Since this is our first wine column for the Parklander we feel that an introduction is in order. We are a husband and wife team who have been writing about wine, right here in Broward County, for over twenty years. Our object is to introduce our readers to the wines that are available in restaurants and in the marketplace. We do not intend to criticize the wines nor rate them. We feel that what we may like, someone else may hate and vice versa. To that end we write only about wines that are well made and, are a good value for the money, no matter what their price. Where we do put our two cents in, is if a wine really impresses us then we will be sure to tell you about it.
            We hope that you will enjoy our work and that it will help to expand your understanding of wine. For more information about us and a way we can be contacted for personal questions, please go to our web site at www.onwine.cc where we publish our columns after they appear in print.

            We have known Ernie Weir, owner-winemaker of Hagafen Cellars for more than twenty years and in that time we have never had a poor or even mediocre wine from his winery. And now for the kicker: all of the Hagafen wines are not only top draw but also happen to be strictly kosher. Before 1979, when Hagafen wines came into existence, kosher wines were mostly cloyingly sweet and made from east coast grown concord grapes. Hagafen Cellars achieved their reputation for excellence and quality by making their wine from the finest of Napa Valley classical grape varieties. Ernie Weir has elevated kosher wines to such heights of excellence that they continuously win medals at fine wine judging’s all over the world..
            In time for the upcoming holiday period, Ernie Weir and Hagafen Cellars have released a magnificent selection of wines. These wines are up to the usual Hagafen standard and are worth every penny of their price and in our opinion even more.

Hagafen 2001 Napa Valley Brut Cuvée ($30). The word cuvee (couvay) automatically tells you that this is a sparkling wine. This wine is made in the traditional methode champenoise by performing the second fermentation in the same bottle that you get it in. The aroma, which differs from the run-of-the-mill sparkling wines is positive; strawberry, lemon, grapefruit and chocolate with hints of melon and toast in the background. The flavor is just as big and just as obvious: peach, pineapple, citrus, wild berries and again the tell-tale toast. Another rare occurrence is the extra long and lasting finish which lingers in the mouth long after the wine has been swallowed. As you can probably tell, we were impressed with this wine.

Hagafen 2002 Napa Valley Merlot ($27). The aromas of cranberries, summer fruits, cloves and red roses seem to fill the room when the cork is pulled and the wine poured. The berry aromas continue into the flavor where it merges with cherry, licorice, mint, chocolate, vanilla and oak. The finish of this wine is as fruity as is the flavor, with raspberries and blueberries being the most obvious. While merlot wines are getting to be commonplace, this wine is a refreshing change from the ordinary.  

Hagafen 2001 Napa Valley Syrah ($27) Syrah wines have become very popular in the past few years because of their big fruity flavor, easy accessibility and ability to pair well with a broad variety of foods. The Hagafen 2001 Napa Valley Syrah proves this to be true. The color is a deep purple red, which heralds an aroma of blueberry, blackberry, leather and tobacco. The flavor is dominated by generous amounts of red cherry, black cherry, chocolate and leather along with oak and vanilla. These flavors carry over to the finish, which is very long and very fruity. We are sure that this wine will please your palate too.

            Hagafen Cellars makes a complete line of wines, all of which are Kosher and all of the high quality that the Hagafen name on the label indicates. We recommend them all without reservation.

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