A Kosher Pinot Noir From Napa Valley

Hagafen Cellars

Let’s talk about cost. Napa Valley, California is perhaps the most expensive agricultural land in the United States. Furthermore, this wine is kosher, definitely adding to its cost. Pinot Noir is an expensive grape to grow; I’m told that it’s quite finicky. So $25 may not be out of line.

This winery has been in business for about 30 years. It’s not only located in the famous Napa Valley, it is less than a mile from the very select Stags Leap District (but a mile or even a kilometer can make a very big difference). If you are interested in that sort of thing: Since 1980 their wines have been served on numerous occasions at the White House to visiting foreign dignitaries.

Safed, Hagafen vineyards in beautiful Napa Valley, California.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
Hagafen Pinot Noir 2006 13.5% alcohol about $25

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials. Tasting Note : Cherry red to garnet in color, floral on the nose, a stylish and supple wine, showing a generous array of cherry, pomegranate and red currant fruits, on a background of green tea and vanilla. Soft tannins linger on a finish of minerals and cedar wood. Drink now-2011. Score - 90. (Daniel Rogov, www.haaretz.com, July 23, 2008)And now for my review.

At the first sips the wine tasted of earth and opened up to fill the mouth. Its first pairing was with a commercial chicken pot pie. This Pinot Noir was delicious but I had the distinct sensation that it was wasted on such a plebian dish. I tasted light chocolate with fleeting but pleasant acidity and virtually no tannins. The wine picked up when I added zesty green jalapeno pepper sauce.

The next meal involved chicken meat balls and a barbecued chicken leg with a black bean, corn, chickpea, and pimento salad. This wine was almost ethereal. There was some chocolate with the chicken leg it was somewhat more assertive but still delicious.

My final meal was composed of hamburgers, green beans in a tomato sauce, and a salad described below. The wine was light and did not have much acid or a lot of tannins. Yet I didn’t have the feeling that anything was missing. It had great balance and the predominant taste was cherry-chocolate.With the accompanying red, yellow, and orange plum and cherry tomatoes and basil leaves this Pinot Noir stepped up its acidity so as not to be overwhelmed by the salad. The chocolate taste intensified as well.

I ended the bottle with two local cheeses. With a brick cheese the wine tasted of black cherries with some chocolate in the background. With a more powerful yellow cheddar this wine started stronger but ended up weaker. There was just a little left in the bottle but I would rather enjoy it with some delicious food rather than confirm the results with these pedestrian cheeses.

Final verdict. I would definitely buy this wine again at the quoted price which comes from the Internet. But I had to pay an additional $12 and that changed everything. Price counts.

About the Author

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. His wine websites include
www.theworldwidewine.com    and    http://www.wineinyourdiet.com

Visit his website devoted to Italian travel www.travelitalytravel.com

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