2/15/2013 - Jan Schultink wrote:

A bit of a disappointment. A merlot and barbera blend. Attractive new car smell nose. Still tight after letting it breathe for more than an hour, with muted red fruit on an acidic background. Hopefully his wine will open later. Not worth the $70 at the moment.

2/12/2013 - Jan Schultink wrote:

Pleasant easy drinking red. Plum and black cherry. Mellow oak. Soft tannins. Espresso finish. Drink up now.

2/10/2013 - Jan Schultink Likes this wine:

After the wine maker change in 2006, I pretty much stopped following this winery. What a nice surprise to come back 7 years later. Still young young, super fresh potent cassis, black cherry opening, lingering on pinching pine tree background leading to a long yeasty cigar box finish with mouth drying and cleansing acidity. A big sweet alcohol punch (the label says 15%, but it could be more) kicks in later. I am curious to see how this still raw wine in a big bold new world style develops over time, and hopefully will settle down elegantly.

1/1/2013 - Jan Schultink wrote:

Black/red in color. Nice new car smell nose. Composed, elegant opening of dark chewy red fruit on a subtle oaky background, leading to along minty, cedar, espresso finish. The wine gets better when given time to breathe.

1/1/2013 - Jan Schultink Likes this wine:

Green golden in color. Flinty nose followed by a refreshing citrus opening mellowed by green melon. Nice chalky backbone leading to a medium long yeasty finish. A great white Burgundy but not one that really surprises or excites me.

12/28/2012 - Jan Schultink wrote:

Not stored professionally. Dark red in color, and surprisingly lively with dark red fruit, moderate oak with a moderately long leathery finish. Still alive and kicking, but a bit bland. Drink up.

9/3/2012 - Jan Schultink wrote:

Green yellow in color. Very interesting smokey nose with a hint of rhubarb. Glaced fruit, lively citrus, cleansing acidity, flint, with a hint of softening melon leading to a medium-long finish. Very nice.

8/11/2012 - Jan Schultink wrote:

Dark brown red in color. Flat nose. Black cherry and cassis with some gravel on the opening, followed by lots of acidity and some eucalyptus on the finnish. A nice wine to pair with food, but if tasted blind, I would have mistaken it for an every day Chianti rather than a Brunello. The storage conditions in the shop in north Iceland might not have contributed to the quality of the wine.

7/21/2012 - Jan Schultink wrote:

Golden orange in color. Refreshing citrus, bone dry finish. Loved it.

7/21/2012 - Jan Schultink wrote:

What surprise, this bottle should have been washed down the toilet. Pale red orange in color. Completely fresh red fruit backed up with coffee, mint, pine, with a refreshing acidity, leading to a long and complex finish. Very much alive.

6/17/2012 - Jan Schultink wrote:

This wine might be past its prime. Brick red in color. It opens with nice fruit but has a tangy, raisiny flavor leading to a long herbal finish with hints of mint. Drink up now.

6/17/2012 - Jan Schultink wrote:

A beautiful Syrah in the making. Bright purple red in color. Fresh glazed fruit nose. Still muted but already powerful cassis and black cherry on the opening backed up by a pleasant raw, flint, pine, dusty, earthy sensation (bitter in nice way). This one needs to open up more to show its full potential.

6/17/2012 - Jan Schultink wrote:

A wonderful California Chardonnay. Still fresh green on color. A wonderful honey/floral nose. Fresh citrus, apricot and chalky minerals biting on first attack leading to a long mine rally finish with just a hint of vanilla and oak flaring up.

6/15/2012 - Jan Schultink wrote:

This wine is still closed. Muted red fruit on a nice acidic backbone, hopefully it will wake up in the near future

5/13/2012 - Jan Schultink wrote:

A fresh blend of gewürztraminer, viognier, and Sauvignon Blanc, this wine is now labelled as "dry", previous vintages were semi dry. Still, there is some of that sweetness left. No oak, bit rich traces of melon, peach, liche, pear makes this an incredibly fun pool wine to be consumed in generous quantities beside the pool this summer. Like the Pelter unpacked Chardoanny with more bass and treble, and a bit les sophistication.

5/13/2012 - Jan Schultink wrote:

The first kosher vintage of this Saslove entry level wine. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Cabermet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Nebolio, this wine truly is a "marriage" of varieties. Bright red in color, with a fresh vanilla, caramel, red cherry, plum on first attack. Slightly tangy, leathery, acidic follow on.Leading to a medium long finish with hints of mocca, mint, and bread flaring up. Not as good as a Flam Classico priced the same in Israel. And lacking that rustic country, simple style feel that can stil make these type of wines fun to drink. Maybe it will get a bit better with time.

4/29/2012 - Jan Schultink wrote:

Two novelties for Saslove. One: a Shiraz in the Aviv series. Two: the first vintage that the winery produces kosher wines. The wine is still hazy. Opening with a sharp, leathery nose. On attack black cherry, but then followed by sensations that are very in-Shiraz: tea, lather, marshmallow, nutty maron glace, leading to a mouth drying finish with mint and herbs. This wine has not settled down yet. pleasant now, but let's see how it develops.

4/9/2012 - Jan Schultink wrote:

A crowd pleaser. Dark purple in color. Fresh, red forest fruit, sandy tannins, and a very big sweetish alcohol punch (14.5% but I suspect higher) lingering with some burn. Usually, wine makers kill these wines with a load of oak, but wood is absent here. Overall, a very pleasant wine as an aperitif or to sweeten up a country-style, simple, meat dish.

4/7/2012 - Jan Schultink wrote:

Absolutely wonderful. Already golden green in color. Peach, melon, citrus, tropical fruit. Subtle, elegant, and balanced.

4/7/2012 - Jan Schultink wrote:

This used to be one of my favorite SBs from Israel. This vintage however seems much weaker and diluted than previous ones. Hopefully it gets better with a bit more time.

3/31/2012 - Jan Schultink wrote:

A deep, black-red color. Glazed fruit/new-car-smell nose. Still fresh cassis and black cherries on a leathery, earthy background leading to a long finish with hints of espresso and cedar wood. An elegant, balanced wine that will age well.

3/22/2012 - Jan Schultink wrote:

After some pretty disappointing reds of Tulip this week, this one is a nice surprise. Still young with a nice hazy platinum green color. Fresh citrus on the nose. Grass, citrus, melon: a summery and refreshing mix of 70% gewurztraminer and 30% sauvignon blanc, a nice acidity backbone and a cleansing finish with a flare up of blossom. Nothing pretentious but enjoyable, a great wine to drink in moderate to large quantities at the pool side this summer with a moderate alcohol level of 12%

3/17/2012 - Jan Schultink wrote:

This wine does not hang together. Nice color. Slightly spicy nose. Ripe plum. Sweet sensation. Gripping tannins. Slightly sticky mouth feel. Short finish. Acidity, but not in harmony with the wine. This wine will not hold much longer.

12/23/2011 - Jan Schultink wrote:

This wine was pleasant, but there is not much more to say. The typical Chassange ingredients are there: minerals, citrus, but the whole wine feels out of balance, the oak/vanilla is a bit overpowering, and it might already shows signs of oxidation. Not recommended.

12/23/2011 - Jan Schultink wrote:

St. Aubin is a well-kept wine secret. Bordering famous Burgundy vineyards with Montrachet in their name, it is often over-looked. This Lamy is wonderful. Sparkling yellow/green in color. A refreshing citrus nose. A complex attack of peach, citron, melon on a foundation of spicy caramel, minerally gravel, on a refreshing acidic backbone leading to long and lingering finish with a flare up of fresh wild flower honey. The wine is still young and I hope it will age well. Delicious.

9/17/2011 - Jan Schultink wrote:

You can't tell it's Merlot (a compliment given the pool of internationalized Merlots without character out there). Dark fruit nose. Bright red/black in color. Ripe plum, toasty (moderate) oak, mouth coating tannins, silky feel, leading to a finish with espresso and mint sneaking in. Elegant and subtle.

9/14/2011 - Jan Schultink wrote:

A new wine from Israeli wine maker Clos de Gat: the red Chanson (the white has been around). Fresh purple/red in color. A fresh forest fruit nose. Opening up with an abundance of simple cherry, cassis and plum on a background of near-sweet tannins leading to a finish that lingers nicely (add in a bit of espresso and mint) but is not too complex. An alcohol punch that feels more than the 14.5% on the label (wonder what the lab test would be). This wine is a crowd pleaser that will appeal to both the casual wine drinker and can provoke a smile from someone who thinks she/he understands wine.

9/13/2011 - Jan Schultink wrote:

Pale green in color. On the opening: green apple with citron with a dash of lychee/tropical fruits. Searing acidity and a hint of bitterness leading to a (still) muted but refreshing finish with a hint of vegetables and gravel. This wine needs a bit more time to integrate as it shows the contributions of the many grapes that went into it relatively separated: Chardonnay, Semillion Blanc, Vionier, Chenin Blanc. I thought it was interesting and unusual, but it might not be to everybody's taste.

9/11/2011 - Jan Schultink wrote:

This wine is showing better and better at every tasting. Straw yellow color. Citrus nose. On attack lemon/citrus and delicate blossom with fresh dash of acidity, revealing subtle oak/whipped cream, leading to a moderately long floral finish with some celery flaring up. Nice for an oaked Chardonnay.

9/3/2011 - Jan Schultink wrote:

Beautiful nose of summer flowers and citrus. More citrus on the opening, softened by melon, good acidity, leading to a long refreshing finish with notes of gravel and bread flaring up at the end. Maybe lacking some concentration.

7/18/2011 - Jan Schultink wrote:

Opaque. Black/brown/brick-red in color. Meaty nose. Subtle cassis, plum, and black cherries blending in harmoniously with fine sandy tannins, a bit of cedar, mint, pine, herbs (feels a bit sweet for some reason) with a nice velvety texture leading to a still fruity finish that lingers on forever. Low acidity. Rounded texture. At the moment this wine is drinking wonderfully, let's hope it keeps up over the next few years.

6/3/2011 - Jan Schultink wrote:

High treble, high bass. Forest fruit nose. A punch of forward fruit (cherries, cassis), leading to a long creamy, espresso-like finish on which the 15% alcohol level is felt. A bit too overpowering for me.

4/20/2011 - Jan Schultink wrote:

Bright red in color. Simple cherry/berry flavors on a sweetish slightly sticky texture. No technical flaws, pleasant, but lacking complexity to make it interesting. Swiss red Humagne can produce vastly different wines. This one is less exciting than previous ones I tasted.

4/19/2011 - Jan Schultink wrote:

A wonderful white wine from Switzerland that is entering her second life. Deep golden yellow in color. Freshness is making way for a ripe apricot, honey, pineapple, strawberry jam, and mineral sensation that lingers on and on. Ideal to give white meat a refreshing, slightly sweet, "kick" in a similar way an Indian chutney sauce would do. The wine is very similar in style to the Domaine Bongran wines by Jean Thevenet, who is going off the beaten track and producing sweetish, complex wines in a region (Macon, Burgundy) where everyone else is creating bone-dry whites.

4/18/2011 - Jan Schultink wrote:

I am pleasantly surprised by the local Swiss wines here. Humagne is a grape variety typical for the Souther Swiss Valais region. Fresh purple red. Spicy attack of black cherries, tangy cedar wood, lively acidity, leading to a long mouth drying finish.

3/26/2011 - Jan Schultink wrote:

A lively color but with the first hints of a more earthy red. Red fruit with a nice delicate floral note immediately upon opening, leading to a refreshing finish with hints of minerals. A simple and straightforward wine to go with a light meal. At $30, massively overpriced in Israel, but probably good value for money in other parts of the world.

3/11/2011 - Jan Schultink wrote:

Incredibly bright green/yellow in color. Fresh citrus, figs, minerals, acidity all blending together harmoniously. A wonderful Italian wine to go with fish or an Escalope Milanese. >$25 in Israel though and that's too much.

12/31/2010 - Jan Schultink wrote:

Black/red in color. Pine forest nose. Leathery plum, sandy tannins, rich, long, and mouth filling herbal/espresso finish. Elegant balance. Wonderful!

12/30/2010 - Jan Schultink wrote:

Orna Chillag is one of my favorite Israeli wine producers, this is one of the more basic wines in her range. Transparent light red. Glazed fruit nose. Medium bodied with multiple layers of dark red fruit, gravel, backed up with fresh acidity leading to a long cleansing finish with Mediterranean herbs. A nice wine to go with wintery comfort food. I would not have been able to identify as Syrah if tasted blindly.

12/9/2010 - Jan Schultink wrote:

Platinum green/yellow. Fine bubbles, releasing in bursts immediately after opening. Refreshing acidity with sweet notes of peach/pear and even deeper apricot/walnut on a yeasty background leading to a medium long mouth-drying finish. A very nice Cava indeed, simple but elegant, drink well-chilled. Good value for money.

11/28/2010 - Jan Schultink wrote:

60% Shiraz/40% Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark purple in color, but with orange rims appearing. Fresh, even acidic attack with plenty of red forest fruits. A healthy dose of oak (receding somewhat as the wine opens up), and still gripping tannins make way for a chocolaty (pure) finish with a hint of mint. Long and lingering with a flare up/punch of the 14.5% kicking in at the end (I would not be surprised if it's higher than the label says). A good wine, but the oak might put some people off. Maybe/hopefully, the wine balance out a bit as it matures.

11/25/2010 - Jan Schultink wrote:

Always a safe bet, especially in restaurants. Showing better than expected after 5 years. Black/purple in color, still lively and fresh with cassis on attack, followed by a leathery, cigar box sensation on a background of sandy tannins leading to a long and generous finish with hints of espresso and Mediterranean herbs. Drinking beautifully now.

7/21/2010 - Jan Schultink wrote:

An N.V Pinot Gris! Pink/dark yellow in color. Undefined glazed and slightly cooked fruit. Lacking acidity and a slightly oily, heavy texture leading to a short finish with some bread/yeast notes. What a pity that this winery with the best "story" of all wineries in Israel does not produce better wines.

5/7/2010 - Jan Schultink wrote:

Still tight, opening with spicy plum and black cherries on a sandy/gripping structure full of cedar wood with sharp/refreshing acidity, leading to a long and satisfying finish. This well-balanced and elegant wine could be destined for a long life span. Wonderful.

3/28/2010 - Jan Schultink wrote:

Golden yellow in color. Fresh citrus, honey, nutmeg, figs on a moderately oaky background with lively acidity leading to a long and satisfying finish. Good if you can enjoy an oaked Chardonnay.

3/7/2010 - Jan Schultink wrote:

Impenetrable black. A subtle attack of dark cherries and plum on a slightly stingy (maybe even "green"), near-sweet background of spicy wood. Lively acidity. A long and complex finish with a slightly "sticky teeth" feel. A much more elegant wine than the powerful fruit/oak wine I remember from a few vintages ago. Let's see how this wine that is still young will develop.

3/5/2010 - Jan Schultink wrote:

The Merlot of Clos de Gat's Har'El series always intrigued me. Less "obvious" than the Cabernet or Syrah, maybe even a bit "mysterious". The 2008 is no exception. Still fresh and young with a deep black/purple color. Opening with an explosion of fresh raspberry and cherries making way for a focussed sequence of sensations. Focussed, because this wine that is just settling in, seems to produce them one after another, sequentially. Peppery/herbal notes, flint, almost steely sensations, back to cedary cigar box, silky mouth feel making way for sandy tannins. The wine is still closed as the fruit gets cut off abruptly in the middle of the finish but leading to a lingering espresso-style finish. This wine is sorting itself out and might be able to age into something very beautiful (aging potential is not obvious for an Israeli wine).

2/26/2010 - Jan Schultink wrote:

Dark purple already turning red. Fresh and lively black cherry on a smoky toasted wood background with gripping tannins and sweetish notes, leading to a spicy long finish. I have a suspicion that this wine will age well (not very common among Israeli wines). A bit syrupy now, but let's give it a few years to see whether it gets better

1/18/2010 - Jan Schultink wrote:

A consistently good wine. Bright purple. Pine tree nose. "Happy" and fresh black cherry and berries, fine tannins, a tiny hint of spicy wood, leading to a satisfyingly long and cleansing finish with more creme cassis. The wine is made of 50/50 Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, but if tasted blind I would have guessed that a hint of stingy Pinotage was somewhere in the blend.

12/29/2009 - Jan Schultink wrote:

Light red in color with a nice "Pinot Noir nose". Opening with strawberry, rose petals on a spicy and slightly floral background with healthy acidity leading to a mouth-cleansing finish. Medium bodied, almost light-weight. A moderately long, but not too complex finish. A nice and elegant wine that goes well with food.