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

Vintage: 
2023
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$24.00USD

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.

2021 Binyamina Merlot Reserve, Israel, Galilee, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$21.00USD

At a recent tasting of Kosher wines from Israel, this was the runaway first place wine.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, coffee, cherries and spice.  Full bodied.  Lovely texture.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, there is plenty of depth.  Flavors of cherries, black cherries and spice.  Good finish.  This should drink well for another five to eight years.  It is nice on its own and will work well with food.  It would go well with roasted chicken.  

2020 Recanati Special Reserve, Israel, Galilee, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$57.00USD

This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Carignan and Marselan from northern Israel.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with attic dust, cassis, black cherries, char and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is drinking well.  Lots of black cherry fruit with some spice and char.  Good finish.  This should drink well over the next three to five years.  It is nice on its own but would be better with food.  It will work well with braised meat dishes.  

2022 Tzora Vineyards Judean Hills, Israel, Judean Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$32.00USD

This is a proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Verdot and Merlot from Israel.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is deep and complex with cassis, black raspberries, char, moist earthiness, and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Nice balance.  On the palate, this has ripe black cherry fruit along with plums, spice, slight chocolate and char.  Long finish.  This is tasty and drinks easily on its own and will work well with many foods.  It should be a natural with Brisket (the Jewish kind).  It is Kosher.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

2021 Yatir Mt. Amasa, Israel, Judean Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Shiraz, 12% Tanat, 11% Malbec, 7% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc from Israel.  It is certified Kosher.  Purple in color with a thin ruby rim.  The nose is nice with cassis, black cherries, plums, spice and slight chocolate.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, nice black cherry fruit with some cassis and spice.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for the next few years.  It is nice on its own but will work well with food.  A good wine to serve with Roasted Chicken.  

2023 Domaine du Castel 'C' Blanc du Castel, Israel, Judean Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2023
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

This is 100% Chardonnay grown in the Judean Hills just west of Jerusalem.  Deeper golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with lemons, roasted almonds and a touch of buttered popcorn.  Medium to full bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, lemons and spice with a touch of melon.  Good finish.  It seems like this went thru partial (or maybe full) malolactic fermentation.  The resulting wine is approachable but will likely mature over the next three to five years.  Drink over the next ten.  This is nice on its own but will work well with Matzoh Ball soup.  

Pages

Pages