Top Ten Kosher Wines for 2007

Gamliel Kronemer, the New York Jewish Week’s wine writer, has just released his Top 10 kosher wines for 2007. While missing out on many of the great non-certified Israeli wines (Flam, Margalit, Pelter, Clos de Gat, Odem Mountain [going certified starting with the 2007 vintages] and many more), about half the list is Israeli wines. Also, with rare exception, most of those wines are available in the US so he leaves out (intentionally) some of the excellent wines not imported or barely available in America (Teperberg 1870, the many smaller boutiques, etc.).

But the list of top Israeli wines according to the NY Jewish Week:

Carmel, Limited Edition, 2003: This rich, dark-garnet colored, Bordelaise-style blend of 50 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 32 percent Petit Verdot, 17 percent Merlot and 1 percent Cabernet Franc has a delightfully perfumed nose of cassis, blackberries, cedar and oak, with floral overtones. Look for flavors of cassis, blackberries, cherries, tobacco, cedar and toasty oak, with hints of allspice and nutmeg. Finely balanced with supple well-integrated tannins, this wine is ready to drink now, but could cellar for another four to five years. Score A (non-blind tasting). $74.99. Available at Union Square Wine and Spirits, 140 Fourth Ave. (Manhattan).

Domaine du Castel, Judean Hills, Grand Vin, 2005: This dark and inky garnet-colored cuvée has a complex nose of cassis, cherries, blackberries, oak, cedar, and brown spices. Look for flavors of bing cherries, cassis and toasty oak, with a hint of bergamot, and a nice level of minerals and spices. This wine is still tight and overly tannic, and needs at least another year to fully integrate. Best 2010-2014. Score A (non-blind tasting). This wine has not yet been released in the United States.

Recanati, Special Reserve, 2004: This full-bodied, dark-garnet colored blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot has a rich nose of cranberries, blackberries, cherries and smoky oak, with a hint of eucalyptus. Look for flavors of blackberries, cherries and mocha, with hints of Mediterranean herbs. Best now-2010. Score A. $35.99. Available at Gotham Wine and Liquors, 2517 Broadway (Manhattan)

Yatir, Negev Desert, Forest, 2004: Made from grapes grown in the manmade Yatir Forest in the northern Negev, this dark and inky, full-bodied, Australian-style red has a fascinating nose of cassis, cherries, plums and toasted oak, with a hint of tobacco smoke. Look for flavors of blackberries, boysenberries, plums, cassis, and toasted oak, with hints of vanilla and allspice, and pleasant earthy undertones. Best now-2011. Score A. $64.99 Available at Gotham Wine and Liquors, 2517 Broadway (Manhattan),

Carmel, Galilee, Sha’al Single Vineyard, Late Harvest Gewürztraminer, 2005: Made from grapes grown in the Sha’al Vineyard in the northern Galilee, this light-gold-colored, medium-to-full-bodied, dessert wine has a bouquet of apricots, lichees, tropical fruits, heather and spices. Look for flavors of apricots, oranges, pineapples and heather, with hints of botrytis and rose petals, and a nice underlying layer of cloves and black pepper. The wine is well structured, with a bracing acidity to match its intense sweetness. Although ready to drink now it should be able to cellar until 2011. Score A/A-. $20.99. Available at Skyview Wine and Liquors, 5681 Riverdale Ave. (Riverdale).

source: http://israelwine.wordpress.com