Wines I buy regularly

I guess that most wine lovers have a list (smaller or bigger) of wines they buy on a regular basis, vintage after vintage, wines they know will satisfy them most of the time, wines they don't need to taste first or to read a critic tasting note (WA, WS and so on) before they buy it.

At least I have such a list of wines that so far , rarely dissapointed me , most of them are not terribly expensive and performs well in weaker years , while excelling at great years.

Here are some of the wines I buy almost each year :

Beaucastel - CdP , red - One of the first major Cdp that was available in Israel (since 1998 vintage). untill the last 2 vintages it was priced very attractively , but even now I keep buyng it. What makes Beaucastel is special in that it has many varietals (I think about 13) , and the percentage of each one changes every year according to the vintage , so no two vintage are a like. Favorite vintages - 1989, 1998 & 2001.

Numanthia - toro - I've had almost all vintages since the debut vintage of 1998. A very impressive wine, with huge body , usually a true blockbuster. very tasty. The variation between vintages is not very wide, and usually you know what you get. sometimes too heavy but overall a lot of wine for your money. Favourite vintages - 1999 & 2001

Pichon lalande - The 1982 was one the most amazing wines I've ever had but I also loved more recent vintages , including the 1999 , that didn't receive such a high scores. The high percentage of merlot makes it more hedonistic and seductive. Favourite vintages - 1982, 2000 & 2003.

Cos d'Estournel - like Pichon Lalande (and Palmer) this wine usually has high percentage of merlot. In recent years it made superb wines each year. Cos is one of those wineries that performs well not only in great vintages but also in avarage ones. Favourite vintages 1996, 2000 & 2001 (Haven't had the 2003 yet, I have 2 bottles from it)

Paolo Scavino - Bric del Fiasc - most Barolo lovers will put this one among their favorites , the fact that piedmont had a series of great vintages from 1996 to 2001 didn't hurt. Even though Scavino is considered a modernist, this wine can not be mistaken for anything but barolo, and a great one. The release price in Italy is about 50-60 euros that makes it an excellent value. Favorite vintage - 1997

D'arenberg - The dead arm shiraz - The first time I've had this wine was on the yearly "top 10 wines " tasting at Wine Route, It was the 1999 vintage , and I was quite impressed by it, compared to other australian wines. I've had prior to that. During the last few years my taste became more "old world oriented" but the Dead arm remained a reliable shiraz that always deliever the goods at a reasonable price. My favourite vintages so far - 1998 & 2001.

Yarden - Heights wine - I love sweet wines. Everyone who will go down to the cellar of the Wine route store can easily recognize my cell. Its the one full with sauternes. Israel wine industry is mostly red oriented, there are also some whites and very few deserts, but in my opinion (and it looks like the wine advocate agrees with me) this is the best Israeli wine. Its always very sweet, thick, fragrant (mostly dried apricots, and tropical fruits) and so yummy. At an avarage price of less than 20$ for 375cc bottle , I think its a great value. So far I've bought every vintage since its debut in 1998.

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More reccomendations : (wines that impressed me on more than one vintage and are relatively fairly priced)

Rhone - Vieux Telegraph - CdP Le Crau, Pegau - Cuvee Reserve

Bordeaux - Malescot St-Exupery, Lagrange (St Julien) , Smith Haut lafitte (red). Guiraud

Alsace - Zind Humbrecht - Pinot Gris , Clos Windsbuhl (including the great VT)

Tuscany - Tua Rita - Giusto di Notri , Guado al Taso

Piedmont - Clerico - Barolo Ciabot mentin Ginestra , Aldo Conterno - Barolo Cicala

Australia - D'Arenberg - The Laughing magpie , Noon - Eclipse

Israel - Castel - Grand vin & Chardonnay "C".

2007 - Best wines I had

Last year was definately a Barolo year for me. It started with a 2 parts Barolo 1997 tastings I arranged , and continued with a short but unforgetable trip to the north Italy , including the Langhe area.
My best wines this year were:
1. Roberto Voerzio - Barolo, Sarmassa di Barolo 2004 - had it during my trip to italy at the winery from Alluminium tank. I didn't write any notes but I remember the feeling. dark colour, great nose of red and black fruites combined with roses , spices and some tar. full bodied with smooth tannins and a huge and long aftertaste. this is going to be a 100 wine. Unfortunately available only in magnums. I wish I could afford to buy a bottle next year.
2. Roberto Voerzio - Barolo brunate 1997, 2004 - Had the 1997 in the Barolo 1997 tasting, still young and tannic (who said 1997 can't age) but simply a huge wine , full bodied , rich, smooth and long. very close to perfect. The 2004 was tasted at the winery and was very close to the Sarmassa. This wine is going to be in my refrigerator next year!!!
3. Aldo Conterno - Barolo Granbussia 1997 - This wine was the star of the first part of the 1997 tasting (Which included also - Gaja sperss, Giacose- Rocche del falleto, Sandrone Cannubi boschis & Le vigne , Clerico-Ciavot mentin ginestra). Red Barrique colour. and explosive nose of red fruits especially cherries, roses, fungi, earth ,spices , tar and more, full bodied with chewy tannins, vibrand acidity and long and graet aftertaste. scored - 98-99. Bought another bottle in my trip to Italy later.
4. Sandrone - Cannubi Boschis 1997 - I also liked the Le Vigne 1997 a lot but the Cannubi Boschis was simply gorgeous, with great perfomed nose of black and red fruits, roses, tar, full bodied and exteremly smooth and long. score - 97 . I also bought another bottle in Italy.
5. Paolo Scavino - all crus from 1997 - The second part of the Barolo 1997 , included all 3 crus of Scavino - Cannubi, Bric del Fiasc and Rocche del Anninziata and also the Carobric. all were terrific but in my opinion the Bric del fiasc and Rocche stood out. while the Bric del Fiasc was mature and great , the Rocche was still a bit young, but very promising.

More wines that impressed me last year :
Clerico - Ciabot Mentin Ginestra & Per-Cristina 1997 - both score 97
Gaja - Sperss 1997 - scores 96
Aldo Conterno - Cicala 2001 & Granbussia 2000 both 95-96
Pio Cesare - Barolo Ornato 2001 - score 95-96
Joseph Roty - Charmes Chamberin Tres 2003 - score 95-96
Pichon Baron - 2000 - score 96-97
Girardin - Le Montrachet 2004 - score 95
Noon - Eclipse 2005 - score 95
Kalleske - Shiraz Johann Georg 2003 / Old Vine Grenache 2004 - score 95
Vieux Telegraphe - CdP Le Crau 2004 - score 94
Cos d'Estournel 2000 & 2001 - score 94-95
Olivier Leflaive - Corton Charlemagne 2004 - score 94
Smith Haut Lafitte - 2003 (red) - score 93

Happy new year