This past week, saw us enjoying two wines that we brought, and two wines that others brought to our hosts homes.  Mine were not as good as the others brought, but good to try and drink.  We of course brought these wines to two Passover Seder for the four cups (arba kosos).  We decided this year to not host the passover seder, like we did last year, and so, we went to our friends for the two evening meals.

The notes for the wines we enjoyed can found below:

2004 Recanati Cabernet Franc - Score: B

The nose on this garnet colored wine has cranberry, raspberry, plum, oak, and mint. The mouth on this full bodied wine is still expressive with red fruit, crushed herbs, and a touch of mint. The mid palate is still bracing with acid, soft tannins, and oak. The finish is still strong with coffee, acid, red fruit, and oak. Drink UP, or use it for a nice cholent for the next few months.

2006 Tzuba Cabernet Sauvignon – Score: A-

The nose of this almost jet black colored wine is packed with rich and spicy oak, blackberry, cassis, raspberry, and spice.  The mouth on this full bodied wine is super concentrated and super extracted with blackberry, cassis, and oak extraction.  The mid palate is bracing with bright acidity, toasty oak, and still biting tannins, that will smooth out soon.  The finish is very long with bright acidity, toasty oak, and big black fruit.  A nice concentrated Cabernet that will evolve a bit still.

On the second night we enjoyed these wines…

2004 Domaine du Castel Petit Castel – Score: B+

The nose on this purple colored wine was crazy nice with blackberry, chocolate, sweet oak, bright berry, and pepper. The mouth on this very soft medium bodied wine was not as bracing and complex as I remember it to have been. The mouth is soft and almost tannic free, with nice black fruit, black berry and plum. The mid palate is soft and not bracing, with oak, and not much more. The finish is very nice with more black fruit, chocolate, and a bit of oak. Nice, but soft and ready to drink NOW!

2003 Yarden Merlot – Score: A- to A

The nose on this black colored wine screams with black cherry, raspberry, berry, crushed herbs, and rich and toasty oak.  The mouth on this massive full bodied wine is rich with concentrated black cherry, berry, and toasty oak.  The mid palate is acidic with rich oak, and integrating tannins.  The finish is long and rich, with more black fruit, oak, and green notes.  The wine is super fun, extracted, and rich.