Israel

• Judean Hills
• Galilee

This a red blend of 45% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 13% Petit Verdot grown at high elevation in the Edom Mountains.  It is Kosher.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  A very nice Bordeaux-like nose.  Cassis, black cherries, cherries, slight cigar box, gravel and slighter bell pepper.  On the palate, this is medium bodied with lighter but present tannins.  Moderate acidity.  A nice depth and complexity.  Notes of cassis and cherry fruit over gravel.  Ripe but not overtly.  Drinks easily right now.  I don't think this will get better but should drink well for five to seven more years.

This wine and it's Red counterpart are some of the best values from Israel.  This is a blend of 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 45% Chardonnay and 5% Gewurztraminer.  It is basically the third level wine in their hierarchy.  Light golden in color with a touch of green.  The nose is nice with citrus, slight orange peel and slight floral notes.  Very steely.  On the palate this is light bodied.  Very crisp and refreshing.  It has some depth but it more about raciness than complexity.  Very food friendly or on its own.  A nice match for soft cheeses to start a casual evening outside.  This probably shoul

Opened at a holiday party to join in the fun with a "Chanukah" wine as it is made in Israel.   Israel is making some excellent wines these days and this is an outstanding Syrah.  Deep purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose is very meaty with black raspberries, bacon fat, and black pepper.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is somewhere between a Rhone style Syrah and one from California.  It is delicious but slightly restrained fruit.  Black raspberries over roasted meat and earth.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This will work well with stews and roasts.  It should drink well for the

This is a modern style of Chardonnay from the center of Israel.  It is 90% Chardonnay with 10% Sauvignon Blanc added.  This is a very nice white with energy and some verve to it.  Light golden in color.  The nose has lemons and minerals.  Slight oak but no butter.  On the palate, this is clean with nice minerality and slight lemon/citrus.  Good length.  It is drinking well now and probably should be drunk up in the next year.  It will go well with lighter foods, salads and sea foods.  

This is the second wine of Domaine Castel.  It is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, plums, chocolate and slight black olives.  Nice texture.  On the palate, sour black cherries, some black raspberries over char and earth.  Medium tannins.  This needs a couple of years to sort itself out and then should be good for a decade.  A nice choice for roasted meats, fowl and veggies.  

Impressive showing for this wine.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has cassis and slight olives.  Great texture.  On the palate, black raspberries, black cherries.  Sweet tannins.  Nice finish.  This is young and could improve a bit with a few years in the cellar.  It will drink well for at least a decade after that.  It will go well with brisket, burgers or roasted meats and fowl.  

This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has cassis, cherries, slight chocolate, char and spice.  On the palate, this is soft, accessible and easy drinking.  Layers of black cherries, cassis and char.  Light tannins.  Medium finish.  This probably should be consumed over the next five years.  It will go great with burgers, ribs or pasta.  

This is the best Israeli wine I have had.  It is a blend  of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petite Verdot.  Purple in color with a thin ruby line at the rim.  The nose is very nice with spice, black raspberries and tobacco.  With air, some milk chocolate comes out.  On the palate this has a lovely texture.  Medium tannins.  Black raspberry fruits, cherries with a forest floor base.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This seems just a touch young but is drinking very well.  Probably about five to seven years from peak and should be good for another ten to twenty a

The Yatir Forest is on the edge of the Negev desert in southern Israel.  I have had this wine before and thought it was labelled Negev but this 2012 vintage is labelled Judean Hills.  I am not sure where the boundaries of the wine regions are.  According to the label, this is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Petite Verdot, and 9% Tannat.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has cassis, plums, char and baking spices.  On the palate, this is more boysenberry with black cherries over a gravelly char.  Slight tannins.  Nice finish.  This took some time to open and then kept opening all evening.  It seem

Purple in color, shimmering bright.  The nose has some volatile acidity along with cassis and a slight earthiness.  Nice texture.  Slightly tart and slightly bitter cherry fruit.  A bit of chocolate on the finish.  This is a solid, easy quaffing wine.  It is probably best drunk in the next few years.  it should  work well with medium bodied foods like pizza, pasta or burgers.