My morning Wednesday, 31 January 2007 was spent doing barrel, advance and re-tastings at two wineries – Ben Hanna which is located on Moshav Gefen, on the Adulam plains between Beit Shemesh and Kiryat Malachi, and then at Nachshon, located on the kibbutz of that name at the foothills of the Jerusalem Mountains. The winemaker at both wineries is Shlomi Zadok. At Ben Hanna, where the winery is located not far from Shlomi's home, I fell completely in love with five three-week old Labrador puppies. The café botz I received was fine. Later, at Nachshon, I was delighted to learn that the winery has installed an espresso machine at their visitors' center. No puppies but good Saquella coffee.

For the record, Ben Hanna produced about 3,600 bottles from the 2006 vintage and Nachshon about 16,000 bottles. My thanks to Shlomi and to the staff at Nachshon for a pleasant morning and a good tasting. My tasting notes follow.

Best
Rogov

Ben Hanna

Ben Hanna, Viognier, 2006: The winery's first white wine and a rousing success. Unoaked and unfiltered, bright light golden straw in color, with fine balancing acidity and an appealing array of peach, nectarine, pineapple and lime fruits, those backed up nicely by spicy and floral components. Well balanced and long. Drink now-2008. Score 88. (Tasted 31 Jan 2007)

Ben Hanna, Merlot, 2006 (Barrel Tasting): Still in its neonatal stage but already showing garnet red with purple reflections and, reflecting the winemaker's philosophy, soft and round. On the nose and palate black cherries, wild berries. Easy to drink but with just the right touch of complexity. Drink from release. Tentative Score 86-88. (Tasted 31 Jan 2007)

Ben Hanna, Petit Verdot, 2006 (Barrel Tasting): Dark garnet in color, medium- to full-bodied soft but mouthcoating tannins and showing rich aromas and flavors of plums, raspberries, currant fruits, those matched nicely by a light spicy oak nature. Round, generous and long. Best 2008-2011. Tentative Score 87-89. (Tasted 31 Jan 2007)

Ben Hanna, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 (Barrel Tasting): Aging entirely in French oak, medium- to full-bodied. Opens with surprisingly soft tannins but those build nicely together with spicy oak as the wine sits on the palate. Look for traditional Cabernet blackberry and currant fruits, those unfolding to reveal hints of mocha that linger nicely on the long, fruity finish. Tentative Score 87-89. (Tasted 31 Jan 2007)

Ben Hanna, Cabernet Franc, 2006 (Barrel Tasting): Garnet towards royal purple in color, medium- to full bodied, with soft round tannins and layers of plum, blueberry, currant, vanilla and spicy notes.Rich and well balanced and finishes with firm tannins. Best 2008-2011. Tentative Score 88-90. (Tasted 31 Jan 2007)

Ben Hanna, Mediterranean Blend, 2005 (Barrel Tasting): An oak aged blend of 50% Grenache, 33% Petit Verdot, 12% Syrah and 5% Cabernet Franc. Soft and round, with tantalizing hints of spicy oak and sweet cedar and showing an appealing array of blackberry, currant and wild berry aromas and flavors. Long and elegant. Best from release-2010. Tentative Score 88-90. (Re-tasted 31 Jan 2007)

Ben Hanna, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005 (Barrel Tasting): Dark royal purple, full-bodied, with soft tannins integrating nicely and showing fine balance between spicy wood, acidity and fruits. On the nose and palate blackcurrants, blackberries, a hint of green olives and, on the long finish fine spices and fruitiness. Best from 2008-2011. Tentative Score 89-91. (Re-tasted 31 Jan 2007)

Ben Hanna, Cabernet Franc, 2005 (Barrel Tasting): Developing nicely in French oak, showing medium- to full-bodied, with soft, near-sweet tannins integrating nicely and showing blackcurrant, berry and hints of citrus and on the long, generous finish, hints of what seems one moment to be mint at another black licorice. Best from release-2009. Tentatie Score 88-90. (Re-tasted 31 Jan 2007)

Ben Hanna, Petit Verdot, Single Humped, 2005 (Advance Tasting): One realizes that the sexual innuendo here is "purely coincidental" on seeing the camel that is pictured on the front label of the wine. Whatever, a lovely round and well balanced wine, medium- to full-bodied, with silky smooth tannins and showing plum and raspberry fruits, those highlighted nicely by generous acidity and a light gamy touch on the long generous finish. Best from release -2010, perhaps longer. Score 90. (Tasted 31 Jan 2007)

Ben Hanna, Merlot, Single Humped, 2004: My tasting note from precisely a year ago holds firmly: Based largely on grapes from the Negev, this is a soft, round and generous wine showing blueberry, blackberry and currant notes along with hints of mint and sweet herbs, all coming together harmoniously. Drink now–2009. Score 91. (Re-tasted 31 Jan 2007)

Ben Hanna, Merlot, Shalem, 2004: Dark garnet in color, medium-bodied, reflecting its 19 months in oak with generous spices and medium-firm tannins, but opening nicely in the glass to reveal cherry, blackberry, vanilla and toasty oak. Drink now-2009. Score 86. (Re-tasted 31 Jan 2007)

Nachshon

Nachshon, Pushkin, 2006 (Barrel Tasting): A deep garnet, oak-aged blend of 59% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, and 19% Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium- to full-bodied, with still gripping tannins that will hopefully settle down in time to allow the underlying blackberries, currants and spices that are her to make themselves better felt. Best starting in 2008. Tentative Score 85-87. (Tasted 31 Jan 2007)

Nachshon, French Blend, Sela, 2006 (Barrel Tasting): Dark royal purple, opening with a slighty musky aroma but that passes quicky to reveal soft tannins integrating nicely and an array of berry, blackcherry and cassis fruits, those on a lightly meaty background. An oak aged blend of 57% Syrah, 20% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from release-2009. Tentative Score 85-87. (Tasted 31 Jan 2007)

Nachshon, Syrah, Ayalon, 2006 (Barrel Tasting): Garnet towards royal purple in color, medium-bodied, with soft tannins, this round and generous blend of 90% Syrah and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon shows generous raspberry, leathery and meaty aromas and flavors. Needs time for its elements to integrate but showing promise. Best starting in 2008. Tentative Score 86-88. (Tasted 31 Jan 2007)

Nachshon, Cabernet Franc, Ayalon, 2006 (Barrel Tasting): Dark garnet in color, this medium- full-bodied softly tannic blend of 90% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon shows complex currant, plum, cedar wood and tobacco aromas and flavors. Well balanced, round and with an appealing lightly spicy oaky and orange peel finish. Best from 2008. Tentative Score 87-89. (Tasted 31 Jan 2007)

Nachshon, French Blend, Sela, 2005 (Barrel Tasting): My barrel tasting note from a year ago holds firmly:. Medium-dark garnet in color, with silky tannins, this blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot (41%, 33%, 16% and 10% respectively) shows an appealing array of wild berries, currants and plums, those on a gently spicy background. Rich, round and moderately long. Drink from release–2009. Tentative Score 87–89. (Re-tasted 31 Jan 2007)

Nachshon, Syrah, Ayalon, 2005 (Barrel Tasting): My earler barrel tasting note holds firmly: With the addition of 15% of Cabernet Sauvignon, this dark royal purple oak-aged wine opens with a light but tantalizing herbal nose and then goes on to show aromas and flavors of black cherries, cassis and blackberries, those backed up nicely by hints of tobacco and licorice. Drink from release–2010. Tentative Score 86–88. (Re-tasted 31 Jan 2007)

Nachshon, Cabernet Franc, Ayalon, 2005 (Barrel Tasting): Cabernet Franc, blended with 7- 8% each of Merlot and Petit Verdot. Oak aged partly in French, partly in American oak, the wine seems to have taken on a light somewhat funky aroma but that passes in a few moments, revealing plum, currant and citrus peel. Full-bodied with firm tannins needing time to settle down. Best from 2008. Tentative Score 86-88. (Re-tasted 31 Jan 2007)

Nachshon, Pushkin, 2005: My earlier tasting note holds firmly: This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah (43%, 42%, 11% and 4% respectively) was aged partly in French barriques for 6–8 months and partly in stainless steel tanks. Medium-bodied, with soft tannins and aromas of spicy wood, raspberries and cassis. A good quaffer. Drink now. Score 85. (Re-tasted 31 Jan 2007)

Nachshon, French Blend, 2004: An blend that varies somewhat from year to year, this vintage of 305 each of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% each of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Oak aged for 18 months, showing spicy wood, firm tannins and aromas and flavors of black fruits along with hints of herbs and green olives. Drink now or in the next year or so. Score 87. (Tasted 31 Jan 2007)

Nachshon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Ayalon, 2003: Once again, my most recent tasting note holds firmly: Made entirely from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and aged for 25 months in new and one year old barriques, this medium to full-bodied, deep garnet red wine shows near-sweet tannins and hints of sweet cedar wood complemented nicely by spicy berry and currant fruits. Drink now. Score 87. (Re-tasted 31 Jan 2007)

Nachshon, Rose, 2006: Made from Aragamon grapes and blended with 3% of Emerald Riesling, the best to say about this dry little wine is that it has a most pleasant bright pinkish color. Beyond that, however, as one might anticipate from this grape variety, minimal fruits, minimal aroma, minimal flavor and minimal acidity. Drink up. Score 78. (Re-tasted 31 Jan 2007)