Turnbull Wine Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, California

It’s time for my #FridayCabernetfix. This is a wonderful Cabernet from Napa Valley.

Dark ruby in color with a purplish rim.

Fruity nose with blackberries, black currants, cherry pie, cedar, vanilla, leather, spices, earth, chocolates, coffee, mocha, tobacco, licorice, peppercorn, cloves, beef jerky and black pepper.

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

Dry and extremely fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, wood, licorice, earth, spices, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, coke, earth, light vegetables, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a great Napa Cabernet. Very enjoyable already, but will be so much better in 5 years. Well balanced with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel.

Extremely fruity right now, and needs some time to soften up and get more complexity.

Needs 90 minutes to open up properly and show tannins. Good enough to have all by itself as a sipping wine.

Good with food too, like a big piece of steak.

This is just delicious. Tasty, even though it is so young.

14.7% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$50

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Aligote Winery Merlot 2009, Israel

It’s time for #MerlotThursday. Here is a beautiful one from Israel.

Ruby in color with a wide brick rim.

Interesting nose of blueberries, black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, vanilla, licorice, oak, dark chocolates, dark coffee, spices, earth, vegetables, wet leaves, light bell pepper, leather, vinaigrette, light mold and black pepper.

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

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked blueberries, oak, vanilla, cloves, black pepper, coffee, tobacco leaf, earth, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, wet rocks and vinaigrette.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This 10 year old Israeli Merlot, is still drinking very nicely now, although it was better a few years ago.

Showing great complexity with a nice mouthfeel, but showing it’s age. At a blind tasting I would call this a twenty-year-old right Bank Bordeaux.

Way better after 3 hours in a decanter, when it shows some tannins and complexity.

This is a wine to drink with friends and talk about. Very enjoyable with its elegance and complexity.

Grapes are hand-picked and aged for 14 months in Oak barrels. A very small production of less than a thousand bottles.

Thank you, David and Elvira for sharing this with me.

14% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$25.

Hugel & Fils Pinot Gris Classic 2015 Alsace, France

Pale lemon in color with a light golden tint.

Nose of lemons, grapefruits, light tropical fruits, pineapples, green apples, mineral and spices.

Full bodied and creamy, with medium plus acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with lemons, citrus, green apples, pears, grapefruits, minerals, spices, vegetables, bitter herbs and black pepper.

Nice length on the finish with almonds.

This is a very enjoyable Pinot Gris from Alsace. Nicely balanced with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel, with a touch of sweetness on the mid palate that balances the acidity well.

Good by itself when not too chilled. A good sipping wine and good for parties, although not cheap.

Will age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years and show more complexity.

High alcohol for Pinot Grigio, but it gives it a nice mouthfeel. Easy to drink, so watch out.

Wine Enthusiasts 90 points.

I paired it with a margarita pizza on a nice afternoon.

14% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$25.

Rutherford Ranch Winery Two Range Napa Valley Red Wine 2015, California

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Fruity on the nose with blueberries, cherries, raspberries, black plums, earth, vanilla, licorice, spices, black pepper, dark chocolates, coffee and mocha.

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

Dry and fruity on the palate with raspberries, plums, cherries, oak, strawberries, spices, tobacco leaf, earth, leather, coffee and peppercorn.

Medium on the finish with soft tannins and tangy cranberries.

This Napa Valley Red Blend is a little disappointing. Unbalanced yet drinkable, with mild complexity.

Might need another year in the bottle to mature. Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

85 points.

$17.

De Wet Family Excelsior Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, South Africa

Dark ruby in color with medium intensity and a reddish rim.

Nice nose of blueberries, blackcurrants, sweet cherries, strawberry pie, coke, vanilla, vegetables, graphite, black pepper, spices, barnyard, wet leaves and tar.

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

Dry on the palate with plums, cherries, currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, spices, dark, coffee, vegetables, green herbs, tobacco leaf, cocoa and peppercorn.

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

This is a nice Cabernet Sauvignon from South Africa. Easy drinking with a nice mouthfeel. Nice and balanced with a tangy finish.

Needs an hour to open up properly and show some tannins, but drinkable right out of the bottle too.

I really liked the nose, it is fruity and refreshing with red fruits and earth notes.

I paired it with a few different French Brie cheeses, nuts and crackers.

14% alcohol by volume.

87 Points.

$10.

Yatir Winery Forest 2015, Israel

Dark ruby in color with a purplish rim.

Earthy nose with black currants, plums, bell pepper, cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, vegetables, green herbs, mint, tobacco and black pepper.

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

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black plums, black cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, spices, pencil lead, tobacco leaf, vegetables, light bell pepper, black pepper, dark coffee and dark chocolates.

Long finish with fine tannins and tangy raspberries.

This Israeli Bordeaux blend is drinking very nicely now, although it is very young.

Showing a great mouthfeel with nice complexity. Nicely balanced and good by itself or with food.

Needs 3 hours to open up properly and show tannins and complexity. Will age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

Reminds me of a right Bank Bordeaux. Has high alcohol but not noticeable at all.

Tasty an interesting.

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

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Petit Verdot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Grapes are grown at around 2600 feet elevation, and aged for 15 months in French oak barrels, 30% new. Kosher.

15% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$80.

Bitch Bubbly Sparkling Non Vintage, Spain 89

Dark salmon in color with light intensity.

Light nose of strawberries and citrus with small bubbles.

Sweet and fruity on the palate with raspberries, sweet strawberries, citrus, lemons and apples.

Medium finish with sweet raspberries.

What a fun sparkling Rosé from Spain this is. Sweet and bubbly and Great for parties.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, by the porch or pool.

I took it to an afternoon party, and it was a big hit. Everyone at the party loved it.

A blend of Chardonnay, Shiraz and Grenache.

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

11% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$13.