Nope, is it possible to find on the west coast? if so, or if there is a web place to get it, I'd be interested in trying it. The climate is probably similar to the Golan wines and the French influence would probably be good. (and which vintages are the best?)

As far as I can tell, and i'm not an expert, but the Israeli wines I listed are all <$30 and are damn good. Because they are not "well known" in the west, they don't vastly overcharge for the location like most of the california ones, so the price/performance ratio tends to be much much better!

Try using www.wine-searcher.com . It depends on the underlying stores having accurate inventory systems, which they don't always, but searching for "musar" in California shows a few places in the San Francisco area that have it. I tried it in a wine class and didn't love it (particularly for the price, it's not inexpensive), but some of my classmates did.

So nice to find a wine with real age on it -- I hate going into places and not being able to find anything but current vintages or anything prior to, say, 1999. Of course, the 1997s were completely gone ... but they wouldn't be ready anyway.

And I definitely have to give Osteria via Stato a BIG ^ ^ for being just a top-quality place. It's a new favorite.

I had an '82 Sauternes about a month ago. Of course it was from my cave. If it was in a restaurant I would have had to take out a loan to buy it.

And right now a '53 Armangnac, bought relatively cheap at an auction.

Bump -

I just enjoyed a 2004 Justin cab which can be had for less than twenty bucks; was easy drinking, food friendly, and opened right up.

I agree with that recommendation. If you like the Cab, try the Justin Isoceles,2003-4. More expensive, but more elegant. A great wine. A restaurant called James' Beach in Venice has a great wine list that is modestly priced and has a great collection of Justin wines. It's only 10 mins. from LAX too!

This summer I am drinking a bit of a mixture,

Much of the red is Chateau Cantemerle 95, with side lines in Chapoutier Cotes du Rhone 03 and some Chateau Muzar 98.

The white is very varied but quite a bit of Erdener Treppchen Riesling Kabinett 03, Simon Hackett Semillion 04 and a sensational single vinyard Soave :eek:

Rose, is as usual, Sancerre.

I am slightly overstocked on classic reds at the moment and understocked on good white. Must head off to the wine merchants soon and stop buying claret. :D

I just had a bottle of 2001 Mesach which I believe is the finest of all the Barrossa Valley wines. It is hard to find so I was surprised to see it on the menu at the Morton's in SIN.

http://www.grantburgewines.com.au/thewines/?wine=13

A Barossa shiraz from the very old vines is an especial treat for us. I have a few in my cellar from Langmeil's 140 year old vines and try to serve it only to those who understand. I have never tasted a Meshach and will keep an eye out for it.

Last night ours was from the other end of the world. A Thanisch 2002 Bernkasteler Doktor Kabinett riesling that sang as it went down.