House Wine Red 2010 (about $12)

About the Wine:  This is one of the first labels I sold well when I got into the wine business.  That was over two years ago now.  At that time it was smooth, unpretentious, and enjoyable to a drinker with an undeveloped palate.  I don't remember if it was this vintage, but I doubt it.  I do not recall the back label of that vintage giving a breakdown of the blend where this label helpfully informs us that the wine is 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 15% Syrah, and 3% Cabernet France.  My guess is that the wine maker started with a Left Bank Bordeaux blend and added the Syrah to make it more fruit forward and approachable and because who cares, it's $12.

About THIS Wine:  In the glass it is opaque with a purple rim.  The Syrah really dominates the nose.  It is all jammy fruit.  The Syrah also dominates the palate with that sticky, jammy quality that defines Syrah from the West Coast.  There are some subtle dry and spicy notes in the finish.

Drinking This Wine:  This is not really a food wine.  It is basically a dry red patio pounder for people who like jammy, sticky wines.  That said, it could also go well with a burger.

 Overall Impression:  I have never been a fan of West Coast Syrah but this wine is varietally correct and the winemaker did do a pretty good job of taming the Syrah with the other varietals.  That makes this wine good for the price.

Mt. Tabor Chardonnay 2012 (about $14)

About the Wine:  Galilee is my favorite wine growing region in Israel.  The temperatures are somewhat milder and rainfall higher than in the rest of the country, so it is much more conducive to wine growing  than the Negev Desert, the coastal Samson, or the Shomron region north of Jerusalem.  The Judean Hills around Jerusalem make wines of at least equal quality but real estate is expensive there so Judean wines tend to be pricy.

About THIS Wine:  It is golden yellow in the glass, promising a fair amount of oak.  The oak delivers on both nose and palate.  Israeli wine makers often seem to follow California's lead (which makes sense, given that both are hot, coastal climates) and this appears to be an example of that.  This is basically a Kosher Kendall Jackson.

Drinking This Wine:  This one is fine by itself or with roast chicken. This is the second Kosher Chardonnay I have reviewed that would go well with lobster.

Overall Impression:  This is a very pedestrian wine but it not expensive and the price and taste are comparable to similar, non Kosher wines.  This wine is reasonable for the price.

Carmel Winery Appellation Cabernet Franc 2009 (about $16)

About the Wine:  Wine growing in Israel probably predates wine growing in France but there was an interruption in Israeli wine production starting when Israel came under Muslim rule and the vineyards were destroyed and ending the Carmel Winery was founded in the late 1800s.  This is their Cab Franc.  Normally a dry, austere wine used to mellow the other aspects of Bordeaux blends and also to add a peppery flavor, Cab Franc is often much fruitier and juicier when grown in Israel's hot climate.

About THIS Wine:  In the glass it is opaque with a purple rim.  The nose presents smoke, pepper, and hints of plum.  The palate is dry and gripping with a somewhat juicy quality that lingers.

Drinking This Wine:  This needs to decant after opening and could probably stand a few years of aging, which is unusual for a wine in this price range.  Have it with hamburger and noodles or some other meaty dish.

Overall Impression:  The wine is tasty and it is not too expensive.  This one is reasonable for the price.