With Purim approaching, I thought it would be prudent to create a list of Kosher wines worth drinking by alphabet.
This first round will focus on some of the better more expensive wines.
Abarbanel Gewurztraminer 2004
This wine is powerful on the palate – your tongue will be hit with bursts of sugar and spice, oak and herbs. Gewurztraminer is perhaps the one white wine that can stand up to steaks. Recommended food parings are with Asian cuisine, especially Chinese, Thai, Japanese and Korean foods. Also recommended are hot Mexican and Spanish dishes.
The Wall Street Journal says: “We’re big fans of Alsatian Gewurtz and this is an excellent example, clean and spicy, with a nose of roses and tastes of white pepper. Lovely wine. Best white of the tasting.”
Alc/Vol: 13%
Cost:$19.99
Bazelet haGolan Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Dark garnet going towards inky black in color, this full bodied, still firmly tannic wine has the potential for being this small winery’s best to date. Rich Cabernet flavors of black currant and blackberries, generous spiciness with inviting aromas and flavors of toasty oak, vanilla and minerals together with nice earthy-olive hints, all on a broad background and with a long finish. Soft, round and delicious. Best Served With: Full flavored meat or rich sauced chicken dishes.
Little Known Fact: The Bazelet haGolan logo depicts a 2,000 year old Greek coin, found while excavating at an archaeological site in the Ramat haGolan.
Alc/Vol: 14%
Cost: $29.99
Covenant Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
This one is for you big spenders out there. Covenant is made from grapes grown on a 3-acre parcel of the historic Larkmead Vineyard in Napa Valley, just north of St. Helena. It is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, picked at the moment when it was perceived that maturation was at its peak. Vinification (yes that is a word…maybe…I think) is carried out using a time-honored blend of Old and New World techniques that include minimal crushing of the berries, gentle handling in new French oak barrels, and no fining or filtration prior to bottling.
Author Robert Parker says: Everything about this is serious. It is aged in 100% French oak and fulfills all the requirements for kosher consumption. Its deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by a big, sweet nose of black currants intermixed with damp earth, licorice, and tobacco leaf. The wine is rich, opulent, medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and tasty.
Alc/Vol: 14.4%
Cost: $89.99 (Yeah, I know it’s expensive but sometimes the better things in life are, and believe me, this wine is worth trying once in your life.)
Domaine De Boissan Gigondas 2001
Fruity aroma and flavor with a velvety smooth texture, this wine has all the typical characteristics of a good Southern Rhone – easy to drink, light acidity, with a slightly peppery, smoky finish. Best served with medium flavored grilled or saucy chicken, beef or fish dishes.
Is there a restaurant that would endorse this wine? Domaine De Boissan Gigondas is a permanent facet of the Prime Grill’s Wine list (if that doesn’t just reek of class, I don’t know what does).
Alc/Vol: 14%
Cost: $26.99
Ella Valley Vineyards Merlot 2003
Produced from 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, this estate bottled red is harvested from vines within the northern slopes of the Ella Valley Vineyards. Aged for 15 months in French oak barrels, Ella Valley Merlot exudes concentrated notes of berries with layered fruit flavors, concluding in a velvety, smooth finish.
Random Fact: After derogatory comments were made about Merlot by Miles, the main character in the 2004 movie Sideways, Merlot sales dropped 2%.
Alc/Vol: 14.5%
Cost: $27.99
