2004 Baron Herzog Cabernet, really good. I had the Flam at Passover despite it not being Kosher. Problem for me with Israeli wines is that many of the wineries are in the Golan Heights and this is disputed territory and an area that Israel would give up if it got something positive in return from Syria.

About the uStream stuff, i don’t find it at all annoying or anything and if you’re seeing it live it’s cool that Gary check its out and him not looking can be annoying 🙂

I can’t say that I’ve ever had a wine from Israel. I will though and look foward to it.

Nice, I didn’t know Israel had decent wine. QOTD: I’ll have to check out the local wine shop for some!

Thanks for showcasing wines from wherever the hell you feel like!

I must admit I find the side-camera thing a bit distracting, but it’s your show so do what you want to do. No biggie from my standpoint.

I like learning about wines from the major, well-known regions but also enjoy hearing about the lesser-known areas too. If it were California and France all the time, the show would be incomplete. Keep on keepin’ it real.

Hey:

New viewer from NY (watched about 20 episodes). I was waiting for an episode like this before ordering Israeli wines. I’ve had many kosher israeli wines at passover, but none were that great. I’m looking forward to trying the recommended wines, which I’ve just ordered from israeliwinedirect. Thanks for making such a great show!

Ben

Yo G , i think it would be best ta eat lychee-fruits wit’ a sharp knife
or somethin’………..i’m just sayin’……… 🙂

QOTD: Had a kosher-cheapo a Loooooooooooooooooooooong time ago. Don’t
even remember what it tasted like. Gotta get me somma da Good Stuff…….

QOTD: I’ve only had one, the Segal Golan Heights, I believe. It was good, but not great – an interesting experiment.

As for my .02 on the various comments found in this thread – do YOUR show the way YOU want to do it:) The rest of it falls in place if you’re happy doing it.

Great show, Gary. Thanks for giving some Israel some well deserved credit and linking up israeliwinedirect.com where Vayniacs can buy some of this juice.

QOTD: I have lived in Israel and drink mostly Israeli wine here in North Jersey, much of which is very good if you know what to buy. My favorites are from Yatir, Ella Valley Vineyards, and Galil Mountain (best QPR).

WLTV is for â??winers,â? not whiners. Actually the complaints about Garyâ??s show selections inspired a larger backlash. There were more Gary defenders than complainers. I was proud of my fellow Vayniacs.

I have had Almost every medium to high end Israeli Kosher wine.
And, In my opinion Yarden makes some of the best wines in Kosher Israeli wines.
The Noble Semmion 2003
Katzrin 2003
Cab 2003
Blanc de Blanc 2001
All Yarden and all Exceptional

What.. no Manischweitz?!? Oh, wait. It’s from NY. I forgot. 🙂

qotd: never, not going out of my way either

QOTD: You’re right, despite all my exploration I haven’t had an Israeli wine but I expect I’ll seek some out soon.
Question for you, all the wines you tasted are classic, popularized varieties. Does Israel have any indigenous varieties that are relatively unique to their region? If so it would be interesting to taste those in an episode.

QOTD: You’re right, despite all my exploration I haven’t had an Israeli wine but I expect I’ll seek some out soon.
Question for you, all the wines you tasted are classic, popularized varieties. Does Israel have any indigenous varieties that are relatively unique to their region? If so it would be interesting to taste those in an episode.

Maybe I’ll try an Israeli wine when they become available. Until then…

I’ve had quite a few spectacular Israeli wines, and hate to choose favorites in general, so here are a few that stood out:

Yarden Blanc de Blanc, 2000 – Gorgeous toast, with subtle hints of lemondrops, chalk, lime, with smooth bubbles that wash across the palate like the sea.

Castel Grand Vin & Petite Castel – great wines reminiscent of great wines from St. Julien and Pomerol Bordeau (in a warmer year)

Baselet Hagolan Res. Cab 04 – A great fruit forward, well oaked, but still structured new world cab.

Dalton Shiraz 2005, A textbook execution of the varietal, with good black pepper well integrated into meaty dark red fruits.

Tabor Adama Series Merlots 2005 – The vineyards here had three different soils, chalk, volcanic and terra rossa, and made separate wines using the same techniques (same time in barrels, fermentation, etc.), but the differences in profile is astounding. Both are very good, and defiantly worth comparing as a mini-terrior class with friends.

Rimon Pomegranate Port Wine – This dessert wine is made from 100% Pomegranate juice, and is utterly delicious. Somewhere between a ruby and a tawny on the palate, with fresh black cherry, pomegranate, followed by sweet coffee and toffee note, and a little hint of cinnamon. The stuff is deep to explore with some chocolate raspberry combo on the plate, or some spiced walnuts.

Leiby here, from episode #494. My definite fave is the 2004 Domaine Du Castel. It’s so amazing…I’d love a case of it, but, it’s $60 a pop so I’m gonna have to wait on that. Tasted it at a kosher wine tasting earlier this year, and it was by far the standout.

On ustream tonight and no show! My luck. 🙁

Hi Gary! I enjoyed watching your Ustream from Cleveland the other night and yakking at you. I hope to go on the Thunder Cruise and to reserve tickets soon. Take care!

Dont worry G, I am back after a month long beer tasting trip in WA and OR. Hope you tried some on the brew out there, it was mind blowing. Now is back to the wines and the WLTV. Great ep to start off on, I need to try Israel now.

Also, made my first trip to WL store in Springfield while visiting fam in NJ. Loved the wine, but those monster wheels of Parm blew my mind. Big props on your cheese selection, you guys rock!

QOTD: I’ve never had one, but now that you’ve CHALLENGED me, I’ve written the names of the wines you’ve tried this episode and I WILL try one within the next 30 days…promise!!!

QOTD: I’ve had many Israeli wines, including but not limited to: yarden cabranet ’00 ’02 ’03 ’04, segal’s dishon ’03, binyamina (not worth it), carmel chardonney privat collection, yogev rose and many many more. but the one that takes it to the top where no other has reached (in my book at least) is Yatir Forest 2000, full bodied, full flavored, captures every part of your palate to please even the most critical or the novice. Try it, I was blown away!

Never had one, have looked online here before but couldn’t find much. I’ll surf again right now.

I’ve seen the Pelter around but always passed it up for cali/australia unoaked stuff. This is pretty great cause to give it a whirl. I pledge to do so in the next month.