On Tuesday, 20 March I devoted my day to visiting the Galil Mountain Winery where, with in the good company of winemaker Micha Va'adia, I did quite a few barrel, advance and re-tastings. Wisely, Micha is continuing the policy established earlier during Gaby Sadan's reign as winemaker – that is to say of minimal intervention and manipulation in order to maintain the respect for and encouragement of the mouth- and nose-feel of the vineyards (call that terroir if you like). That Micha will be putting his own signature on these wines is unquestioned but, and again wisely, whatever shifts will be felt will be felt slowly. Considering the high quality of the wines being produced by Galil Mountain and their often excellent value for money, that is what I considered excellent long-range planning.

As to long range planning, the winery produced about 700,000 bottles from the 2006 vintage and is planning on moving up to the 1,000,000 bottle mark with the 2007 winery.

Be aware as reading the following notes that because a good many of the 2005 and 2006 barrel tastings were done from component parts, the projections for many of these wines are mine and not necessarily the winery's. As often I have said, one of the greatest challenges of barrel tastings….

My thanks to winemaker Micha Va'adia, CEO Ronit Badler and the staff of the winery.

Rogov

Yiron

Galil Mountain, Yiron, 2004 (Advance Tasting): A blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon 25% Merlot and 3% Syrah. Intense garnet towards royal purple, full-bodied, with firm but near-sweet tannins now starting to integrate nicely with smoky and vanilla tinged wood. Opens with wild berries on the nose and palate, those yielding to black cherry, cassis and spices and finally on the long finish a tantalizing hint of bitterness. Best 2009-2013. Score 91. (Tasted 20 Mar 2007)

Galil Mountain, Yiron, 2003: A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 5% Syrah. Young and vibrant but already showing complexity, depth and elegance. Dark royal purple in color, with firm but nicely integrating tannins, judicious wood and layers of spicy currant, anise, tar and cedary oak aromas and flavors blending nicely on the long finish. Drink now–2010. Score 92. K

Galil Mountain, Yiron, 2002: A medium to full-bodied oak-aged blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon and 46% Merlot. Deeply aromatic, dark purple toward black in color, with still muscular tannins integrating well, the wine shows abundant blackcurrant, plum, black cherry and berry fruits as well as sweet cedar wood. A generous and mouth-filling finish with an appealing light herbal-earthy overtone. Drink now–2009. Score 90. K (Re-tasted 20 Mar 2007)

Galil Mountain, Yiron, 2001: Dark garnet, showing somewhat more full-bodied than in its youth, this blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot offers still generous tannins and oak but those now in fine tune with blackberry, currant and black cherry fruits. Also on the nose and palate gentle spiciness and now showing hint of tobacco and dark chocolate. Throwing a bit of sediment now but maturing with grace. Drink up Score 90. K (Re-tasted twice 20 Mar 2007)

Galil Mountain, Yiron, 2000: Dark garnet, with a bit of clearing at the rim, medium- to full-bodied, with fine balance between generous wood and soft tannin.. On the nose and palate dark fruits and hints of peppermint, eucalyptus and herbs. Taking on a somewhat earthy overlay now. Drinking well although somewhat past its peak. Drink up. Score 88. K (Re-tasted 20 Mar 2007)

Galil Mountain, Syrah, Yiron, 2004 (Advance Tasting): Dark royal purple with orange and green reflections, opening with a rich fruity and floral nose. Full-bodied, with bold but soft tannins integrating nicely with spicy wood and showing black fruits, dusty wood and light meaty and earthy overlays. Long and deep. Best 2008-2012. Score 91. K (Tasted 20 Mar 2007)

Galil Mountain, Syrah, Yiron, 2003: My most recent tasting holds firmly: Full-bodied, with soft tannins with just enough grip to catch the attention those yielding nicely to light spicy wood. Dark garnet in color, aromatic, with blackberries, purple plums and hints of white pepper and chocolate as well as a light meaty-earthy sensation that comes in on the round and comfortably medium-long finish. Drink now-2012. Score 91. K (Re-tasted 20 Mar 2007)

Galil Mountain - The Red Wines

Galil Mountain, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 (Barrel Tasting): Tasted from components. Super dark garnet, showing moderate spicy and vanilla input and near-sweet tannins from the oak aging. On the nose and palate black- and blueberries, currants and, coming in from mid-palate hints of earthiness and freshly turned mushrooms. Best from 2009. Tentative Score 89-91. K (Tasted 20 Mar 2007)

Galil Mountain, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005 (Barrel Tastsing): Tasted from components. Dark garnet towards royal purple, full-bodied, with generous near-sweet tannins integrating nicely with spicy and vanilla-tinted oak. On the palate traditional currant and blackberry fruits, those complemented by spices, Mediterranean herbs and a hint of minerality. Tentative Score 88-90. K (Tasted 20 Mar 2007)

Galil Mountain, Merlot, 2006 (Barrel Tastings): Tasted from components. Medium- to full-bodied, with still gripping tannins but already showing fine balance and structure. On the nose and palate plums cranberries, wild berries and orange peel notes backed up nicely by a light vegetal hint. Long and generous. Tentative Score 89-91. K (Tasted 20 Mar 2007)

Galil Mountain, Merlot, 2005 (Advance Tasting): My previous tasting note holds firmly. Deep, almost inky black garnet in color, full-bodied, with firm but comfortably yielding tannins. Ripe berry, currant, green pepper and light herbal aromas and flavors, those coming together in a deep and complex terroir-driven wine. Drink now-2009. Score 89. K (Re-tasted 20 Mar 2007)

Galil Mountain, Syrah, 2006 (Barrel Tasting): Tasted from components. Inky violet in color, showing just hints now of spicy oak and flowers. Medium-bodied, with soft, gently mouth-coating tannins highlighting blackberry, cherry and floral notes. Nicely balanced and well focused. Best from 2009. Tentative Score 90-92. K (Tasted 20 Mar 2007)

Galil Mountain Syrah, 2005 (Advance Tasting): Dark, almost inky royal purple in color, full-bodied, concentrated and almost muscular but opening to reveal elegance, its once firm tannins now integrating nicely with spicy wood and earthy-mineral overtones. Opens to reveal appealing black fruits, Oriental spices and black pepper, all lingering nicely. Best 2008-2011. Score 91. K (Re-tasted 20 Mar 2007)

Galil Mountain, Syrah, 2004 (Advance Tasting): Dark garnet towards inky purple, full-bodied and bold, with tannins now soft and showing layers of blackberry, blueberry, cocoa, mineral and chocolate complemented by hints of smoky oak, and, from mid-palate to a moderately long finish hints of anise and licorice. Drink from release–2010. Score 90. K (Re-tasted 20 Mar 2007)

Galil Mountain, Syrah, 2003: Made entirely from Syrah grapes from a low yield vineyard. Full bodied, tannic and concentrated and reflecting its 10 months in American oak with generous but not overpowering spicy wood , all integrating nicely to show peppery berries and black fruits, hints of grilled meat, and an appealing herbal-chocolate finish. Generous and concentrated. Drink now–2009. Score 90. K (Re-tasted 20 Mar 2007)

Galil Mountain, Pinot Noir, 2006 (Barrel Tasting): Tasted from components, some from vines that have just come on-line. Dark cherry red towards garnet in color, medium-bodied, still relatively firmly tannic but showing fine balance and a complex array of red berry, cherry, blueberry and spices, those supported nicely by light toasty vanilla and on the finish a hint of minerality. Drink from release-2010. Tentative Score 89-91. K (Tasted 20 Mar 2007)

Galil Mountain, Pinot Noir, 2005 (Advance Tasting): Deep ruby towards garnet, medium-bodied, reflecting ten months in oak with light spicy wood and now comfortably softening tannins. Concentrated aromas and flavors of black cherries, berries, currants, spring flowers and minerals. Best from release-2010. Score 90. K (Re-tasted 20 Mar 2007)

Galil Mountain, Barbera, 2006 (Barrel Tasting): Bright ruby in color, medium-bodied but with impressive concentration, depth and complexity and generous fruits to support the soft tannins, lively acidity and moderate oak. On the nose and palate blackberry, violets and bitter-sweet chocolate, those supported nicely by hints of black pepper and minerals and, on the long finish a rising cassis fruitiness. Drink from release-2010, perhaps longer. Tentative Score 90-92. K (Tasted 20 Mar 2007)

Galil Mountain, Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005 (Advance Tasting): Dark and concentrated, full-bodied, showing a light herbal and spicy oak nose and opening to reveal currant, blackberry and black cherry fruits, all coming together in a long, round, elegant finish. Best 2008-2012. Score 90. K (Re-tasted 20 Mar 2007)

Galil Mountain - One White and One Rose

Galil Mountain, Sauvignon Blanc, 2006: Showing better than at a recent earlier tasting, so much better in fact that on return home I opened two more bottles to see where I and the wine were at. Conclusion – my first bottle was suffering from bottle shock! Light straw in color, light-to medium-bodied, this unoaked wine shows refreshing crisp acidity and on that citrus, citrus peel and light but tantalizing hints of freshly mown grass. Not complex but a most pleasant quaffer. Drink now or in the next year or so.. Score 88. K (Tasted 20 Mar 2007)

Galil Mountain, Rose, 2006: Rose-petal pink in color, opens quietly but quickly opens in the glass to reveal aromas and flavors of fresh cherries, raspberries, strawberries, all on a crisp, clean background. Fruity but not at all sweet, with a charming hint of anise on the finish. Easy to like and equally easy to drink. Drink now. Score 88. K (Tasted 20 Mar 2007)