Ah, September! The end of summer and the beginning of so much else. If you’ve never stopped living according to the academic calendar, September brings with it a breath of (figuratively) fresh air, and a sense of exhilarating nervous energy. Perhaps your summer fling just ended and you’re feeling unsure of what’s to come. Or maybe you’ve been seeing someone on and off, become intoxicated with each other during more than just a few hot nights, and are uncertain of where it’s going. The High Holidays are an ideal moment to collect yourself and take stock of where – and to whom – you’re dedicating your vital energy.
The following wine selections have been rigorously collected from folks in the know. Every year the selection improves. Kosher wine doesn’t have to ruin your meal anymore, in fact, these are downright delicious! Some are complex and perfect to meditate over, others are lightweight and mood-lifting. I’ve divided them by country – as opposed to color – and unless otherwise noted, wines are Kosher but not Mevushal.
ITALY
Made from an indigenous grape called Roscetto (found primarily in the central Italian region of Lazio, Italy), this dry white wine has pleasant sunny notes, warm hay, minerals, and wild flowers; it finishes long with a little spice.
If you can track down a bottle of this, the older the better. A combination of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, this red wine has a deep, rich, red color. It is warm and exudes ripe fruit notes of marmalade and juicy berries with a nice tannic finish.
FRANCE
Drappier Brut Champagne Carte Blanche
What’s a New Year without bubbly? Start or end your meal in style with a proper Champagne. This stylish bottle comes from the well-regarded Aube region and combines the classic blend of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Fine perlage, toasty aromas, and a clean snappy finish will keep everyone looking forward to the year ahead.
Barons Edmons Benjamin De Rothschild Haut Medoc 2011
A well-rounded and classic Bordeaux, this wine (made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) is aged for a year in oak barrels. It offers the usual ripe red fruit, graphite and a little spice.
Treat yourself with this Burgundy, which could run you upwards of 100 dollars. It is, however, a masterpiece of terroir and elegance. Made from coveted cru vineyard The Clos Vougeot (which has been producing Pinot Noir for about a millennium), the nose is not for the timid. There’s a whole olfactory panorama encompassing red berries, forest floor, mushrooms and wet stones. If you’re serving game, or say, a taleggio-laced wild mushroom risotto, this is your perfect match.
USA
Hagafen Chardonnay 2012
If you like your Chardonnay full of tropical aromas and vanilla spice, this is for you. A classic Napa Chardonnay, aged in barrique, it’s bursting with exotic fruit and finished creamy and overcast with oak. *Mevushal.
This is a quintessentially Californian ripe and luscious red wine. 100% Syrah, it has notes of juicy berries as well as smoke, licorice and spice. It’s a layered wine to pair with complex dishes and definitely red meats.
SPAIN
Spain’s answer to Champagne is CAVA, and this traditional bubbly is made in the same way, re-fermented in the bottle and then aged for a year before release. Made from the classic cava grape varieties: Perellada, Macabeo, and Xarello, it offers fresh toasty aromas, fruit and floral notes. It’s the perfect beginning to your meal, as well as a celebratory kick-off to the New Year.
Ramon Cardova is a can’t-fail. 100 percent Tempranillo harvested from old vines, makes this Rioja both traditional and satisfying. Its red fruit notes, earthiness and spice, and medium body go wonderfully with hard cheeses or roast meats.