10/15/2011 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

Seemed in a dumb phase - need to revisit

10/14/2011 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

Still there with fruit and good secondary flavors but lifeless - drink up

9/2/2011 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

As with every nearly bottle of wine I have enjoyed from this winery over the years, an extremely enjoyable oenophilic experience. This was Yatir’s fist Cabernet Sauvignon varietal which was released to great (and justified) critical acclaim, which has happily continued to be justified over the years. Initially opened with some trepidation due to some complaints here of a high alcohol, “hotness” and a lack of residual sugar which dissipated rapidly on first whiff. Deep, long, rich and generous, this is an extremely elegant wine that has come into its own with elegant fruit and a nice array of secondary notes of earth and forest with a hint of warm spices leading into a long and caressing finish with tobacco, chocolate and cedar. Enjoyed over the course of Friday night dinner, the wine was vibrant throughout the meal (although it went pretty quickly). I have a few more bottles left and, while I am not sure it’s going to get any better, the wine easily has a couple more years on it of peak enjoyment, if not more.

10/7/2010 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

I definitely enjoyed this wine more than the Katzrin 04. Truth be told, I think the Katzrin needs more time before its ready while the Elrom is amazing now – even though both are good for at least another 10 years. This wine is even more elegant than the Katzrin with great structure and beauty. Blackberries, black plums, cherries and hints of raspberries all compete for your attention on the richly layered nose and hang around for the palate where they are joined by asphalt, cigars and damp forest leaves with hints of black pepper. A velvety and rich finishes lingers.

9/3/2010 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

One manifestation of Israel’s winemaking trend which focuses on the unique terroir, is the proliferation of Single Vineyard wines, which take on the unique characteristics of the individual vineyard from which the grapes are harvested. Segal’s wines in this series are especially good but they tend to be under appreciated given the popularity of their genius older brother - the Unfiltered. Hopefully after trying this wine your appreciation for this series will grow. A full bodied wine with tannins that are already nicely integrated with an abundance of juicy black forest fruit. Gently biting spiciness accompanies the generous hints of tobacco, espresso and dark, wintry forest which combine together into a slightly brooding but deliciously complex wine with a long, caressing finish.

1/14/2010 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

I first tasted the 2008 vintage of this wine while visiting Israel and loved it! I had the opportunity to taste the 2009 vintage at a recent tasting back in November held by the Israeli Economic Mission and was wowed by how different it was from the 2008 and by how much I liked it. Like Carmel’s Sha’al dessert wine, some of the grapes were infected with Botrytis to great effect. A rich, ripe and luscious wine with plenty of apricots and dried fruit, some lychee, heather and honey all tempered by good acidity that kept the richness in check. I haven’t yet seen it on sale in NYC, but will definitely load up on it when it appears - a highly recommended dessert wine and great alternative to the delicious Sha’al.

11/4/2010 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

A medium bodied wine that is ready to drink right now and very enjoyable right out of the bottle. Rich and opulent with solid tannins beautifully integrated with plenty of black cherries, dark plums and some currants with a nice dose of underlying spice. Given the lushness of the wine, I was surprised at its elegance, but very pleasantly surprised at. I am taking no risks predicting a 3-4 cellaring life for this wine; but given the wine’s solid backbone and strong tannins, it could surprise us and live well beyond that. Plenty of almost-sweet cedar wood and hints of tobacco leaf combined with near-perfectly ripe fruit make this a delicious wine with plenty of complexity to keep you engaged. A long finish with more tobacco, dark chocolate and hints of black licorice leave you aching to crack another bottle (but I controlled myself). At $30 a pop (including cross-country shipping), this wine was well worth my hard-earned shekels and nearly earned itself a YH Best Buy.

6/21/2010 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

I had the pleasure of tasting this wine recently and am sadly down to my last bottle. In addition to the more famous Sauternes and Barsac dessert wines, wines from the Bonnezeaux region also produce magnificent Botrytis wines. This sensuous wine from the Layon Valley is more intensely sweet than typical Sauternes like the Guiraud, but contains plenty of bracing acidity that reins in the abundant sweetness. Wonderful notes of nectarines, pineapple, white peaches, vanilla and honey along with hints of licorice. An awesome match to some of my favorite all time foods – Foie Gras, fruit tarts, salty cheeses or Canard à l'Orange.

8/24/2011 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

One of the wines included with the Eshkol Pessach shipment of the Leket Wine Club was a delicious blend from this new winery (read about them at the bottom of this page). Pierre Miodownick also has a higher-end wine and this Rosé which, like the blend was really fun and enjoyable to drink beating back the heat and humidity with a cheerful smile. Utilizing the same grapes as the blend (Syrah and Mourvèdre), this wine has a bit more body than many of the other Rosés I reviewed, good fruit and a nice reflection of terroir with some flinty rock on the mid palate.

8/24/2011 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

Probably the first wine I have tasted from this overlooked and under-appreciated winery that I didn’t love at first taste. I assume it’s a result of being their first try at Rosé and will definitely grant the 2011 another shot but, while well-made with cherry and berry fruit, it was a little to sweet for me and lacked the bracing acidity that would have grated the sweetness the necessary edge. I can envision folks enjoying this really well-chilled on its own as an aperitif.

8/24/2011 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

After enjoying the 2009 vintage of this wine on a trip to Israel I happily had it brought in specially for the Sensi event that benefited Leket. I wrote about this great little winery and its eccentric wine maker back in newsletter #149 and continue to enjoy their wines, with their white and rosé being really fun and fresh. Made with by the Saignée method, this wine has a relatively flat nose of fruit without the exuberant berries bursting forth that I usually love in a Rosé. However, the palate more than makes up for it with plenty of bright red fruit including raspberries, strawberries, cassis and watermelon. Good acidity backs up the fruit making for a delightfully refreshing wine and a great match to the light and refreshing fare one seeks out during these oppressively hot days.

8/24/2011 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

Made mostly from Barbera grapes with a bit of Merlot and easily available in the both Israel and the US. Lots of classic rose fruit on both the nose and palate with good acidity and a gentle hit of bitterness that balances out the fruitiness quite nicely. A wine for relaxing with and great for a summer brunch (or almost any other occasion as a great match to lighter dishes).

8/24/2011 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

The only kosher Rosé Champagne made by a “real” Champagne House and a delicious treat (especially as it combines Rosé and Champagne – two of my favorite things). Less obligatory and more romantic (and expensive) than regular Champagne, Rosé Champagne has exploded in popularity over the last decade with more and more Champagne Houses trying their hands at producing this lucrative wine. This version is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes and, as with most Rosé wines, is pretty light on the palate. Loaded with typical yeast, toasted bread and green apple flavors, these accompanied by lush strawberries, cherries and hints of slightly astringent citrus. This is a fun (albeit expensive fun) wine and a great accompaniment to any summer festivities. A real treat [only available in the US]!

8/24/2011 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

Standing out both in the varietal – Syrah and a relatively high level of alcohol for a Rosé – 13.7%, this remains a refreshing summer wine (and part of my quest to try more of the non-Israeli value-priced wines on the market). The Syrah provides a pleasing and unexpected bite of spice that plays nicely with slightly subdued fresh red berries and makes this wine an interesting one. Very much enjoyed during a hazy afternoon picnic lunch of cold chicken salad overlooking the Hudson River [only available in the US]

8/24/2011 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

Concocted from a smorgasbord of red grapes including Cabernet Sauvignon, Barbera and Pinot Noir with Sangiovese making the bulk of the wine at over 60%, this a very refreshing wine. A bright and cheerful wine that is perfect for a picnic and very well priced. Plenty of tart red berries and almost as dry as I like it, this wine has plenty of acidity to keep it fresh on your palate, regardless of how high temperatures rise.

8/24/2011 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

A light, easy-drinking and refreshing wine but this year it seems a little too fruity for my tastes, precariously bordering (but not there) on the bubble gum danger zone. Nice and fruity with strawberries and boysenberries on the palate with an ever-so-slight undertone of pleasing bitter citrus tempered but just enough acidity to prevent the fruit from turning flabby. While most Rosé wines are not meant for sophistication, this wine is pure fun – an easy date!

8/24/2011 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that spent over a year in oak resulting in soft and well integrated tannins that provided a round and mouth filling sensation on first attack. Give this wine some time to open up in your glass and you will delight in the blackberries, dark plums and currants surrounded by rich back earth, sweet, Mediterranean herbs and slightly spicy wood all leading into and continuing with a medium to long finish that encourages another sip (again and again).

8/24/2011 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

My favorite wine of the three, this wine was rich, round and mouth filling with some intriguing blueberry notes to go along with the blackberries, cherries and hints of cassis. Hints of sweet cedar wood (recently determined by Daniel Rogov to be a defining characteristic taste of wines from Israel or the general Mediterranean basin). Plenty of nice aromatics on the nose and good fruit nicely balanced by the wood and tannins all came together beautifully, leading into a medium long finish with more fruit, wood and a pleasurable faint bitterness rising on the finish.

8/24/2011 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

A medium bodied wine that, once it had about 30 minutes in my glass, opened up into an easy drinking wine with sufficient sophistication and depth to warrant my attention. Nice black fruit on both the nose and palate with a pleasurable “dusty” or earthy overtone and hints of spicy oak. A medium finish with hints of mint and tobacco leaf rounded out a delightful drinking experience.

2/2/2011 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

This is a great wine. Eminently drinkable right out of the bottle w/ the Syrah providing dominant aromas and mouthfeel but a wine that will age for at least a decade. I look forward to tasting this as it develops. For my full note see here; http://goo.gl/lHJdz.

1/12/2011 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

A medium bodied wine that is ready to drink right now and very enjoyable right out of the bottle. Rich and opulent with solid tannins beautifully integrated with plenty of black cherries, dark plums and some currants with a nice dose of underlying spice. Given the lushness of the wine, I was surprised at its elegance, but very pleasantly surprised at. I am taking no risks predicting a 3-4 cellaring life for this wine; but given the wine’s solid backbone and strong tannins, it could surprise us and live well beyond that. Plenty of almost-sweet cedar wood and hints of tobacco leaf combined with near-perfectly ripe fruit make this a delicious wine with plenty of complexity to keep you engaged. A long finish with more tobacco, dark chocolate and hints of black licorice leave you aching to crack another bottle (but I controlled myself). At $30 a pop (including cross-country shipping), this wine was well worth my hard-earned shekels and nearly earned itself a YH Best Buy.

12/22/2010 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

Hint of TCA but still very enjoyable. A little tired with almost non-existent tannins but all secondary elements were fully intact.

12/17/2010 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

Delicious.

12/10/2010 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

Not for further cellaring

12/9/2010 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

Over the hill but still there. Some muted fruit and spice. Definitely a drink right away wine.

12/18/2010 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

Still alive and kicking.

12/11/2010 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

Still holding strong but showing signs of being tired. I'd saw another 6 months to a year for bottles stored well.

12/1/2010 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

Delicious. Rich and complex, lasted for a few hours but started to fade after 5 hours or so.

12/3/2010 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

Was amazing. rich and delicious.

9/3/2010 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

While dessert wines are supposed to have more longevity than their dry counterparts (a Chateau d’Yquem from 1847 is supposedly still alive), the 2004 Sha’al never struck me as having what it took. I was pleasantly surprised to find that, while clearly past its peak with some burnt caramel creeping in, it was still exceedingly enjoyable with plenty of generous sweetness, balancing acidity and honey, apricot and citrus fruits all coming together for a great dessert.

12/1/2010 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

Well past its time and basically undrinkable. Some fruits on the nose but nothing but death on the palate.

9/3/2010 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

Given that I was married in 1999, I have a relatively large quantity of wine from these years, the majority of which are from Yarden who, at the time, provided the best bet for long-aged kosher wines. As DH indicated that his recent prior experiences with this vintage had not been great, we opened the bottle with a little trepidation. None was necessary as the wine is still in good shape and will probably survive another couple years (although it’s clearly past its peak). Its great structure and balance have served it well and it provided plenty of berries and cassis on the nose, together with the (then) traditional Israeli Cabernet notes of oak, espresso and hints of chocolate.

9/3/2010 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

These wines were a huge hit on release but didn’t sell very well, as evidenced by their continuing availability even so far past their peak. I was sure this would be D.O.A. but was pleasantly surprised to find slightly subdued fruit in a velvety and caressing body.

11/26/2007 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

A soft and well rounded medium bodied Pinot with good structure and mellow tannins. The wine was a warm and dark blood red color with a bold nose of cherries and raspberries that follow through on the palate on a backbone of minerals.

11/23/2007 - Yossie's Corkboard wrote:

Part of the "Prix Club" by Hagafen, this wine is simply amazing!! A very dark golden color and full-bodied, this wine is made from Chardonnay grapes (a large number of the Israeli wines are made from the Gewürztraminer grape) and the botrytis elements are felt throughout this wine. A very sweet wine but with enough acidity to keep the sweetness (resulting from the 18% residual sugar) from overpowering the wine and its aromas and flavors. On the nose citrus, apple orchards freshly "wet" from a summer rain and hints of caramel, spices and vanilla which follow through onto a delightful pallate of sugar, more apples, limes all with intense hints of heathery botrytis onto the relatively long finish. The wine is drinking nicely now and should cellar for another 4-5 years at least.