Villa Wilhelma Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Israel

Beautiful color of dark ruby with a wide brick/ reddish rim.

Strong nose and medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.

Showing black currants, cooked plums, cedar, tobacco leaf, vanilla, alcohol, herbs, peppercorn, coffee, cinnamon and dark chocolates.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 12 year old Israeli Cabernet Sauvignon is gorgeous. Rich and delicate.

Peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.

Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime. 30 minutes in the glass was enough.

Grapes are grown in the Upper Galilee region and aged in American oak barrels for over 6 years (74 months).

13.8% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$35.

Matar by Pelter Stratus 2020, Israel

Inky in color with a reddish rim.

Strong nose with black fruits, tobacco, oak, licorice, black pepper and chocolates.

Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with black currants, cooked plums, oak, wild flowers, tobacco, licorice, light earth, coffee, bitter herbs, spices, tar and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a very tasty Syrah from Israel. Fruit forward and extracted. Nicely balanced and bold. Rich and good by itself or with food.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime. Really enjoyed the nose once it opened up.

I Had the 2017 three years ago, and it felt very different. This vintage feels like an Australian Shiraz.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 years.

Paired nicely with cheeses and crackers.

100% Shiraz grapes from the Galilee region were aged in French oak barrels for 16 months. Kosher and not Mevushal.

15% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$30.

Shiloh Winery Secret Reserve Merlot 2020, Israel

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let’s bring Merlot back!

Inky in color with a wide reddish rim.

Pretty nose of blackberries, black currants, black plums, light cedar, licorice, chocolates and coffee notes.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with currants, plums, sweet cherries, Mediterranean spices, light cedar, earth, chocolates, tobacco, peppercorn and herbs

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This young Merlot from Israel needs 3 hours to open up properly. Rich, spicy and engaging. Drinking very nicely now, and good by itself or with food. Smooth and elegant.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. Has good potential to become a 94+ point wine. 

This 4 year old is robust and good by itself as a sipping wine. Will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months. Unfiltered. Kosher and not Mevushal.

16% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$50.

Weiss Winery 100 Private Reserve Small Batch 2019, Israel

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim. Very pretty.

Nice nose of red fruits with earth, light wood, spices, chocolates, tobacco and herbs.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity. Soft and elegant.

Dry on the palate with cherries, plums, light oak, spices, chocolates, tobacco leaf, herbs and light black pepper.

Short finish with soft tannins and tangy cranberries.

This 5 year old Israeli red blend is drinking nicely now. Feels like an old world Cabernet Sauvignon blend with a new world twist. Interesting stuff.

A good food wine.

A blend of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Cabernet Franc and 16% Syrah. Aged in French oak barrels for 26 months. A tiny production of only 3,000 bottles. Kosher and not Mevushal.

14% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$75.

Matar by Pelter Stratus 2017, Israel

Pretty color of ruby/purple with a wide reddish rim.

Very aromatic nose of blue and black fruits, violets and chocolate notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with red currants, light oak, cherries, blueberries, licorice, chocolates and peppercorn.

Short finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 7 year old Shiraz from Israel is still drinking nicely, although not at its peak anymore.

Needs an hour to open up properly, although good right out of the bottle too. The Syrah notes show up after 2 hours of airtime.

A tasty Shiraz that is lighter than I expected it to be. I liked the nose better than the palate at this point.

I had this vintage 3 years ago, and it is drinking better now. Rich, juicy and elegant.

100% Shiraz grapes from the Galilee were handpicked and aged for 14 months in oak barrels. Kosher and not Mevushal.

14% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$35.

Shiloh Winery Legend Fiddler 2017, Israel

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, black plums, light cedar, spices, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco leaf, black pepper and herbs.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, oak, vanilla, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, light earth and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 7 year old Petite Sirah blend from Israel is still drinking very nicely. Fruit forward and rich. Complex and interesting.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 30 minutes in the decanter.

I had it 2 years ago and it is still delicious. Alcohol is high, but it is well integrated by now. Spicy and tangy on the finish. 

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a Lamb Loin with red wine and baby Bella mushrooms.

A blend of 51% Petite Sirah, 33% Petit Verdot and 16% Shiraz. Aged in French oak barrels for 15 months. Kosher and Mevushal.

15% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$40 (recent vintage).

Ephod Winery Keter Cabernet Sauvignon /Merlot 2019, Israel

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Nose of red fruits with light wood, spices and coffee.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, plums, light oak, spices, chocolates, vegetable, bitter herbs, earth, licorice and black pepper.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and cranberries.

This is a nice Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from the Galilee region in Israel. Soft, tangy and elegant. Feels like a red Bordeaux. 

Needs an hour to open up properly, and gets earthier as it opens up. Easy drinking and better with food. 

A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. Kosher and not Mevushal.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$30.

Carmel Winery Admon Vineyard Malbec 2014, Israel

Dark purple in color with a short purple rim. Not showing age at all.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity.

Showing black plums, cooked cherries, spices, light oak, herbs, light vanilla, dark chocolates, light vegetables, tobacco, light earth and peppercorn.

Nice finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This 10 year old Israeli Malbec is delicious. Peaking now and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

Good right out of the bottle, and better with airtime.

Wine Enthusiasts 90 points.

I had this vintage over 3 years ago, and it is still delicious.

This Single Vineyard is a great sipping wine, that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

Aged in French oak barrels for 15 months. A small production of only 6,700 bottles. Kosher and not Mevushal.

15% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$35.

Tabor Winery Judaica Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Israel

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Nice nose of red and black fruits with light wood, spices, coffee, bell pepper, cloves, chocolates, tobacco leaf, herbs and vegetables.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with plums, currants, oak, cloves, earth, licorice, bell pepper, Mediterranean spices, dark coffee, vegetables, tobacco leaf and black pepper.

Spicy finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 6 year old, Single Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon from Israel, is drinking very nicely.

Very earthy right out of the bottle with lots of bell pepper notes, that somewhat went away after an hour of airtime.

Fruit forward, once it opens up, with nice complexity and balance.

Feels like a South American Cabernet Sauvignon. Interesting stuff.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were grown at 2,700 feet of elevation. Aged in oak barrels for 20 months. A small production of less than 7,000 bottles. Kosher and not Mevushal.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$40.

Shiloh Winery Secret Reserve Merlot 2020, Israel

It’s time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let’s bring Merlot back!

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Pretty nose of red and black fruits with wood, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs, light vegetables and spices.

Full-bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate and fruit forward with nice complexity.

The palate is showing black plums, cherries, oak, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco, chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, earth and black tea.

Nice tangy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Merlot from Israel. Rich, yet subdued with lots of earth notes to compliment the fruits.

Still young, but already enjoyable, even by itself.

Good right out of the bottle, and much better after 3 hours in the decanter. Really worth the wait.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years and see how it evolves. Has good potential to become a 94+ point wine.

A little high in alcohol, so watch out as it is easy drinking. Loved the nose here, even at this early point.

Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months. Kosher and not Mevushal.

16% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$50.