Wedding Wine Tasting

Any time you have the occasion to sit around with friends and open, say, a case and a half of wine, it's an opportunity not to be missed. In honor of the wedding of our friends Aaron and Jesica, I picked out over a dozen wines that were in the under $15 category and the best value for the money. There were some big surprises! Snacks included cheddar cheese, herbed cream cheese spread, 'Breton' and Cabaret' crackers, strawberries, and 'Samoa' Girl Scout cookies. All the wines listed below are mevushal.

We started with the Whites:
2007 Herzog Chateneuf White Bordeaux: This is a semi dry wine that is made of Semillon and Muscadelle grapes. It is light and refreshing, crisp, with sweet pear and honey flavors. Very pleasant and easy to drink.
2008 Hagafen Sauvignon Blanc, Napa: This is a very exciting bottle of wine. In your face aromas of nectarine and grapefruit rind. Very fresh on the palate and leaves you wanting another sip. Some people didn't like the rind flavors but it was enjoyed by others.
2005 Mt. Tabor Sauvignon Blanc, Israel: This was much drier than the Hagafen, also plenty of rind flavors and a mild smoke element. The people who didn't like the Hagafen liked this one. A little fluffier as well.
2003 Mt. Tabor Chardonnay, Israel: This was kind of a wildcard wine. More mature flavors and a complexity that didn't work for everyone but would certainly be more enjoyable with roast chicken or a rich pasta with pesto. Serve it cold.
2007 Baron Herzog Chenin Blanc: I've always loved this wine. So fruity, so easy, so smooth. The mild sugar element was a bit to much when you are trying to please a crowd who is used to non-kosher wine. Still a winner though.
2006 Baron Herzog Chardonnay: Another quality bottle of wine! Classic chardonnay green apple and citrus flavors, a little creamy, and reasonably full bodied. This a wine that formed the greatest consensus.
2007 Bartenura Pinot Grigio: not that exciting, kind of dull for the vintage, maybe the 2008 will be better?
2007 Hagafen Riesling Lake County (Organic): Great honey and pineapple aromas. Sweet on the palate, but I was looking for more acidity. Another favorite of the tasting, since it would complement some of the cuisine that will be served at the wedding.


Result: Baron Herzog Chardonnay, Hagafen Riesling, Hagafen Sauvignon Blanc.

Moving to the Reds:
2007 Segal's Fusion, Israel: This was a surprise for me. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. Bright, bright ruby and beautiful floral and sweet berry aromas. Fresh and flavorful on the palate, no noticeable oak, very drinkable. And a killer value at under $10.
2005 Barkan Merlot, Israel: Another pleasant wine, very simple but elegant. Smooth and enjoyable without that cheap Merlot funk. Definately had some consensus behind it.
2005 Moulin de Noalliac: This is a good Bordeaux, but was showing poorly. I think the bottle was bad since it had some very sinister aromas.
2004 Mt. Tabor Merlot, Israel: A personal favorite, this is a very smooth Merlot that you could mistake for a Cab-Merlot Blend. Nice flavors, a hint of oak, and pretty mellow since it has some bottle age.
2004 Mt. Tabor Cabernet Sauvignon, Israel: A respectable bottle of wine with typical Cabernet flavors and a good backbone. I prefer the Merlot.
2006 Baron Herzog 'Old Vines' Zinfandel: This is a big, bad, bold wine. Grapey flavors, earthiness, and spice. This showed very well and developed quite a following. Needs to be paired with bold cuisine to balance it out.
2007 Ramon Cardova Rioja: Another powerful wine, this is bright purple with incredible aromatics. Very energetic and inky. If you haven't tried Rioja before, this is a good place to get started. Candied strawberries and flowers are all over the place with a little spiced kick. Might not work for everyone, but no one could deny that it was good.

Result: Barkan Merlot, Baron Herzog Zin, Cardova Rioja.