NOVEMBER TASTE OFF
Wines of Israel
King George Hotel, SF
November 21, 2009
Today there are more than 150 boutique wineries in Israel making excellent wine, both kosher and non kosher--a distinction without any taste difference--and mostly dry French varieties. There is no better way to try the best wines of Israel, and learn about Israeli wine, history, and people, short of going to the country itself, than by learning from the principals of importer Israel Wine Company. They brought some of the highest quality wines from the most respected producers.
The first Biblical mention of wine in the Holy Land is from Genesis 9, 20-21, where it says that Noah began to farm the Land of Israel and planted a vineyard. From that time, wine has been an important part of the Land of Israel and of all of the religious traditions that developed in the Holy Land. It's quite thrilling to be able to taste fine wines from Galilee and the Jerusalem circle.
The planting of vineyards and winemaking has historical significance in the building of modern day Israel. As Jews flocked to Israel beginning in the late nineteenth century and began to settle the land, the planting of vineyards was an important symbolic and agricultural development that helped whole communities build a sustainable way of life in the new Israel.
Ari Erle, founder of the Israel Wine Company and international winemaking consultant led our discussion. Ari has lived and made wine in both Napa Valley and Israel. He has worked at several wineries in the Napa Valley, such as Colgin Estates, Clos Du Val and currently O'Shaughnessy Estate Winery, and maintains a home in Israel where he also makes wine
Ari has uncovered the best releases in Israel by visiting wineries. After he determines which wines are worth sampling, Ari conducts a blind tasting back in the U.S. against Napa Valley wines with a panel of Napa Valley winemakers. If Ari and the panel choose an Israeli wine, it is then added to the Israel Wine Company list and their blind tasting notes are added to the description of the wine.
20 members of the Bay Area Wine Society made their own evaluation. Here are the results using this score card:
(95+) LOVE IT!~EXTRAORDINARY - An exceptional, ravishing winethat sets the standard against which other wines are judged|
Average Rating |
VG or above |
E or above |
1st, 2nd, 3rd Ranking |
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|
Pelter 2005 Unwooded Chardonnay |
3.15 |
86 |
G |
8/19 |
5/19 |
1,1,2,1,3,3 |
|
| Golan $24.50 suggested retail/ $20 BAWS discount |
Platinumin color, peach,citrus, melon, flint immediately after opening, acidity and a more pleasingfinish kicking in after some breathing, crispacid, long and complex finish,round texture, seemed like an Old World Viognier
|
Somek 2005 Merlot, Sharon |
3.15 |
86 |
G |
8/19 |
3/19 |
2,2 |
|
|
$30/28 |
Golden honey in color and aroma, aroma is slightly burnt, caramel, predictable, more citrusy, not overoaked, butter, very pleasant, vanilla and cloves, nice body, holding its vibrancy, beautiful taste, showing medium- to full-bodied,shifting from moment to moment from grapefruit and nectarine to pineapple and lemon peel and finally to orange curd, all on a crisp mineral-rich background, vibrant and lively with a long, lightly oaky and lemon blossom finish, more like a Chenin Blanc.
|
Somek 2005 Chardonnay, Sharon |
2.74 |
83 |
S/G |
5/19 |
3/19 |
3 |
|
|
$30/28 |
Noticeable citrus and citrus flowers, then pears,almonds andfigs and closing on a near-sweet note, bright golden color with anintriguingnose of apricot and a touch of honey, medium-bodied withoutoo much oak. The fruitflavors dominated, including some citrus and apricot butwith traces of nuttyflavors. It is a crisp wine that only has 12.4% alcohol anda moderately long finish.
|
Erle 2007 Carignan, Sharon |
3 |
85 |
G |
12/20 |
6/20 |
2,2,3 |
|
|
$28/26 |
Light and straightforward,without much depth or concentration, but it manages to feel relatively full onthe first attack. Modest structure, and there is acertain iodine note on thefinish. This is pleasant enough for its intended purpose—a light, easy drinkingwine.
|
Erle 2007 Merlot, Sharon |
3.35 |
87 |
G/VG |
11/20 |
6/20 |
3,2,1 |
|
|
$28/26 |
10%Argaman—an Israeli-developed hybrid that crosses Carignan andSousao (fromPortugal). Pleasing and pure, this nicely balanced young Merlot hasa softtexture, some grapiness and ripe tannins. It has a certain brightnessaroundthe edges that makes it a little lively. It is not particularly deep orlong,but it is a tasty and encouraging early release that is a pleasure todrink.
|
Somek 2005 Merlot, Sharon |
3.15 |
86 |
G |
8/19 |
3/19 |
2,2 |
|
|
$30/28 |
Inky purple, full-bodied and intenselyconcentrated withfirm tannins and generous vanilla and spices from its 20months in barrel.Despite its power, well balanced, with black currants,blackberries and blackcherry fruits with a moderately-long and round finish.
|
Ella Valley 2003 Merlot, Judean Hills |
3.35 |
87 |
G/VG |
12/20 |
6/20 |
2,2,3,2 |
|
|
$34/30 |
Opens with a hint of dusty wood and near-sweet tannins. A full-bodied and firm Merlot showing round and well balanced, the tannins complemented nicely by light spicyoak. On the nose and palate generous blackberry, currant,, wild berry and exotic spices complemented nicely by notes of minerals and light toasty oak..
|
Yaffo 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, |
3.35 |
87 |
G/VG |
11/20 |
7/20 |
1,3,3 |
|
|
Judean Hills $24/21 |
Dark garnet, medium-bodied, with supple tannins and spicy plum, wild berry and currant fruits, opening to reveal hints of incenseand sage. tannins rise on the finish along with a generous mineral hint, smokey wood, lingers nicely.
|
Clos de Gat, 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon |
3.85 |
89 |
VG/E |
15/19 |
12/19 |
1,1,1,1,2,2,2 |
|
|
Judean Hills $35/30 |
Very pleasant, candy store / glazed fruit on the nose, cherry /berry, spicy /smoky oak, hanging together nicely, while not dominant, this is an "oaked" wine, upfront fruit, high alcohol-style,dark purple, cassis on the palate, noticeable tannins, a long an lingering finish with vanilla/oak and spicy notes
|
Pelter 2007 Trio, Golan |
3.65 |
87 |
G/VG |
12/20 |
10/20 |
1,3,1,1,3,1 |
|
|
$32.50/29 |