Covenant Israel Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Israel

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

On the nose black currants, black plums, black cherries, tobacco, oak, licorice, black tea, spices, earth, light chocolates, herbs and light vegetables.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cherries, wood, spices, peppercorn, chocolates, tobacco leaf, pencil lead and coffee.

This Israeli Cabernet Sauvignon is drinking very nicely now. Showing nice complexity, although still young.

Elegant and interesting. Spicy and tangy.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years. Would be nice to try it again in 3 years, and see where it is.

Fruit forward, yet shows lots of earth notes. Feels like a young Left Bank Bordeaux.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours in the decanter.

Wine Enthusiasts 94 points.

Good by itself or with food, and will pair nicely with a nice piece of steak.

Grapes were fermented with indigenous yeast, and aged for 18 months in French oak barrels. Kosher and not Mevushal.

14.8% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$90.

Flam Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2017, Israel

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Showing black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, oak, licorice, Mediterranean spices, vanilla, tobacco, peppercorn, espresso, dark chocolates, light alcohol, light vegetables and herbs.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and cranberries.

This 5 year old feels like a left bank Bordeaux.

Already showing nice complexity, although still young. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

Fruit forward with an elegant mouthfeel.

Needs a couple of hours in the decanter to open up properly and show the complexity.

Good by itself or with food, and feels like a blend of old and new world Cabernet.

Grapes are grown in the Upper Galilee region. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Aged in French oak barrels for 12 months. Kosher and not Mevushal.

14.5% alcohol by volume

92 points.

$70.

Vitkin Winery Old Vines Carignan 2016, Israel

This 6 year old Carignan from Israel is drinking very nicely now. Tangy and interesting.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Showing red fruits with wood, earth, spices, tobacco, chocolates, coffee and peppercorn.

Dry on the palate with a soft mouthfeel, and a nice aromatic nose.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and cranberries.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour of airtime.

I’ve had this vintage before, and this time did not decant it, but I gave it a light chill.

Paired nicely with the mushroom Brie cheese.

Kosher and not Mevushal.

13% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$35.

Shiloh Winery Secret Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Israel

This is a very tasty Cabernet Sauvignon from Israel. Feels like a Napa Cabernet.

Showing black fruits with cedar, vanilla, coffee, cola, spices, earth, chocolates and peppercorn.

Dry on the palate and fruit forward.

Full-bodied and bold with a nice mouthfeel.

Still young and needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly. Would Age nicely in the next five to seven years. Has good potential to become a 94+ wine.

Entertaining and engaging. Smooth and elegant.

Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months. Unfiltered. Kosher and Mevushal.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$53.

Yatir Winery Yatir Creek 2018 Judean Hills, Israel

Dark inky in color with a reddish rim.

Strong nose of plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, black plums, barnyard, earth, vegetables, peppercorn, dark chocolates and bitter herbs.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with plums, currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, bitter herbs, earth, vegetables, black tea, chocolates dark coffee and black pepper.

Nice finish with fine grained tannins and raspberries.

This is a unique Syrah based blend from Israel. Nicely balanced and still young. Earthy and stinky, in a good way. Feels like a Northern Rhône Syrah.

This 4 year old is starting to drink nicely now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 7 years.

Needs 3 hours to open up properly, but good right out of the bottle too.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with dried meats.

A blend of 73% Syrah, 11% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 7% Mourvedre and 3% Grenache. Aged for 12 months in large oak barrels. Kosher and not Mevushal.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$45.

Tabor Winery Adama Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Israel

This 6 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Israel is still drinking nicely.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Showing red and black fruits with licorice, peppercorn, light wood, earth, cloves and light vegetables.

Spicy finish with fine grained tannins.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour of airtime.

Good by itself and better with food. Very drinkable now.

Kosher and not Mevushal.

14% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$20.

Binyamina Winery Diamond 2019, Galilee, Israel

A pretty color of ruby with a wide reddish rim and medium plus intensity.

Fruity nose of blueberries, black plums, cooked cherries, spices, chocolates, light oak, licorice, cloves and herbs.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cherries, light oak, cloves, chocolates, herbs and peppercorn.

Spicy finish with soft tannins and tangy cherries.

This Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Israel is still young, but already enjoyable, even by itself.

Nicely balanced and fruit forward. Spicy and interesting.

Needs 45 minutes to open up properly. Earth and vegetable notes come in after 2 hours of airtime.

I’ve had the 2014 vintage a few years ago, and this is much better. Would be nice to revisit it in 3 years.

Paired nicely with an aged Spanish cheese.

A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 20% Syrah and 10% Petit Verdot. Aged for 16 months in French oak barrels. Kosher for passover and Mevushal.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$52.

Carmel Winery Appellation Series Gewürztraminer 2018 Galilee, Israel

Golden in color.

Sweet nose of honeydew, citrus, lemon candy, honey, white flowers, orange, spices and light earth.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Off dry on the palate with citrus, apples, pears, light honey, spices, white pepper, earth and bitter herbs.

Medium finish with tangy limes and almonds.

This is a tasty Gewurztraminer from Israel, with a lovely nose.

Well balanced with mild complexity and a soft mouthfeel. A good wine to have by the pool.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a Charcuterie board of cheeses, crackers and nuts. Paired nicely with the goat cheese.

Aged in stainless steel vats for 3 months. Kosher and not Mevushal.

11% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$24.

Nana Estate Winery Cassiopeia 2019, Israel

Dark purple in color with a purplish rim.

Strong nose of cooked blackberries, sweet plums, licorice, light cedar, vanilla, spices, espresso, chocolates and tobacco.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberries, cooked
plums, dried figs, spices, black pepper, chocolates, mocha, tobacco leaf and light earth.

Long finish with fine grained tannins, peppercorn and cherries.

This is a very tasty Syrah blend from Israel. Easy drinking and smooth. Nicely balanced with nice complexity.

Fruit forward and rich. Extracted, yet elegant. Spicy finish makes it interesting.

Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime. I gave it a couple of hours in a decanter to open up properly.

Really tasty by itself as a sipping wine. Bold and beautiful. Tangy and interesting.

I paired it with cheeses and olives.

A blend of 85% Syrah, 12% Petite Sirah and 3% Petit verdot. Grapes are grown in the desert. Aged in French oak barrels for 14 months. Kosher and not Mevushal.

14.6% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$42.

Shiloh Winery Secret Reserve Merlot 2017, Israel

It’s time for a great Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

Dark ruby in color with a purplish tint and a reddish rim.

Strong nose of blackberries, sweet plums, cooked cherries, cedar, figs, raisins, vanilla, spices, espresso, pencil lead, herbs and black pepper. A beautiful nose.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with plums, sweet cherries, oak, spices, licorice, vanilla, earth, herbs and peppercorn.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Merlot from Israel. Very tasty already, but still very young.

Tangy and big. Fruit forward, spicy and interesting. Showing nice complexity and nicely balanced.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime. Showing big tannins once it opens up.

Delicious by itself or with food and will age nicely in the next 10 years.

100% Merlot grapes were aged for 18 months in mostly new French oak barrels.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$50.