Rosh Hashanah wines - 5770

WINE TALK
1
  • 2002 Bustan Merlot - Israel, Judean Hills (9/18/2009)
    I liked this wine the best of my Rosh Hashanah selections this year. I was out to get the 2005 but could only get the 2002. This was surprisingly good - I haven’t had any Israeli merlot prior to this. The age has done this well. Nice flavor of cherry and raspberry. Well balanced. (90 pts.)

  • 2007 Shiloh Chardonnay - Israel, Judean Hills (9/18/2009)
    Rosh Hashanah white. This wasn’t as good as the Castlile - but much less expensive. Just OK chard. (86 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

2

The 2005 and 2007 Castel Blancs are significantly better than the 2006. Haven’t had much luck with that vintage.

3

So, you are saying I might have been better getting the 5768 or 5766 rather than the 5767?

4

My take on Castel “C” Chardonnay 2005-2008. All re-tasted within the last 2 months.

Best
Rogov

Castel, “C”, Chardonnay, 2008: Shining gold in color, opens with a seductive creamy and vanilla nose, those going on to reveal smoky oak notes. Full-bodied but seems to float on the palate and in the glass opens to reveal apricot, pear, fig and melon aromas and flavors, those supported by finely-tuned acidity and a generous mineral overlay. The longer this sits in the glass themore it shows its depth, complexity and elegance. Drink now-2014, perhaps longer. Score 93. K

Castel, “C”, Chardonnay, 2007: Bright shining gold with green and orange tints, a deeply aromatic wine, showing full-bodied and floral, with gentle notes of oak parting to reveal a deep array of peach, apricot and melon fruits, those supported very nicely indeed by notes of hazelnuts, vanilla and flinty minerals. On the long finish an enchanting note of bitter citrus peel. Drink now-2011, perhaps longer. Score 91. K

Castel, “C”, Chardonnay, 2006: Showing deeper gold than at earlier tastings and continue to show nicely but now clearly at its peak. Opens slowly on the palate, showing a somewhat too heavy wood influence, but beyond that notes of citrus, ripe pears, green apples, hazelnuts, raisins and spices. A concentrated and intense wine but somehow lacking acidity and a bit flat. Drink now or in the next year or so. Score 88. K

Castel, “C”, Chardonnay, 2005: Developed beautifully, still a peaches and cream wine but now in place of the youthful citrus, figs and summer fruits, notes of ripe peaches, pears and toasty oak, all coming together beautifully and leading to a long and elegant finish. Not for further cellaring. Drink now-2010. Score 92. K

5

If you can find Yarden Odem vineyard Chardonnay, grab it.
I believe it is kosher and I know it is organic.
Daniel, please confirm…

6

I am reading the back of the bottle right now, and yes, it’s organic.

And it’s delicious! While I prefer the Castel, this one is really quite good and about 40% less $$

7

Marlene and Andrew, Hi…

All of the wines from the Golan Heights Winery are kosher. Their Yarden Chardonnay, from the Odem Vineyard, is made from grapes from a fully organic vineyard but the wine itself is not certified as organic. Following are my tasting notes for releases from recent years.

The winery will also soon be releasing their first Merlot from the same organic vineyard, that the 2006 vintage. Also following is my barrel tasting note for the 2007 of that wine.


Best
Rogov

Chardonnay

Yarden, Chardonnay, Odem Organic Vineyard, 2007 (Advance Tasting): Full-bodied, deep golden with a distinct tint of orange that plays in the glass, a wine reflecting generous wood but that in fine proportion to acidity and fruits. Opens with pears, grilled nuts and pie crust notes, those going on to show ripe fig, pineapple and baked apple aromas and flavors. Long and creamy with the oak rising on the finish. Elegance on a grand scale. Meant for cellaring, approachable on release, but best 2011–2016. Score 92. K

Yarden, Chardonnay, Odem Organic Vineyard, 2006: Full-bodied, opening with subtle aromas of figs, pears and apples, going on to show a generous dash of smoky, toasty oak and then blossoming forth with pineapple, citrus peel and minerals leading to a long finish that is simultaneously creamy and bright. Drink now–2013. Score 92. K

Yarden, Chardonnay, Odem Organic Vineyard, 2005: Full-bodied, opening with floral and citrus, those going on to tropical fruits and figs, all set off by hints of smoky oak, ginger and, on the long finish, ripe pears. Drink now–2012. Score 91. K

Yarden, Chardonnay, Odem Organic Vineyard, 2004:With its once generous oak now subdued, rich and complex, full-bodied and creamy, with pears, ripe apricots, citrus and mango fruits backed up by light spicy and mineral overtones. Drink now. Score 91. K

Yarden, Chardonnay, Odem Organic Vineyard, 2003: Lightly burnished gold in color, rich and elegant, with ripe pear, honeysuckle and melon flavors coming together beautifully with generous oak, minerals and nutmeg. On the long finish a hint of hazelnuts. Drink up. Score 90. K


Merlot

Yarden, Merlot, Odem Organic Vineyard, 2007 (Barrel Tasting): Dark garnet, full-bodied, with silky tannins and gentle spicy wood influences. Opens to reveal a generous array of ripe red currants, black cherries, mocha and spices, with the tannins rising on the finish. Opulent and bold. Drink from release–2016, perhaps longer. Tentative Score 91–93. K

Yarden, Merlot, Odem Organic Vineyard, 2006: Made from organically raised grapes. Deep, dark and mysterious, as the wine is still in its prenatal state, but already showing sweet, smoky and spicy oak well matched by mouth-coating tannins. Opens to reveal sweet black cherries, those followed by blackberries and currants and hints of Mediterranean herbs. Drink now–2015. Score 91. K

8

I’m a great fan of Carmel Wines - especially the Sha’al Gewurz Late Harvest. Really fine stuff for me.

Where exactly in the Judean Hills is the Judean Hills appellation located? Or rather, what parts of the Judean Hills is wine produced under that appellation?

9

Owen, Hi…

On a north-south axis from roughly theSha’ar HaGai intersection to Kibbutz Netiv HaLamed Hai and then anywhere from 2 - 8 kilometers east and west from there, on the western side rising into the hills and on the eastern into the slopes and flatlands.

Among the wineries within the appellation: Clos De Gat, Kella David, Castel, Sorek, Srigim, Ella Valley Vineyards, Anatot, Flam, Tzuba, Tzora, Katlav, Sea Horse, Agur, Carmai Yosef (Bravdo), La Terra Promessa, Latroun, Mony, Nachshon, Ben Hanna, Barkai, Hans Sternbach, Teperberg, Yehuda, Katz, and Tsfririm.

To add a distinct note of controversy, several of the wineries across the Green Line (depending on how one cares to call those areas - “the occupied territories” or “Judea and Samaria”) also use the appellation.

Best
Rogov

10

That was, very cautiously, what I was asking - thanks mate!