I have started a group on facebook called myKerem.com Shabbat Wine Recommendation, you can find it at  http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=100647506428. Every week I reveiw a wine and post it to the group so they can try it on Shabbat. If you are interested please feel free to sign up with the group, but I will usually post them on myKerem as well with a little bit more depth.

Today many wine drinkers are using the term ABC to refer to their wine drinking habits. Has anyone ever heard of this term? It stands for Anything But Chardonnay. To satisfy this crowd (it’s a big crowd) I chose a wine that you can drink in place of Chardonnay. Sauvignon Blanc is generally crisper, has less oak, and has more herbacious characters such as bell peppers, cloves and hay. Enough of the education, now onto my review.

This week I reviewed the Recanati Sauvignon Blanc 2006. Recanati is one of the larger wineries in Israel located about 25 minutes north of Tel aviv. Usually Sauvignon Blancs are best drunk young just like most other white wines (there are a few exceptions). The current vintage in the U.S. is 2006 which is a little bit old, but still near its prime. I didn't even realize that I picked up an aged white until I poured it into my glass and noticed that it was darker then I expected. I like trying older whites because their fruit has mellowed and thus easier to pick up other characters.

The nose (its aroma) contains light citrus characters such as sweet melon, lemon, and apples with a strong undertone of celery. It is super tasty and curiously much fuller then most Sauvignon Blancs. It doesn't say on the label, but I would guess it was exposed to a touch of oak. In your mouth the experience begins with a sweet rush of fruit, but immediately subsides into mild fruit with intense herbacious characters of celery and bell peppers. Most medium range whites have a bitter aftertaste, not this wine.

I picked this wine because it is perfect for the summer heat. Drink it chilled by itself or with food. It is easy to pair with food and can go with anything except the heaviest dishes. Is it weird that I crave chicken soup with this wine? I will be enjoying it this Shabbat with a chicken kiev stuffed with wild rice and a side of green peas.

Shabbat Shalom
Dan