The 2009 PETITE SIRAH – ZINFANDEL RESERVE is 80% Petite Sirah, the rest Zinfandel, aged for 8 months in American oak. This is always a fun-to-drink wine in Recanati’s lineup. I think I had a preference for the last version reviewed, but this is pretty nice, too. It manages to be bright and gripping, elegant in the mid-palate and keep the oak well under control. It develops a little character with air, more than I thought it had. It always has a bit more tannin that you think on first taste and enough of a backbone to support some aging in the cellar. I think it will still show better young given the balance between tannin and fruit (and when I’ve gone back to older versions, 5 years or so seems about right for safety), but it is well enough constructed so that it always has a chance of hanging on if you like wines with some maturity. Drink now-2016. The Recanati ‘08s (some of which have been previously reviewed) will not be imported into the USA, the importer advises, in that it is a Shmitta year (see the short article at connected with this issue). Recanati’s interesting wines tend to start with the Reserves. The Diamond Label series is well priced and pleasant enough, but limited in structure and concentration. In fairness, there is a limit to what you can ask of wines in that price range, but assume that brand level is for immediate consumption and uncomplicated drinking. The name comes from the Diamond icon on the label, pointing at the Recanati name.Importer: Palm Bay International, Port Washington, N.Y.; tel: (516) 721-5123.

A heady, woody and earthy offering from Recanati that offers loads of bramble, dark cherry and black plum aromas and flavors. Fresh and vibrant with a juicy core livening up the medium-weight mouth. Cherry skins and fresh coffee stay through the close. Very drinkable and a versatile food pairing wine. ——L.B.(4/1/2011)—— 87

The 2007 PETITE SIRAH – ZINFANDEL RESERVE, up to 90% Petite Sirah this year (from 30 year old vines), shows its American oak at the outset (it was aged in a combination of French and American oak), but it is sexy and delicious, and the oak integrates rather well. With air, some brambles comes out and it shows surprisingly good acidity, a sunny demeanor and some character. There is not a lot of depth here, but it is a pleasure to drink, easy going and very tasty, another good example of this winery’s nice work with Petite Sirah. It will likely be at its best in the earlier half of its useful life, but should hold decently. Drink now-2016. Recanati, one of Israel’s larger wineries, makes all Kosher wines. The Yasmin lineup is also Mevushal. The regular bottlings—the “Diamond” series, because of the diamond on the label—is the next step up, followed by the Reserves and the Special Reserve. The “reserves” are where the best intersection of quality and price begins—they are reasonably priced and structured like moderately serious wines. Well made in general, they provide some easy drinking bang for the buck. This, in fact, is the best collection I’ve seen from Recanati. The Special Reserve is actually special and justifies that big, fat bottle, and the regular reserves are pretty nice values.Importer: Palm Bay International, Port Washington, N.Y.; tel: (516) 721-5123.

The 2006 PETITE SIRAH - ZINFANDEL is Petite Sirah dominated (80%), with the rest Zinfandel. It is a charming wine, aged for 8 months in a blend of American and French oak. It is easy going, relatively uncomplicated but easy to like and flavorful, one of the wines I initially liked most from Recanati. Its Petite Sirah vines reach 30 years in age. There are notes of game once past the oak overlay and some intensity on the finish. This is pretty respectable and may age better than seems apparent on first taste. It is typically the wine in the lineup that I think is rather underrated and overlooked. This will appeal more to Rhone drinkers than California drinkers, I suspect, notwithstanding the blend and the initial hit of oak. Drink now-2014. Recanati, one of Israel’s larger wineries, makes all Kosher wines. The Yasmin lineup is also Mevushal. The regular bottlings—the “Diamond” series, because of the diamond on the label—is the next step up, followed by the Reserves and the Special Reserve. The “reserves” are where the best intersection of quality and price begins—they are reasonably priced and structured like moderately serious wines. Well made in general, they provide some easy drinking bang for the buck. This, in fact, is the best collection I’ve seen from Recanati. The Special Reserve is actually special and justifies that big, fat bottle, and the regular reserves are pretty nice values.Importer: Palm Bay International, Port Washington, N.Y.; tel: (516) 721-5123.