asparagus.

Made with Organic grapes.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

86 points.

$10.

Ella Valley Vineyards Vineyard’s Choice 32/35 2012, Israel

Time for some #Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here is a great Merlot blend from Israel.

Deep purple in color with a wide reddish rim.

Pretty nose of blackberries, sweet plums, dried figs, raisins, vanilla, cinnamon, sweet oak, spices, chocolates, black pepper, mocha, coffee, milk chocolates and tobacco.

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

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, raisins, vanilla, toasted cedar, licorice, cola, chocolates, earth, mocha, coffee and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a wonderful Red Blend from Israel. Showing great complexity and mouthfeel. Rich and extracted, yet elegant. Resembles a good quality Napa Bordeaux blend.

This 8 year old is peaking now and will be good in the next few years. I had it before, as a 5 year old, and this time it’s so much better.

This is a big red wine, with teeth staining color. Needs 3 hours to open up properly and show the tannins.

Thank you Sean for sharing this wonderful wine with me. This is a delicious wine to have with friends.

Enjoyable by itself or with food. I paired it with a cheeses and light appetizers.

A blend of Merlot, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 17 months in oak barrels. Kosher.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

95 points.

$50.

Nabor Wines NSO Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay 2018, California

Pale yellow in color with a golden hue.

Strong fruity nose with oak, vanilla, melons, black pepper, yellow apples and lots of spices. A Very interesting nose.

Full bodied, buttery and smooth, with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with citrus, lemons, apples, pears, wood, vanilla, spices and peppercorn.

Medium plus on the finish with tangy limes.

This is a nice oaky Chardonnay from Santa Rita Hills, California.

Big, but not overwhelming. Good by itself as a sipping wine. Not bitter at all on the finish, which I liked. Spicy, interesting and fun.

Although not my style with all that oak, it is nicely balanced and a good quality wine.

I had it all by itself by the fire. (it’s cold in Florida today 😃)

14% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$15.

RBJ Vintners VOX Populi 2001 Barossa Valley, South Australia

To support Australia, we are drinking a nicely aged one from South Australia.

Pretty color of light ruby with a wide reddish rim.

Showing black and red fruits with earth, light vegetables, tobacco, spices and peppercorn.

Dry on the palate with medium acidity.

Medium bodied with a tangy finish and no tannins at this point.

This 19 year old Grenache blend is drinking very nicely now. Nice and easy drinking, but not as complex as I expected it to be. Still, very enjoyable to drink a piece of history.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with light appetizers.

12% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

Carmel Winery Kayoumi Vineyard Riesling 2017, Israel

Pale lemon in color.

Strong nose of apples, lemons, diesel, minerals, light vegetables and spices.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity, crisp and refreshing.

Dry on the palate with a touch of RS, and lemon grass, green apples, pears, light grapefruits, spices, herbs and white pepper.

Medium plus on the finish with tangy limes, grapefruits and peppercorn.

This is a very nice Riesling from Israel. Nicely balanced, tangy and tasty. Spicy with mild complexity.

Reminds me of a riesling from Mosel. A very nice sipping wine to have by the porch.

This Single Vineyard Riesling is a Good quality wine that will age nicely in the next 10 years.

Grapes are grown in the upper Galilee at 2,500 feet of elevation. Kosher.

12% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$25.

Dusty Nabor Wines Ballard Canyon Syrah 2017, California

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of blueberries, blackberries, black currants, black plums, oak, licorice, vanilla, cola, dark chocolates, tobacco, black pepper, earth and Indian spices.

Full-bodied and bold with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate and fruity with blackberries, black currants, oak, light vegetables, vanilla, coffee, spices, peppercorn, leather and tobacco.

Long finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very enjoyable Syrah from California. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle, but better after 90 minutes of airtime. As it opens up, lots of coffee and chocolate notes come in, which is very nice to see.

Wine Enthusiasts 90 points.

Already drinking well, but will be better in the next 3 to 5 years.

Nicely balanced, interesting and engaging. I especially enjoyed the nose here.

I paired it with cheeses and crackers.

A blend of 93% Syrah and 7% Viognier. Aged for 16 months in 50% new French oak barrels. Unfiltered and unfined.

15% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$40.