I was in NYC for a few days and I had the opportunity to have dinner with Dr. Ralph Madeb, president and CEO of M & M Importers, one of M’s in M & M (I just think Ralph secretly loved M&Ms as a child, but hey).

The current lineup of wines is the following:

NON-IDS Wines 2013 Eccelenza, Bianco Umbria (tasted in past) 2014 Famiglia Cotarella, Marciliano, Umbria (note below) 2014 Famiglia Cotarella, Montiano, Lazio (note below) 2014 Chateau Leroy-Beauval, Bordeaux Superieur (tasted in past) 2016 Chateau Haut Brisson, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru (tasted in past) 2016 Chateau Tour Saint Christophe, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru (tasted in past) 2018 Valle Reale Botteotto Montepulciano, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (not yet tasted)

IDS Wines 2015 Chateau Labegorce, Margaux (tasted in past) 2015 Virginie de Valandraud, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru (tasted in past) 2016 Chateau Leydet-Valentin, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru (not yet tasted) 2011 Chateau de Valois, Pomerol (note below) 2018 Jean Luc & Paul Aegerter Pommard, Reserve Personnelle (note below) 2018 Jean Luc & Paul Aegerter Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes de Nuits, Reserve Personnelle (note below) 2018 Jean Luc & Paul Aegerter Gevrey-Chambertin, Reserve Personnelle (note below) 2016 Château La Tour de By, Heritage Marc Pages, Médoc (note below) 2018 Clos des Lunes Lune D’Argent, Bordeaux (note below) NV Janisson & Fils Champagne Brut Rose (tasted in past) NV Janisson & Fils Champagne Brut Blanc (tasted in past)

While the IDS portfolio is impressive, I find the Italian wines more impressive, Italy is where I truly believe Kosher wine can shine. Of course, the French wines from IDS and those that M&M have imported are very impressive and really shows the power and potential of France for kosher wines.

The focus of the tasting were the 2018 Jean Luc & Paul Aegerter wines. They were all very impressive, the wines are super young now and have a long way to go. Still, as much I really liked them, they are a step behind the current kosher star of Burgundy Domaine Lescure. I have put in my order for all three 2018 Jean Luc & Paul Aegerter wines and I hope to watch them evolve. For now, do not waste your money tasting them, store them away and start opening them up 6 years from now. Still, the best wine at the tasting was the 2016 Château La Tour de By, Heritage Marc Pages, it is a rich, racy, and in-your-face Medoc wine that should be a sure buy by all.

My many thanks to Ralph and his partner for sharing their wines with us, the wine notes follow below:

The wine notes follow below – the explanation of my “scores” can be found here:

2018 Clos des Lunes Lune D’Argent, Bordeaux – Score: 91 to 92 This wine is a blend of 70% Semillon and  30% Sauvignon Blanc. The nose on this wine is lovely, with flint, rock, gooseberry, citrus, and green notes, with orange blossom, yellow fruit, and earth. The mouth on this medium-bodied wine comes at you in layers of fruit, with a nice integrated acid, showing green notes, tart with asparagus, yellow plum, dry straw, with mineral, lovely smoke, tart fruit, rock, and grapefruit and lemon/lime. The finish is long, green, with orange notes, and mineral that lingers long forever. Drink by 2023.