Kosher Food and Wine Extravaganza 2015 – Video Interviews – Part 1

Yesterday, we attended both the commercial and the general sessions of the KFWE 2015. The new venue was bigger, but barely large enough for the number of visitors. We managed to taste many wines and speak to some of the industry’s newest wine makers and here we bring a few of the interviews:

Here is an interview with Jay Buchsbaum from the Royal Wine Corporation, sponsors of the event:

We started our tasting with two Herzog selections: Special Reserve Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012. The Alexander Valley, which we always liked, was full-bodied wine exhibiting blackberry, cherry and licorice aromas and flavors, it was nicely balanced with ample but smooth tannins

Next we spoke to Matthieu Guyon of Domaines Rollan de By…

The winemaker’s own son spoke to us about his father’s passion for wine, which well explains why we found the two wines we tasted rather superior.

We started with Château Tour Seran 2012, this wine was voted as the world’s top Mevushal Wine. Made from a blend of grapes from the Médoc region, with 65% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. An unusual wine, with a delightful smokiness, floral notes, cassis fruit, perfectly balanced tannins, a very subtle sweet overlay and an elegantly long finish. Decadent taste at its best!

Next we tried the Château Haut Condissas 2012, also made from a Médoc blend with 60% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot,
10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc. Another interesting wine with mineral and blackberry notes, it exudes nobility from first drop to long finish!

We segued into a short conversation with George Anlou of the Compagnie Vinicole Baron Edmond de Rothschild…

Their Haut Médoc has long been a favorite of mine, in its price range ($27 to $32) and the 2012 did not disappoint. With deep notes of dark juicy cassis and tobacco on the long finish, it is a blend of Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes.

We tasted some superb wines, but there is more to come…

CS

Kosher Food and Wine Extravaganza 2013 – Part 1

[I apologize to our readers for posting so late, but I had a family emergency. Immediately after the KFWE 2013 I had to leave for Richmond, VA. to deal with my 100 year old (ad meah ve’esrim!), Holocaust survivor uncle – my mother’s baby brother – who both broke a hip and developed pneumonia all at the same time. While far from perfect, things are under control again and I can get back to work. CS]

KFWE 2013 took place on Monday, February 4th, last week. As always the wine selections were superb, the restaurants and caterers exhibiting were tops. Better and bigger than ever, with more people attending than ever. Today we are posting the first of a multi part series of video interviews with winemakers, chefs, restaurateurs and some of the people attending.

We started with Baron Edmond de Rothschild wines…

All videos copyright of © The Kosher Scene, 2013

Next we spoke to Joe A. Hurliman from the Herzog Wine Cellars…

We segued with our friend, producer of award winning wines, Dr. Moises Cohen owner and founder of Spain’s acclaimed Elvi Wines.

After quite a few more interviews we went to the main floor to taste and see what the interviewees were talking about. My favorite was the Clos Mesorah 2009, it tasted even better than last year. On the nose I found it to be rich in blackberry, black cherry, blueberry and floral notes. On the palate it exhibits concentrated and layered fruit, silky tannins, along with plenty of spice, buttered herbs, and good cedar that fills the mouth and makes for a rich and unusual experience, with a long finish of chocolate, vanilla, berries, and butterscotch, with fruit and butterscotch lingering long after the wine is gone. Wooow, we loved it!

We will be telling you about the other wines we also enjoyed at KFWE 2013, so… just stay tuned. Meanwhile enjoy, gentle reader, enjoy!

CS