Summertime wines will take your mind off the headlines

Summertime wines will take your mind off the headlines

I know it’s been way too long since you have read an article about something that would be considered a lifestyle decision. We read about the G-20 summit coming to Pittsburgh, the recession, the mighty Penguins (which hopefully have not been eliminated by the time you read this), Middle East peace talks and more.

You, the reader deserve to read about something that is light and bubbly, or maybe light and crisp, or maybe you are the type that likes big and bold.

That’s where wine connoisseurs come in. We take your minds of the heady headlines and direct it to something more pleasing to the palate; it’s in our job description.

So here you go, just a good solid list of really quality kosher wines for you to drink over the summer and beyond; and maybe it will help you get your mind off the heavy things that are out there.

So here are some wines:

2003 Herzog Cabernet Sauvignon Special Reserve, California — The nose of this dark purple wine is screaming with blackberry, cassis, raspberry and oak. The mouth on this full-bodied wine is complex with layers of blackberry, cassis, chocolate and oak. The mouth flows into the mid palate with nice acidity, oak, and nicely integrated tannins. The finish is long with more chocolate, oak and black fruit flavors. Good wine all year round

2007 Goose Bay Pinot Gris, New Zealand — This wine has a brilliant golden silver color. Apple, ripe lemon and nectarine aromas follow through on a rounded entry to a fruity-yet-dry medium body with a hint of praline and pineapple cake. Finishes with long, tangy and crisp fade. A delicious and delightfully balanced pinot gris that excels with mild fish dishes and makes for easy drinking.

2007 Hagafen Riesling Lake County, California — This wine fills the mouth with a fusion of peach, apricot and papaya.  With a long finish, this well-integrated White Riesling works well with a wide variety of foods, including any meal needing an aperitif or a bit of sweetness. This wine is also certified organic. Rieslings are fun wines

2007 Dalton Canaan White, Israel — Here we have an easy drinking semi-dry wine with rich floral and fruity tones and well-balanced acidity. A blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Riesling. This is a wine with very few pretensions and is made for immediate consumption. The Canaan wines were made with the Israeli climate in mind so they are particularly suitable for Mediterranean cuisine. I like this wine for it is ready to drink

2004 Yarden Pinot Noir, Israel — This Pinot Noir blends ripe raspberry, cherry and cranberry fruit characters with notes of violets and hints of cocoa, spice, leather and tobacco. The complex wine is elegant and medium-bodied with a pleasant roundness and tasty finish of fruit and dried flowers. While Yarden Pinot Noir is attractive and drinkable when released, the wine should continue to improve over the next couple of years and drink well for an additional number of years. I recommend eating foods with a bit of depth and complexity to them with this wine.

Yarden Brut NV, Israel — I have recently noticed that this wine has been on sale in our Pennsylvania state stores. Yarden Brut displays a delicate, yet complex mixture of apples, lemons and hints of red fruits layered with toasty and creamy notes. The fine, yet robust sparkler combines nicely with the wines crisp body and finish. Yarden Brut is ready to enjoy and will hold up nicely in the bottle for two to three years. The wine is made from equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and made strictly according to the traditional method, including hand-harvesting, whole-cluster pressing and secondary fermentation in the bottle. Each bottle is aged for a minimum of two years before disgorging. That means it is on par with quality champagne, and at a quarter of the price.

I hope everyone has a great summer and don’t be afraid to send me some feedback about these tasty wines. I am truly interested in finding out what you think. L’Chaim

(Uri Marcovitz, a Downtown Pittsburgh restaurateur and recognized wine expert (who dabbles in beer) can be reached at umarcovitz@gmail.com.)

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