This past weekend saw us enjoying a dinner with our friends.  Dinner started with a lovely homemade whole wheat challah.  Kiddush was made on N.V. Four gates Cabernet Franc (2000 & 20001 vintages).  The wine was a bit musty out of the bottle, but that blessedly blew off quickly, before Kiddush started.  The challah was followed by a bowl of lovely vegetable barley soup.  After a bit of singing, the soup was followed by a plethora of sides, along with some lovely roasted chicken.  The sides consisted of Israeli Couscous salad, herb roasted fingerling potatoes, fresh green salad, roasted pineapple noodle kugel, along with roasted eggplant salad, and two tomato salads.  The dinner was paired with two Israeli wines, one a bit over its peak, and one that is still young.

I would like to thank to our hosts, for their warm hospitality, atmosphere, guests, and wonderful dinner.  The wine notes follow below:

N.V. Four Gates Cabernet Franc – Score:  B+

The nose on this garnet colored wine has vanilla, cherry, raspberry, and a hint of floral notes.  The mouth on this medium bodied wine is soft with cherry and raspberry.  The mid palate is balanced with acid, dirt, integrated tannins, and oak.  The finish is long with bright acidity, red fruit, and vanilla.

2005 Barkan Cabernet Sauvignon Altitude 624 – Score: B+

The nose on this dark garnet to black colored wine is filled with rich sweet oak, blackberry, cassis, and vanilla.  The mouth on this medium to full bodied wine, is mouth filling and coating, but not complex, with trailing blackberry, oak, and a hint of raspberry.  The mid palate is balanced with oak, fully integrated and softened tannins.  The finish starts off short, but lengthens a bit with air, with black fruit, roasted herbs, and sweet oak.  This wine is a bit over the hill.  Drink up!!

2006 Binyamina Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve – Score: A-

The nose on this black colored wine is ripe and electric with fresh blackberry, cassis, plum, and spicy oak.  The mouth on this full bodied wine was super concentrated and packed with layers of blackberry, cassis, and spicy oak.  The mid palate is a bit tight and balanced, with acid, oak, and nice tannins.  The finish is long and bright, with spicy oak, black fruit, and tobacco.  This is a really nice wine that is ready now, and will come together even more as it ages.