27 December 2004 found me in the Upper Galilee at Dalton Winery,for which many thanks to winemaker Na'ama Mualem and owner Mat Haruni for their many courtesies. Following are my tasting notes from that visit. Simply stated, a winery that continues to move in many of the right directions, maintaining high quality while maintaining overall excellent value for money.

Best,

Rogov

Reserve Series

Dalton, Merlot, Reserve, 2003 (Barrel Tasting): Ripe, polished and smoth, with an attractive oarray of flavors including currants, raspberries and cherries as herbs and vanilla-tinged oak. Medium-to full bodied, finishing off with complexity and finesse. One of the very best from Dalton to date. Best from release-2007. Score 89-91. (Tasted 27Dec 2004)

Dalton, Merlot, Reserve, 2002 (Advance Tasting): Smooth and elegant, with a core of ripe plum and black cherry fruits, those on a background of toasty oak, spices and very appealing hints of sage and tea. As the wine continues to develop, look for a leather note on the long finish. Drink from release-2006. Score 89. K (Re-tasted 27 Dec 2004)

Dalton, Merlot, Reserve, 2001: Not fully living up to its earlier promise, the toasty oak having risen to a somewhat dominant position and tending to overshadow the plum, berry and currant fruits and a rather strong white chocolate overlay now hiding the anise and cedar wood that were once there. Drink now. Score 87. K (Re-tasted 27 Dec 2004)

Dalton, Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve, 2002 (Advance Tasting): Medium-bodied, ripe and harmonious, with black plums overlaying currants, cherries, and reflecting its 18 months in French oak with sweet cedar, and an herbal-spicy but somewhat short finish. Drink from release-2006. Score 87. K (Re-tasted 27 Dec 2004)

Dalton, Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve 2001: Medium-bodied, with barely any tannins and marked too strongly by the oak in which it aged, the black fruits here fail to make themselves felt adequately. Drink up. Score 84. K (Re-tasted 27 Dec 2004)

Dalton, Shiraz, Reserve 2003 (Barrel Tasting): Medium- to full-bodied, solidly tannic, reflecting its 10 months in new American oak with generous hints of smoke and vanilla, those on tempting black fruits, mint and earthiness. Needs time to open and show its elegance. Best 2006-2009. Score 88-90. K (Tasted27 Dec 2004)

Reserve, Chardonnay, 2003 (Advance Tasting): After 8 months sur lie in new French oak barriques this medium-bodied white shows appealing earthy, buttery and vanilla aromas backed up nicely by flavors of melons and pears.Drink now. Score 88. K (Re-tasted 27 Dec 2004)

Dalton Series

Dalton, Merlot, 2003 (Advance Tasting): Showing better than at barrel tastings, with moderate levels of complexity, soft tannins, medium-body and a band berry, black cherry fruits and a tempting hint of spices. Good backbone here. Drink now-2006. Score 87. K (Re-tasted27 Dec 2004)

Dalton, Merlot, 2002: Distinctly New World in style, this medium- to full-bodied fruit-driven wine shows generous plum, currant and blackberry flavors on a firm tannic background. A nice hint of bitterness on the finish. Drink now-2006. Score 88. K (Re-tasted 27 Dec 2004)

Dalton, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2003 (Advance Tasting): Medium-bodied, with soft, well-integrated tannins and a solid core of currant, wild berry and minty flavors. An appealing wine. Drink now-2006. Score 88. K (Tasted 27 Dec2004)

Dalton, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2002: My earlier notes remain unchanged: Well focused and with good balance between moderate tannins and plum, cherry and currant flavors, this appealing wine has a medium-long finish with hints of mocha and cedar wood. Drink now. Score 87. K (Re-tasted27 Dec 2004)

Dalton, Chardonnay, 2004 (Advance Tasting): Unoaked, medium-bodied, with tempting tropical fruits, citrus and minerals,a crisply dry, lightly floral and delicious wine meant for early consumption. Drink now. Score 86. K (Tasted 27 Dec 2004)

Also tasted was a barrel sampling of a 2004Barbera. Being aged in older barrels in order not to hide the delicacy of the grape this now medium-bodied, temptingly soft and only moderately tannic red is showing generous black cherry and raspberry fruits. Very temptng at this stage but a decision has not yet been made as to whether the wine will be bottled as avarietal or make its way into a blend with other wines.