2023 Domaine Du Castel La Vie Jerusalem Haute Judee, Israel, Judean Hills, Wine Review

This is the third label in the Castel red wine offerings. It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Syrah aged in stainless steel. Purple in color, shimmering bright. The nose is complex with a nice earthiness. Notes of cassis, black cherries, plums and slight chocolate. On the palate, this is ripe/slightly sweet. Flavors of cassis, cherries and black cherries. Nice finish. This drinks easy and should work well with food. Drink over the next five years. Nice value.

Grade:

B+

Score:

Vintage:

2023

Current Price:

$24.00USD

2017 Domaine Du Castel La Vie Rouge du Castel Jerusalem - Haute Judee, Israel, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

A-

Domaine du Castel is one of the best wineries in Israel. This is their value wine made in both red and white. Of course, this is the red and it truly is a very good value. This was originally purchased for Passover 2020, but due to Covid, opened in 2021. Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose has black cherries and some cassis with a bit of dust and earthiness. Medium bodied. This drinks easily with light tannins and fresh black cherry fruit. Good balance. This probably should be consumed in the next few years, but for around $20, this is a nice Cab. It graced our

2016 Domaine Du Castel Jerusalem - Haute Judee La Vie, Israel, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$20.00USD

This is a really good bottle of wine and for $20, it is a great value. We opened a few of these for our Passover Seder, but I would happily drink this Bordeaux blend any time. Purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, cherries, slight coffee and spice. On the palate, this is medium bodied. Light tannins. The black raspberries and cherries carry thru. Some underlying spice as well. Good balance. Nice finish. This works with a wide variety of food. Tasty. Seems like it should easily do five more years. It probably won't get better though.

2017 Domaine du Castel Petit Castel Kosher Judean Hills, Israel, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$43.00USD

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.

2017 Domaine du Castel Grand Vin Judean Hills, Israel, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$75.00USD

Castel is probably the consistently best top winery in Israel. Although modern Israel wine is a very young industry, so this is always changing. Castel has a proven track record. The Grand Vin is the best wine that they make. This is quite young and just not giving up much right now. After a couple of hours of air, it had improved but its best days are at least five years in the future. Inky purple in color. The nose has nice baking spices along with some cherries. On the palate, firm tannins. Black cherries. Monolithic at present. It is tasty but needs time develop a complexity

2021 Flam Classico Judean Hills, Israel, Judean Hills, Wine Review

Vintage:

2021

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$32.00USD

This is a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot, and 4% Syrah from Israel. Purple in color with a ruby rim, mostly opaque and bright. The nose is nice with black raspberries, black cherries, plums, spice, slight chocolate and char. Medium to full bodied. Medium tannins. On the palate, there is some complexity and depth. This is tasty and easy to drink. Flavors of black raspberries, black cherries, spice and char. Good finish. This drinks well on its own and will work well with many (non seafood) dishes. A nice wine to serve with the main

2023 Domaine Du Castel La Vie Jerusalem Haute Judee, Israel, Judean Hills, Wine Review

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