Carmel Winery Kayoumi Vineyard Riesling 2017 Upper Galilee, Israel

A pretty and light golden in color.

Fruity nose with citrus, grapefruits, yellow apples, diesel, minerals and spices.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity, crisp and refreshing.

Dry on the palate with lemons, green apples, pears, vegetables, spices, sea salt, green herbs, white pepper and minerals.

Medium finish with tangy limes and bitter vegetables.

This is a very nice dry Riesling from Israel. Showing mild complexity with a nice crisp mouthfeel.

This Single Vineyard is good by itself or with food. Fruity on the nose and earthier on the palate. Nice and interesting. A good quality wine. Crisp and refreshing.

This is one to put in the cellar for a while. Has the potential to age nicely in the next 5 years and get more complex.

This is my first dry Riesling from this region. I’ve had off-dry and semi-sweet ones before, and this is a nice surprise.

I drank it in a beautiful Le Deux glass, light and airy, tall and skinny.

Grapes are grown at 2500 feet elevation in the Upper Galilee. Matured in stainless steel vats. Kosher. Not Mevushal.

12% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$25.

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Benhaim Family Winery VHS Mythos 2014, Israel

Time for #MerlotThursday. Here is a tasty one from Israel.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish/ brick rim.

Pretty nose of blueberries, black currants, plums, sweet cherries, wood, licorice, spices, vanilla, earth, light vegetables, milk chocolates, black pepper and tobacco.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, cedar, leather, earth, vanilla, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, spices and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine tannins and tangy cranberries.

This Israeli Petite Syrah /Merlot blend is very enjoyable now. Spicy and elegant with lots of fruits. Showing nice complexity and a great mouthfeel.

This five year old is drinking very nicely now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

Good right out of the bottle and gets more complexity as it opens up (30 minutes). Right out of the bottle, it reminds me of an elegant Napa Bordeaux blend. After two hours in a decanter, it changes somewhat, and it feels more like a right Bank Bordeaux.

A very interesting wine, and nice as a sipping wine to enjoy with friends and talk about.

This series is not produced every year. This is bottle number 50 out of 2,500 produced.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a triple cream Brie cheese, and crackers.

A blend of Merlot, Petite Syrah and Cabernet Franc. Aged for 24 months in New French Oak barrels. Kosher and delicious.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$85.

Zwebner Estate Vineyard 35.6.18 2015, Israel

This Grenache blend from Israel is very tasty. Showing red and black fruits with lots of vegetables, bell pepper, wet leaves, tobacco, dark coffee and earth notes.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

Needs 90 minutes to open up properly.

A good food wine that will pair nicely with game meats. I paired it with cheeses and crackers.

The (high) alcohol is not noticeable any longer, so you better watch out 😃

A blend of 47% Grenache, 33% Carignan and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 12 months in oak barrels.

90 points.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

$50.

Zwebner Estate Vineyard 35.6.18 2015, Bethlehem, Israel

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Fruity nose blackberries, black figs, currants, plums, cooked strawberries, pencil lead, leather, earth, vinaigrette, tobacco, cola, graphite, spices and black pepper.

Full bodied with medium plus acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with plums, black currants, coffee, oak, cloves, alcohol, vegetables, graphite, spices, peppercorn, smoke, chocolates, earth, wet leaves and herbs.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a great Grenache blend from Israel. Drinking nicely now with a nice mouthfeel and nice complexity.

Will age nicely in the next 3 to 5 years. Needs 90 minutes to open up properly and show the tannins.

A very interesting and tasty wine. Good by itself or with food. I paired it with cheeses meats, and light appetizers.

A blend of 47% Grenache, 33% Carignan and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 12 months in oak barrels.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$50.

Golan Heights Winery Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Israel

Time for my #FridayCabernetfix . Here’s a beautiful one from Israel.

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Nice nose of black currants, blackberries, cherries, vanilla, earth, wood, vegetables, dark coffee, herbs, tobacco leaf, spices, graphite and peppercorn.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, bell pepper, cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, dark chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, earth, black tea and spices.

Long finish with fine tannins and tangy raspberries.

This Israeli Cabernet Sauvignon is always enjoyable. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel and nice complexity. Tastes like a blend of old world and new world.

Needs 3 hours to open up properly and show its tannins and complexity, but good right out of the bottle also.

Wine Enthusiasts 90 points.

This 6 year old is very tasty now, and will age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

Grapes are grown at a high elevation and aged for 18 months in French oak barrels. Kosher for Passover.

14.5 % alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$35.

Yehuda Winery Jacob’s Ladder Limited Edition Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2014, Israel

A fruit forward Cabernet Sauvignon from Israel.

Showing black fruits with earth, wood, spices, vegetables, light vanilla, tobacco, peppercorn, espresso, chocolates and bell pepper.

Full bodied, smooth and elegant, with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Nice length on the finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

Very enjoyable by itself or with food. Needs a couple of hours to open up properly and show some tannins.

Could use a few more years in the bottle to mature and remove some of the vegetable notes.

I had it a couple of years ago and it was very austere, now it is very drinkable although still young.

Aged for 24 months in New French oak barrels.

14% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$45.

Aligote Winery Port Non-Vintage, Israel

Light amber in color with a wide brick/ yellow rim.

Strong sweet nose of Indian spices, coffee, mocha, tobacco, earth, honey, alcohol, caramel, vanilla, caramel, oak and black pepper.

Full bodied and bold with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Sweet on the palate with caramel, chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, spices, earth, light vegetables, mocha, peppercorn, earth, wood, vanilla, cloves, tobacco and espresso.

Long finish with tangy tangerine.

This Israeli port is just wonderful. Good by itself as a dessert. Well balanced and soft.

Although this is a non vintage, I’m pretty sure this has spent many years in neutral Oak barrels. Very interesting and complex. Loved it.

Paired very nicely with vanilla ice cream.

Thank you David and Elvira for sharing this delicious wine with me.

20% alcohol by volume.

96 points.

$25.