1 the New Israeli Wine Guide
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1 The New Israeli Wine Guide Yair Gath, Gal Zohar The New Israeli Wine Guide March 2014 2 The New Israeli Wine Guide Table of contents: 3 Preface 4 Introduction by Mr. Adam Montefiore 5-6 Bordeaux blends 7-8 Other blends 9 Other red varietals 10-11 Mediterranean varietals and blends 12 Syrah 13-14 Cabernet Sauvignon 15 Sauvignon Blanc 16-17 Chardonnay 18-19 Other white varietals 20-24 List of wineries 3 The New Israeli Wine Guide Hello, Welcome to the first full edition of The New Israeli Wine Guide. After tasting more than 300 wines from the top 100 wineries in Israel, we assembled a list of The Best 70 Wines of Israel. All the wines were tasted double blind, to ensure impartial and completely objective notes and scores. Some of the wines are kosher, and some aren’t. Most of the wines are available outside Israel. The guide is divided to nine categories, each presents the wines won the highest scores in their category. Information about the wineries is available at the end of the guide, with a few descriptive words on each winery penned by us. We would like to thank everyone who helped us bring this mission to completion; the wineries, the messengers, the truck drivers, friends who supported us, those who followed on the social networks, the lucky few who tasted with us, the designer Ron Yadlin, the Hebrew editor Efrat Jeropy and the English editor Assaf Dudai. Hope you’ll enjoy it, at least as much as we did. Gal Zohar & Yair Gat 4 The New Israeli Wine Guide ByIntroduction Adam Montefiore The New Israeli Wine Guide is a new initiative to rate Israeli wines. Tastings were conducted blind in the strictest and most professional conditions possible and the results are recorded with no embellishment or political tinkering. The information given on each wine is refreshingly clear and not wrapped up in flowery, hard to understand tasting notes. The scores given to each wine are modest and they only have a supporting role. Most attractive is the pithy, informative, two or three word descriptive headline which precedes each tasting note. The guide has been written by two people who shine because of their quiet, thorough approach, modesty and professionalism. They do not come from the ‘look at me’ type of wine critics who wish to make a noise, nor the ‘cut and paste merchants,’ who have nothing new to say. They are both well qualified and respected. The two partners in this project are Yair Gath and Gal Zohar. Yair Gath is the wine critic of Israel Hayom, which has arguably the most regular wine column amongst the daily newspapers in Hebrew. He has a following of wine lovers who have enjoyed reading him over the years. Gal Zohar is an international sommelier, wine educator and wine consultant. He was recently a judge in the International Wine Challenge, the world’s largest wine tasting competition. He is in great demand as a wine consultant in both London and Israel. Both have the ability to speak at eye level with wine drinkers whether they are simply wine lovers, wine professionals or connoisseurs and they are not loud and self-opinionated, like many of the today’s self-proclaimed wine experts. Neither will be the center of attention at wine events, preferring to taste and meet quietly without fanfare, but their views and opinions are of great interest to wine drinkers at every level. Daniel Rogov, z”l, used to publish his annual guide on Israeli wines. His books reached far and wide in the effort to advance ‘Brand Israel’. Since his death, there has been a void. Thankfully the New Israeli Wine Guide has come at exactly the right time. It is an interesting turn-around exercise for someone in the wine trade to judge the wine critics. Maybe each should receive a score?! Wine critics have to have credibility and tastings have to be conducted professionally. Respect is certainly earned not bought. The true success of this initiative will be in its successful continuation, over a number of years. However the first launch of their collective tasting notes is a valuable contribution to Israeli wine and I heartily recommend it. Adam Montefiore works for Carmel Winery and regularly writes about wine in international & Israeli publications. 5 The New Israeli Wine Guide Bordeaux Blends Noble 2008 FLAM Limited Edition 2008 Carmel Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Verdot Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec Region: Upper Galilee Region: Upper Galilee Aged 24 months in oak Aged 15 months in oak Alcohol: 14% Alcohol: 13.5% Kosher A Balancing Act Concentration of ripe black fruit dominates Killing Me Softly the nose together with spiciness, earthiness The nose is complex, dominated by fresh and a soft minty note. The balance on the fruit and complimented with a light green palate of ripe fruit, natural acidity and note. The tension between the fruity, impressive tannic structure is remarkable. savoury and spicy flavours is impressive Long and generous finish. and so is the softly crafted tannic structure. 90 Finish is mineral and persistent. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 88 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Yatir Forest 2009 Yatir Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Grand Vin 2010 Domaine du Merlot Castel Region: Negev Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Aged 16 months in oak Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Alcohol: 14.5% Region: Judean Hills Kosher Aged 22 months in oak Alcohol: 15% Southern Exposure Kosher There's soft fruit on the nose along with herbs and a good amount of spice, all Classicism thoughtfully balanced. Understated and An evolving nose of soft spice, dried fruit elegant, the palate is loaded with charming and a light earthy note. The impressive ripe fruit, fresh acidity and some delicate palate shows concentration, intensity and oak. Fine spice, acidity and fruit on the some ripeness, all held together by fine finish. acidity. Finish is persistent and spicy; and 89+ it lingers. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 88 Ayalon Valley 2008 Clos de Gat ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot Region: Judean Hills Aged 20 months in oak Alcohol: 14% The Dark Side of the Valley Rich and concentrated black fruit aromas dominate the nose with some impressive earthy and smoky notes. The plot thickens on the palate where flush and ripe fruit flavours are beautifully balanced with soft acidity, minerality and a long spicy finish. 89 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 6 The New Israeli Wine Guide Bordeaux Blends Kessem 2011 Agur Petit Caste 2011 Castel Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec Region: Judean Hills Region: Judean Hills Aged 6 months in oak Aged 16 months in oak Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol: 15.4% Kosher Kosher The Young and the Restless Freshly Sharp Fresh fruit, herbaceousness and soft oak Green capsicum notes on the nose spice aromas make this nose an exciting complimented by dry fruit and spice. Oak- one. Palate is balancing good fruit and dominated, the palate has good balance, a hint of leafy notes in a soft and refined softness and concentration. Finish is spicy texture. Oak is present, and so are tannins, and fresh. on the finish. 86 87 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Metzuda 2009 Tzuba Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc Region: Judean Hills Aged 24 months in oak Alcohol: 14% Kosher Like a Rolling Stone The nose shows development of ripe fruit, dried herbs, spice and toasty oak notes. Palate is thick, ripe with a light meaty character and a firm yet pleasant acidity. Finish is long and mainly sweet. 86 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Grand Vital 2010 Lueria Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot Region: Upper Galilee Aged 24 months in oak Alcohol: 13% Kosher Heart of Galilee There's some rusticity on the nose with a present oak note and sweetness of fruit. Lots of very ripe fruit here, some green, slightly aggressive tannins and a hint of sweetness. Finish is long, bitter and sweet. 86 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 7 The New Israeli Wine Guide Other Blends 2010 A Adir Special Reserve 2011 Recanati Shiraz, Cabernet Cabernet Franc Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Region: Upper Galilee Petite Syrah and Carignan Aged 18 months in oak Region: upper Galilee, lower Galilee and Alcohol: 14.5% Judean Hills Kosher Aged 18 months in oak Alcohol: 14% Big Is Beautiful Kosher Lots of oak spice, pepper and a floral note form a refined and elegant nose. The The Smooth Road Ahead palate shows very good acidity, a good While dominated by new oak and spice, complexity of fruit and spice and a long The nose manages to show good ripe fruit and velvety finish. and a soft earthy character. The palate is rich, spicy and complex with leather, ripe 89 fruit notes and a long smooth finish. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 88 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Misty Hills 2010 Tzora Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah Coupage 2010 Bravdo Region: Judean Hills Cabernet Franc, Shiraz and Cabernet Aged 18 months in oak Sauvignon Alcohol: 14.5% Region: Samson Kosher Aged 12 months in oak Alcohol: 14.5% Elegant Me Kosher Pleasant ripe fruit on the nose complimented by lovely