"Four recommendations of red wines from the 2010 vintage. I can’t say that I was able to single out and assess the impact of the vintage year on the wine when comparing to previous vintages, but I will keep trying..." Yonatan Sternberg's wine recommendations
The quality of a given wine is directly affected by various environmental factors (soil, weather, rain fall etc.), many of which vary from one vintage year to another. It is always interesting to see and taste the variations which exist in ‘the same wine from the same winery’ while trying to assess the impact of this years’ environmental factors on the end result, for better or for worse.
Following are four recommendations of red wines from the 2010 vintage. I can’t say that I was able to single out and assess the impact of the vintage year on the wine when comparing to previous vintages, but I will keep trying.
Bravdo, Merlot, 2010 – the winery from Karmei Yosef, AKA the Winery of the professors as it is owned and operated by Professor Ben Ami Bravdo and his former student, Professors Oded Shoseyov produces some fine reds as well as an excellent Chardonnay. The Merlot 2010 is full bodied, a bit firm when first poured but opens nicely in the glass to reveal sweet-red berry fruits, cherries, fresh herbs and notes dark chocolate and coffee leading to a long and mouth-filling finish.
Galil Mountain, Ella, 2010 – a relatively new wine from the winery’s re-branded label Galil. The Ela is a red blend comprising 45% Syrah, 45%Barbera, 7% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Dark ruby in color, generous aromas and flavors of dark fruits (cherries, plums) along side warm spices, herbs and supporting oak in the background. Not a “Big Wine” but well balanced and very enjoyable overall.
Saslove, Aviv, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2010- 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from vineyards in the Upper Galilee; medium bodied and good texture on the palate, this is a very pleasant vino suggesting dark berry fruits, plums and Mediterranean herbs those followed by notes of warm spices (vanilla, cinnamon) and dark chocolate leading to a medium-long finish. Enjoyable now but will probably benefit from a year or two of additional cellaring. Also important to note that the wine is kosher and as of 2010 all of Salsove’s wines will bare Kashrut certification.
Flam, Classico, 2010 – traditionally one of my favorite wines from Flam, this is the first Kosher edition and as of 2010, all of the Flam vinos will bare kashrut certification. A blend comprising Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Merlot (42%), Cabernet Franc (5%) and the balance Petit Verdot, a bit firm, with pleasant aromas and flavors that bring to mind black berry fruits, young plums alongside green pepper and just a hint of smoke in the background, coming together nicely on the medium-long finish.
L’chaim!
