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.

Tura Estate Winery Mountain Heights Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Israel

Inky in color with a short reddish rim.

On the nose black plums, currants, oak, tar, barnyard, spices, earth, vegetables, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco, black pepper and dark coffee.

Full bodied with medium acidity.

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

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and raspberries.

This is a very tasty Cabernet Sauvignon from Israel. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel.

Still young and would be better in 3 to 5 years. Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime. Needed an hour to open up properly.

Smells more like a California Syrah, with nice complexity already. Delicious.

A good food wine that will pair nicely with BBQ Meats. I paired it with burger and fries.

Aged for 22 months in new French oak barrels. Kosher and Mevushal.

14% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$45.

Tabor Winery Adama Merlot 2017, Israel

It’s time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

Ruby in color with a wide rim.

On the nose black plums, oak, vegetables, barnyard, earth, bitter herbs, spices and black pepper.

Full bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black plums, black currants, oak, vanilla, cloves, tobacco, dark chocolates, earth, black pepper, vegetables and coffee.

Short finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a nice everyday wine from Israel. Tangy and fruit forward, with a soft mouth feel. Simple and good by itself or with food.

Better after an hour of airtime, and only after 2 hours in the decanter, some of the barnyard notes disappeared.

This 5 year old is peaking now, so drink up. The high alcohol is well integrated by now.

I paired it with cheeses and crackers.

100% Merlot grapes were grown on rich volcanic soil in the upper Galilee region. Aged in French oak barrels for 12 months. Kosher and not Mevushal.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

87 Points.

$20.

Teperberg Winery Inspire Famitage 2019, Israel

Pale lemon in color with a light golden tint.

On the nose white flowers, citrus, melons, fresh spring water, spices, red apples and light tropical fruits.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with citrus, limes, green apples, herbs, earth, light vegetables and white pepper.

Spicy finish with limes and bitter herbs.

This is a very interesting white blend from Israel. Fruity on the nose and earthy on the palate.

Crisp and refreshing with a really unique nose.

Good by itself and better with food. I paired it with a Charcuterie board of cheeses, olives and fresh fruits.

A blend of 50% Dabuki, 30% Gewürztraminer and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. Kosher and not Mevushal.

12% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$26.

Vitkin Winery Old Vines Carignan 2016, Israel

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, black plums, cooked cherries, raisins, spices, light oak, earth, licorice, chocolates, caramel, herbs and black pepper.

Full bodied and soft with medium acidity and fat legs.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, plums, cherries, light oak, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, spices, earth, light vegetables and black pepper.

Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty Carignan from  Northern Israel. Showing nice complexity and easy drinking. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel.

This six-year-old is drinking very nicely now. Fruit forward and elegant. Tangy and interesting.

I had this vintage a couple of years ago, and it is drinking better now.

Good right out of the bottle and good by itself. I paired it with cheeses and fresh berries.

100% Carignan grapes were grown in the Carmel Mountain slopes. Aged for 16 months in French Oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered. Kosher and not Mevushal.

13% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$35.

Barkan Vineyards Platinum Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Israel

Purple in color with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of blueberries, sweet cherries, light oak, licorice, cloves, chocolates, tobacco, spices, coffee and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, raspberries, black currants, plums, oak, tobacco, cloves, herbs, spices and dark chocolates.

Tangy finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a young Cabernet Sauvignon from Israel, but starting to drink nicely now.

Easy drinking, good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour of airtime. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Spicy and interesting.

Would be nice to revisit it in a couple of years.

Will pair nicely with BBQ Meats.
I paired it with cheeses and crackers.

Grapes are grown in the Upper Galilee region. Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months. Kosher and Mevushal.

14% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$30.

Shiran Winery Limited Edition Old Vine Carignan 2019, Israel

Dark purple in color with a wide purplish rim.

Fruity on the nose with blueberries, dark cherries, black plums, oak, spices, licorice, light alcohol, cloves, herbs, chocolates, tobacco and light metals.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with plums, blueberries, light oak, licorice, dark chocolates, earth, vegetables, bitter herbs, spices and tobacco leaf.

Tangy finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a nice and interesting Carignan from Israel.

Still young with nice potential to be even better in 5 years, but already showing nice complexity.

Tangy with a nice mouthfeel. Easy drinking and a good food wine.

Good right out of the bottle and good by itself. Gets earthier as it opens up (30 minutes)

I paired it with dried meats, crackers and fresh blueberries.

100% Carignan grapes were grown in the Judean Hills region. Aged for 12 months in Hungarian oak barrels. Only 600 bottles were produced. This is bottle number 565. Kosher and not Mevushal.

14% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$60.

Segal Winery Wild Fermentation Chardonnay 2019, Galilee, Israel

Segal Winery Wild Fermentation Chardonnay 2019, Galilee, Israel



Light straw in color.

On the nose citrus, pears, earth, light oak, sweet vanilla, herbs and white pepper.

Medium bodied with medium acidity, crisp and refreshing.

Dry on the palate with lemons, citrus, green apples, grapefruits, bitter herbs, spices, light wood, earth, mixed greens and white pepper.

Tangy finish with bitter almonds and limes.

This is an interesting Chardonnay from Israel. Drinks like an old world white from the South of France.

This 3 year old Chardonnay is showing nice complexity now, and earthier than I expected it to be.

A good food wine that I paired with cheeses and crackers.

Grapes were fermented on their natural yeast. Aged in French oak barrels. Kosher and not Mevushal.

12% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$25.

Duc de Pagny Beaujolais Nouveau 2021, France

Cherry in color with medium intensity.

Fruity nose with cherries, raspberries and light spices.

Medium bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, strawberries, raspberries, earth and herbs.

Short tangy finish with soft tannins and sour cranberries.

This is an easy drinking red from Beaujolais.

Simple and fruit forward. Not my usual drinker, but nice as an afternoon sipper.

Good right out of the bottle and better with food. Drink now.

100% Gamay grapes. Kosher and not Mevushal.

12% alcohol by volume.

83 points.

$14.

Shiloh Winery Mosaic 2018, Israel

Time for a nice Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

This is a delicious Merlot based Bordeaux blend from Israel. Still young and needs 5 years in the bottle to mature properly.

Full bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate and very fruity. Big bold and beautiful.

Showing black fruits with cedar, vanilla, leather, spices, earth, chocolates, tobacco, coffee, light alcohol and peppercorn.

Tangy finish with nice length, round tannins and tangy cherries.

Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime. Good with food or by itself. A Delicious wine.

I’ve had the 2016 and 2017 before. Although the blend is somewhat different each year, it is very consistent in quality and taste. So far 2017 was my favorite.

I paired it with grilled meats.

A blend of 45% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Franc, 20% Petit verdot and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 18 months in French Oak barrels. Unfiltered and Kosher.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$70.