Herzog’s 2013 International Food and Wine Festival in Los Angeles begins at 6pm Pacific tonight. There are a lot of wines and not a lot of time. It’s a good idea to prepare a list of the wines that you wine to taste, ideally sticking to new releases. Here are some new wines that I recommend you try:

• Goose Bay Fume Blanc 2012
• Castel C Blanc 2010
• Domaine Netofa Rose 2012
• Domaine Netofa 2011
• Latour Netofa 2010
• Elvi Invita 2011
• Capcanes Rosato
• Capcanes La Flor de La Flor 2011
• Capcanes Peraj Petita 2011
• Carmel Sha’al Merlot 2009
• Carmel Kayoumi Shiraz 2009
• Psagot Cabernet Franc 2009
• Psagot Edom 2010
• Flam Blanc 2012
• Flame Rose 2012
• Flam Merlot Reserve 2010
• Flam Syrah Reserve 2010
• Tzuba Metsuda Syrah 2010
• Shiloh Shiraz 2010
• Chateau Rollan de By 2010
• Chateua La Clare 2010

The 2010 Teperberg Terra Malbec is the fourth in a series of Israeli varietal Malbec that is increasingly improving from vintage to vintage. Though French in origin, varietal Malbec has enjoyed better success in warm countries south of the equator, most notably Argentina. Since Israel features a combination of desert and tropical climates, there are suitable microclimates where Malbec can thrive; and it has. Teperberg’s Malbec possesses many of the qualities of superb Argentinian Malbec, but with nuances that pay homage to its mediterranean host. In the glass, the deep plum color is striking and the nose is wonderfully fragrant, whafting aromas of blueberry, cassis, licorice and fresh oak. The round and polished body is laden with cherry and plum, dashed with hints of cinnamon and eucalyptus. Look for notes of ripe dates on the midpalate that distinctly tag this Malbec’s Israeli origin. A thin veneer of tannins provides structure and ample acidity gives it both life and palatial intrigue. The finish is long and gradual, gently resting upon a spoonful of lemon zest. Enjoy now and through 2015. L’Chaim!

2012 flew by and it’s time again for the International Food & Wine Festival (IFWF). The 7th annual IFWF will be held again at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Century City on February 6, 2013. The festival features a wide array of wines and liquor from Royal Wine’s vast portfolio as well a delectable delights prepared by Herzog’s in-house restaurant Tierra Sur. It’s an event that you don’t want to miss. Doors open to the public at 6:00p. Tickets are $125 per person ($80 for wine club members), but you get a 25% discount if you use the code KOSHERWINO at checkout. Click here to purchase tickets. I hope to see you all there!

A rich blend of Syrah (40%) and Grenache (60%) that hails from a stellar vintage for the southern Rhone wine region of France. Young, but developing nicely, this is a concentrated and intriguing wine packaged in well-toned frame. This objet d’art oozes dark flavors of cassis, black licorice, and turkish coffee from its core, striped with wonderful notes of candied apricot all set upon a base of intensely toasted oak. The body is moderately full and bedazzled with grit. Vibrant acidity activates in the mid-palate and, along with mouth-coating tannins, captivates through the finish. Despite its concentration and youth, this wine’s delivery is smooth and enjoyable; its contrasting flavors are quite a delight. Enjoy this wine now and through 2018. A votre sante!

In 2007 Yarden released two single vineyard Syrah’s: Yonatan Vineyard Syrah and Avital Slope Vineyard Syrah. While both are excellent productions of the varietal, I feel that the Avital Slope is the better of the two and arguably the best kosher Syrah in Israel’s modern wine history. The wine’s color and nose are youthful and vibrant. And while this wine is a bit ripe (to be expected from a warm climate like Israel), its perceived sweetness is not a high as the Yonatan production. The balance of this Syrah (as compared to the Yonatan production) is owed to a level of earthiness that diffuses layers of near sweet berries and weaves in threads of toasted oak, boosting the wine’s complexity and dulling its ripeness. The wine’s body is full with a plush mouthfeel, ample acidity and nearly transparent tannic structure that, when sufficiently aerated, supports without detection. If drinking now, decant for about 30 minutes and enjoy through 2020. L’Chaim!

Covenant Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 is on sale. At least two different online retailers have a promotion, ranging from $76-81 per bottle. Which retailer you should buy it from largely depends on where you’re located…

For those of you living in any of the western or mid-western US, Kosherwine.com has the best deal when factoring in shipping costs. The price is $81.99 per bottle or $79.83 per bottle when ordering a case of 6. And you can always send them a price match request from the other deal below.

For those of you living in eastern US, OnlineKosherwine.com is the way to go.  The price is $76.96 per bottle.

I’m not sure how long either of these sales will last so snap them up ASAP. Good luck!

The 2008 vintage of Herzog’s Special Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon steps out of the bounds delineated by over a decade’s worth of releases making it a challenger to Herzog’s iconic Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. This feat was accomplished in at least three ways. First, it’s a 50/50 blend of Napa Valley and Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon; I guess this follows the adage “if you can’t fight ‘em, join ‘em.” The Alexander Valley component adds spice box, tobacco and undertow of cassis all of which blend nicely with the Napa Valley component’s eucalyptus and milk chocolate. Second, the wine was collectively barrel aged for 31 months. I know what you are thinking because I thought the same thing, but this wine will surprise you. The oak is well balanced and well integrated preventing the wine from coming across as over-oaked. Its net effect is wonderful cedar accents peppered throughout and a loud, yet pleasant, note of toast on the long finish. Finally, as a corollary to points one and two, this is the first Napa Valley release with significant structure. Muscular tannins, ample acidity and 14% AbV will allow this release to drink for at least a decade if not longer. I do feel, though, that the body of the wine needs more heft to fill out the frame, but the two may align with some further bottle aging. Enjoy now until 2022, possibly longer. Cheers!

2010 is the second vintage of Jonathan Hajdu’s single varietal Grenache, this time produced using fruit sourced from Eagle Point Ranch in California’s Medocino County. This wine is every bit as giant as the name/label indicates and especially potent in its infancy, best only after hours of decanting. In true Hajdu style, this Grenache greets you in the glass with an eye-catching electric purple color accompanied by a gargantuan nose that features vibrant notes of nutmeg and clove. The mouth is powerful and concentrated with all of the trimmings of a sophisticated grenache, offering an initial thrust of fruit that transitions to bountiful herbs and black licorice, all peppered by toasted and spicy oak. The finish is everlasting playing a solo mint note that slowly dissipates over time. Packed with plenty of character and built with tremendous structure, this wine is both intriguing and lasting. It will benefit from 8-12 months of bottle aging at which point it can be enjoyed through 2019. Cheers!

The 2009 vintage of this blend, typically over shadowed by Herzog’s single varietal releases, is a stunner. An equal blend of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and San Joaquin Valley Syrah, this blend hits the mark of truly exceeding the sum of its parts. Toasted oak frames the entry leading to rich mocha and dark fruit accented by hints of vanilla and violets. This wine’s incredible mouthfeel is owed to a near-perfect level of extraction packaged in a well toned body that has a soft, caressing touch. The oak, which I personally find problematic on some of Herzog’s wines, is not just well balanced but key in making the Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah integrate as well as they do in this delicious blend. It is clear that Herzog has stepped up the quality in this blend and they can certainly enjoy the fruits of their labor; I know that I did. Drink now and for the next 4 years. L’Chaim!