I was very excited to attend the 3rd annual Int'l Food and Wine Festival at the Herzog Winery in Oxnard, CA. This is pretty much a showcase for the Herzog wines and the various lines that Royal Wine imports for us into the US. Also, the restaurant located in the winery, Tierra Sur, puts out an amazing spread of fine kosher delicacies that are carefully crafted and painstakingly presented. That's really why people flock to this event. Let's be honest.
Anyway, as much as I tried to taste most of the wine that was there, I was not quite as successful as I thought I would be. The trade portion was a little crowded, and when the general public showed up, things were out of hand. One more issue was the smoke from the wood burning grill pouring into the tasting area. Forgive me if the notes have too many nuances of "smokiness" or "toasted oak." All in all, it was a fantastic and very impressive evening. It was also a pleasure to have met in person several acquaintances whom I had only spoken to on the internet.
Wines Tasted:
Binyamina:
I had a limited amount of these wines, since the ones I tried initially didn't do much for me. I think there are better values in white out there, and didn't get to the reds for the most part.
Binyamina Sauvignon Blanc: a very light wine with grassy overtones and flavors of peach and gooseberry.
Binyamina Unoaked Chardonnay: Fresh, intense flavor of lemons, almost overpowering.
Binyamina Oaked Chardonnay: Light oak flavors which tames but doesn't conquer the intense citrus flavors of lime and lemon. Nice and fresh though.
Binyamina "HaMaarah:" Didn't take any notes here. I wouldn't call it a memorable bottle, especially for the price.
Capcanes:
Special thanks to winery representative Gary L for the extra information and guidance during the tasting of these wines. Winemaker was also on hand, nice of him to shlep all the way from Spain. Quality stuff and to be taken seriously.
2005 Peraj Ha'Abib: Interesting aromas of earth and eastern spice. Still very tannic and perhaps a little harsh right now.
2007 Peraj Ha'Abib: Much stronger flavors than the 2005 and very dry as well. One for the cellar for sure.
2005 Peraj Ha'Abib from 1.5L Magnum: This wine was totally different from the same wine in 750ml format. Less tannic and much more elegant. How is that possible? I guess the wine must be benefiting from the slower pace of aging that takes place in the larger bottle. One of my favorites of the night.
Carmel
Again thanks to Gary for the detailed background and history of the winery and the numerous bottles that were presented. By the time I got here, I was only in the mood for a few tastes and asked for his suggestions.
2006 Old Vine Carignan: This wine is made from really old vines. The original winegrowers all thought it was cool to grow Mediterranean varietals, and to do so in great quantities. Then times changed, and everyone makes Cabernet Sauvignon. Well, this wine is a tribute to those days, and is excellent. Licorice flavors, but mostly dry, and an excellent mouthfeel.
2007 'Mediterranean:' The newest in the line of Limited Edition wine. Burgundian styled in terms of its delicate texture, but has some bolder flavors reminiscent of the Carignans of Corbrieres and Languedoc. An elegant "field blend." Ever had Stag's Leap Winery's "Ne Cede Malis?" It's like that, but kosher, and milder.
2006 (2007?) Sha'al Vineyard Late Harvest Gewurztraminer: Wow, spicy, zesty, syrupy sweet. Not much fruit and a lot of sugar. This is a sweetie.
Domaine du Castel:
Always a reliable performer, having been one of the first top flight performers on the high end wine scene. Presently probably a Israeli "First Growth," but these things don't last forever. The wine was good, but not as regal as it used to be, in my opinion.
2007 Blanc de Castel Chardonnay: I always had enjoyed the toastiness of Castel chard but didn't detect too much of that in this bottle. Rather light but still enjoyable. Much better than the 2006 which I thought was kind of an off year for them.
2006 Petit Castel: Could have told me this was the Grand Vin and I would have believed you. Medium bodied and with a pleasant herbal component that I associated with the Grand Vin as of my last tasting a few months ago. Very impressive improvement in this label.
2006 Grand Vin de Castel: Still has a medium-plus body but seems to have moved past the herbal and dill notes of my last tasting. A nice leather component as well. I'm not sure how long this will age but it certainly is very enjoyable now. A much more forward style of wine than say, the 2004, which was a beast upon release, or the 2005, which I didn't particularly like.
Covenant:
The winery I love to love, and with good reason. Someone had the guts to make expensive kosher wine out of Napa/Sonoma and they are doing a great job and should be supported. The wine is pricey, but when you take a look at what else is out there, I think it's a good value. Put it this way: you can spend twice as much on a Bordeaux that's made from the crap parcels and barrels, just so you can have the label (this is coming from a guy who just acquired a bottle of Lafon Rochet, oops). Or, you can spend the money on Covenant, which is a dedicated kosher establishment. Anyway, to the wines:
2008 Covenant Lavan Chardonnay: Made from grapes of a famous vineyard in Sonoma, this wine is toasty and reserved on the nose, has nectarine and citrus flavors on the palate, and has the most amazing finish. Such an intense, electric finish of citrus and pineapple. Wow. I thought it pretty much edged out the Castel Blanc for best kosher Chard, but let's see how things progress. A star in the making.
2007 Red C: Aromas of tar and dark fruit, this wine is surprisingly on the drier side and has a spicy/untamed finish. Not my thing, but plenty of people are head over heals for this one.
2007 Covenant: A nose that reaches out and slaps you in the face. The 2007 vintage was a notable one in Napa, and this wine certainly conveys that. Very tannic and full bodied, this wine is much more burly than other vintages that I have tasted (2004, 2006). The wine is fine to drink now, but will certainly hold on for years and years to come. Much better than any of the other $60-$80 kosher cabernets out there.
French Wines:
I spent most of my evening at this series of tables, trying to taste as many of these as possible. It was an enjoyable time tasting through the lineup with my friend Mr. KosherWineMusings and seeing who liked and disliked which wines. The clear winners and losers are easy to pick out, but the gray is where difference of opinions arise and discussion ensues. If everyone liked the same thing, we'd all be drinking one wine! Since I went through a lot of these wines quickly, the notes are pretty brief for some.
Whites/Rose/Dessert
Maltaverne Pouilly Fume: This is a Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire. I didn't like it; weird chlorine notes and a little too much citrus.
Sancerre: Another Sauvignon Blanc. Interesting papaya elements but oh so thin on the palate, and not in the crisp, refreshing way. Producer unknown.
2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc, L'ore de Line: Anise and honey notes, not so great, a little disappointing. But they have a monopoly on CDP-Blanc.
2008 Tavel Rose: This was a pleasant wine, bright strawbery flavors, drink now because it's not getting any better.
2003 Label Puligny-Montrachet Les Nosroyes: I don't like most of these Chardonnays at all. This one had a weird bleu cheese thing going on. I think that either it was a bad bottle or it was just past it. Disappointing to see the same vintages on the White Burgs as two years ago...
2006 Chateau Piada Sauternes: A lighter weight contender than the Guiraud but still great quality. Botrytis is certainly pleasant with honey aromas. Not a blockbuster, but enjoyable.
1999 Guiraud Sauternes: A wine that has seen its best days as far as I'm concerned. Dark, toffee and candied pineapple, but quieter acidity. Look for the 2001 if you have the option.
Reds:
2005 Malartic Lagriviere Bordeaux: very well balanced and appealing, slightly green aftertaste but doesn't kill the experience. This was really a great bottle, which I had more notes!
2003 Sarget de Gruaud Larose: Second wine from a famous chateau. Light ruby, very appealing nose, and perfectly balanced on the palate with a great mouthfeel.
2000 La Mouline: All I had to say about this one was "funky tree fruit taste." Yikes.
2001 Fonbadet Paulliac: A not bad wine with flavors of tobacco and cranberry. Very dry.
2002 Leoville Poyferre: What started out as a great wine ended with a stewed tomato finish. Not a good thing, but could have been the bottle. Is that a trend tonight from the bottles that were overnighted from NYC moments before?
2003 Pontet Canet: Another contended for wine of the evening. This had a big nose , great mouthfeel, and powerful finish. Don't miss it!
2006 Barons de Benjamin Rothschild: Very tannic but still smooth on the way down, these wines are always a good value.
2005 Le Crock: Nothing special. Pretty light for the vintage and poor for the price.
2005 Fleur Jonquet: Light wine, strawberry and earth flavors, nothing special but nice.
Goose Bay
This is a New Zealand winery that I have admittedly not paid much (any) attention too. Whoops! I have been missing out on some great bottles of wine. Very impressive as far as I am concerned.
2008 Sauvignon Blanc: Medium bodied, great flavors and balance, and a zesty, tingly acidity.
2007 Pinot Gris: Just the slightest hint of residual sugar, but very pleasant and a little less astringency than the above.
2007 Chardonnay: Strong but not overpowering flavors of citrus, no oak, and very refreshing.
2007 Pinot Noir: Very light color, gentle fruit flavors, with oak and earth. I wouldn't call this wine complex, but it certainly is drinkable.
Herzog
Admittedly I didn't spend too much time at this table, but I wanted to try a few of the limited edition Cabernets that I did not see myself purchasing for my own consumption. There was definitely a lot of traffic at this table, and good for them, as the wines are pretty good.
2007 Clone 6 Cabernet: This was purported to be the holy grail of wine. Anyway, I thought it was ok, nothing special. I would take the Alexander Valley Cabernet over this one any day.
2007 Atlas Peak Haystack Vineyard: This wine had an exotic smell and a subtle medium body. I really did enjoy it and found it to be different that the Herzog style that I had seen up until then. Probably the best out of the super limited releases.
2006 Generation To-Kalon: This is made from really, really expensive grapes. Like buying the most expensive organic produce from Whole Foods or the like. Anyway, I wasn't tickled by this wine and consequently didn't write too much down. Plus at $160+ per bottle, it's an easy pass.
Yatir
This is a small winery in the Judean Hills (and North Negev?) that specializes in small production and absolutely delicious wine. They've been around for almost a decade and have consistently produced excellent, but pricey, wine. That said, if you're looking for a sure thing, Yatir is almost guaranteed never to disappoint.
2007 Sauvignon Blanc: Light golden color, well balanced, and a hint of sweetness. This is an excellent white wine! A little on the pricey side, but I can't imagine they made too much of it. Anyway, worth a shot if you can find it.
2005 Cabernet-Merlot-Shiraz: Very approachable with soft tannins and pleasant fruit and earth flavors. Drink now for a new more years. 2005 was a good year for this winery in my opinion.
2006 Forest: This is the flagship super-cuvee from Yatir. I found this vintage to be a little lighter in style than I would have expected for the price, with light tannins, and some unexciting astringency. Probably needs some time; these wines hold on for a while.
2005 Forest: A different beast! Much richer fruit and fuller body. I really enjoyed this one. Find it before the 2006 takes over.
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