The latest issue of the Wine Spectator recently reported on a blind tasting of some of Israel’s best wineries.
The wines to receive the highest scores were:
‘C’ Blanc du Castel, Haute Judee, Domaine du Castel 2003 90 points
Yarden Katzrin, Galilee, Golan Heights Winery 2000 89
Barkan Chardonnay Reserve, Dan, Barkan Winery 87
Galil Mountain Chardonnay, Galilee, Galil Mountain Winery 2003 87
Galil Mountain Merlot, Galilee, Galil Mountain Winery 2003 87
Kinneret Muscat de Hamourg, Ella Valley 2003 87
Yarden Blanc de Blancs, Galilee, Golan Heights Winery 87
Castel is the first Israeli winery to score 90 points in the Wine Spectator. Last time the Wine Spectator tasted Israeli wines, the best two ranked Israeli wines were Carmel Cabernet Sauvignon, Ramat Arad and Yarden Gewurztraminer – but they received 88 points.
It is apparent how in tasting after tasting, the Wine Spectator appears to show no great regard for Israeli wines, marking them down. It remains to be seen if this is due to the image of Israeli wines or variable quality. Fortunately Israel’s performance in other wine tasting arenas encourages the belief that this the exception, not the rule.
It was disappointing to note that many of Israel’s smaller wineries such as Flam, Margalit & Yatir were not included in the tasting. Neither were the new single vineyards wines of Carmel nor the wines of Tishbi, both of whom are successful exporters to the USA. A complete tasting involving all the major wineries would have been of more interest.
February 2006
|
