A Chilean Kosher Red Blend

Yes, Chile does Kosher wine...

Alfasi Reserva Malbec Syrah

Just as the companion wine, today’s offering is not associated with any website. It is sold by Royal Wines, the largest kosher wine distributor but I can find no information about this winery, or should I say…? The wine comes from Chile’s Maule Valley, part of the Central Valley Viticultural Region, the country’s oldest, most central, and most traditional wine region. It is a half and half blend of Malbec (Argentina’s signature red grape) and Syrah (Australia’s signature red grape under the name Shiraz). The companion wine is a cheaper Argentian Malbec that is also Kosher.

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

Wine Reviewed
Alfasi Reserva KP 2010 14 % alcohol about $14.

There were no marketing materials so let’s start by quoting the back label (my sight translation from the French). “This Alfasi Malbec-Syrah is the fruit of combining carefully selected Malbec and Syrah grapes sourced in Chile’s most respected vineyards. From this oh so refined blend is born a well-structured wine characterized by rich notes of plums and grapes heightened by a soupcon of vanilla and coffee. This wine pairs marvelously with hearty meat and poultry dishes.“ And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine was dark and almost burnt with good length but its acidity was somewhat sour. A Wasabi pea shortened the wine. The initial meal was a boxed Ziti Siciliano that I doused with grated Parmesan cheese. This Chilean was flavorful and multilayered. Fresh strawberries rendered this liquid long and oaky.

The following meal featured slow cooked beef with potatoes. Now our blend provided good acidity. It was long with the taste of chocolate and provided balanced tannins and acidity. The accompanying potatoes rendered its acidity harsh. Louisiana hot sauce rounded and lengthened this drink. When paired with a Turkish salad consisting of tomato, tomato paste, onion, sweet red pepper, garlic, sugar, and other spices this libation tingled; it was mouth filling and long.

My final meal centered on a fairly tasteless barbecued chicken leg. In response this wine was dark and chewy, tasting of plums and a tinge of salt. When it met potatoes roasted in chicken fat the wine lengthened and deepened, as did that almost disgusting taste of salt. In response to delicious leeks sautéed in olive oil the wine was oaky and fruity.

Final verdict. Sometimes decisions are hard to make. I may end up buying this wine again as some of the pairings were quite good. I think what kills me is the price I had to pay, especially when I see some much cheaper offerings on the Internet. Check them out. I can cross town and pick up this producer’s (label’s?) Merlot for a few dollars less. That’s a real decision.

Access the companion wine A Wine Lover's Weekly Review Of $10 Wine - A Menodoza, Argentina Malbec

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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