These wines are worth the money!

Adam’s Pesach Picks 2010

by Adam Neustadter

As Pesach approaches more and more people are offering their opinions on great wines for the chag. I think that’s fantastic, but the one thing I don’t think is too great is when people suggest 40 different wines for their “suggested wine list” — at that point it becomes a long shopping list. I will keep my recommendations to exactly 12 wines, which, coincidentally, is the number of bottles that will fit into a case of wine at your local store.

• Shiloh Sod 2006

This full bodied red wine is a great place to start. Price in the the $40 range.

• Gallil Mountain Barbera

Very well made with a great fruit flavor in the mouth. A keeper at under $20.

• Agur Kessem 2007

The wine maker specializes in blends and this wine is a great example of that specialty coming to life. Around $30 should do the trick.

• Shokek 2007 Melot

A great keeper at $40. The down side is that it is almost impossible to find as only 600 bottles were made.

• Tzuba Metsudah Shiraz 2007

The wine has great spice on the finish, preceded by nice fruit structure with an earthy texture. Worth it at $30.

• Barkan Classic Cabernet Sauvignon

Consistent and affordable too. Not more than $10.

• Psagot Merlot 2007

This wine has a great fruit profile with just the right amount of acid to hold it together without being aggressive and drowning out the fruit. $30, but you can probably find it for less.

• Shiloh Merlot/Shiraz Blend 2006

This is one of the more dynamic wines being made and is well worth the money. Between $25 and $30.

• Tura Merlot 2005

Another great wine that will be talked about for a while. This tiny winery (Less than 4000 bottles total) is going to get better and better. Let’s hope they can hold it together as they increase output.

• Castel “C” Blanc 2007

We need a white wine for the list and this one tastes fantastic. It comes in at a pricy $45, but it’s one of the best tasting whites ever.

• Adir Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

This wine is soft in the mouth yet full of the subtle fruits we enjoy, and without any harsh acidity. A fantastic use of precious Kerem Ben Zimra grapes.

• Tura “Portura” Dessert Red

For dessert, obviously. This palate pleaser is a full-bodied sweet dessert red wine with lots of alcohol, fruit and chocolate hints, yet it avoids the cough medicine aftertaste that turns people off from this style of wine. It’s around $40 a bottle —- and worth the money.