It has been said that if Mohammed will not go to the mountain, the mountain will come to Mohammed. For various reasons, a visit to Psagot Winery did not work for me, so this past Tuesday (27 March 2007), Ya'akov Berg of Psagot came to Tel Aviv to meet with me. Accompanied by forum member Josh Hexter, who has an interest in the winery, we did tastings of red wines still in barrels and tastings of recently released white wines and a rose at Lilith restaurant. Also brought for my tasting at home and blind were wines from the 2004 and 2005 vintages.

Located in the northern Jerusalem Mountains, not far from Ramallah and overlooking Wadi Kelt (Nachal Prat), the winery was founded by Na’ama and Ya’akov Berg, who planted their first vineyards in 1998. The oak barriques used by the winery are stored in a cave containing ancient pressing facilities, which maintains 90% humidity and temperatures up to 18 degrees Celsius. The winery relies on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Viognier and Chardonnay grapes. The winery's top-of-the-line wine is a Bordeaux blend named Edom, regular varietal wines are produced in the Psagot series and there is also a Port-style wine.. 2006 production was 45,000 bottles. The winery anticipates releasing about 65,000 bottles from the 2007 vintage.

One of the things a critic enjoys most to encounter - a winery "on the way up", having shown nicely from the onset and to date growing and improving annually. My thanks to Ya'akov and Josh for an interesting tasting and for their good company. My tasting notes follow. The wines tasted on 2 April were tasted blind in my own tasting room and matched with wines from similar vintages and similar varieties from Israel, Chile and California.

Psagot, Edom, 2005: Opens with a rich vanilla and white chocolate nose, settles down in the glass to reveal aromas and flavors of black cherries, plums and currants. Medium- to full-bodied, with soft but mouth-coating tannins, a good touch of spicy cedar wood and on the finish an appealing earthy minerality. Drink now-2009. Score 88. K (Tasted 2 Apr 2007)

Psagot, Edom, 2004: A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot, reflecting its 14 months in barriques with firm but nicely integrating tannins, spicy and vanilla-rich oak and, on the nose and palate, blackberries, currants and an appealing hint of freshly turned earth. A solid effort, with a long berry-rich finish. Drink now–2008. Score 87. K (Re-tasted 2 Apr 2007)

Psagot, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005: Dark, almost impenetrable garnet with green and purple reflections. Medium- to full-bodied, reflecting its 13 months in French barriques with moderate touch of spicy oak and firm tannins that are in fine balance with blackberry, black cherry and cassis fruits. On the moderately-long finish appealing hints of sweet herbs and tobacco. Best 2008-2010. Score 88. K (Tasted 2 Apr 2007)

Psagot, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004: My previous tasting note holds firmly: Generous oak and firm, country-style tannins, those opening to reveal blackberry, black cherry and currant fruits along with hints of tobacco and herbs. Well balanced and moderately-long. Drink now. Score 85. K (Re-tasted 2 Apr 2007)

Psagot, Merlot, 2005: Full-bodied, with tannins well on their way to becoming silky. Smooth, round and generous, with generous cherry and berry fruits and just the right hint of spicy oak. Drink now-2009. Score 88. K (Tasted 2 Apr 2007)

Psagot, Merlot, 2004: Aged in French and American oak barrels for 13 months, this generously oaky, dark garnet and distinctly plummy wine shows medium-body, soft tannins and a hint of spiciness. Drink now–2008. Score 86. K (Re-tasted 2 Apr 2007)

Psagot, Rose, 2006: Rose petal pink, light- to medium-bodied, made primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes that had only short skin contact and later blended with 7% of Viognier to round it out. Appealing wild red berry, strawberry and cassis fruits on a lively background. A refreshing quaffer. Drink now. Score 86. K (Tasted 27 Mar 2007)

Psagot, Chardonnay, 2006: Light golden in color, opening with a light medicinal aroma that quickly blows away to reveal a tempting but not at all typical Chardonnay. On the nose and palate primarily pear and kumquat fruits, those on a background peach pits and bitter almonds. On the moderately long finish a hint of tropical fruits. A tempting but not at all typical Chardonnay. Drink now. Score 86. K (Tasted 27 Mar 2007)

Psagot, Viognier, 2006: Light- to medium-bodied, opening with a floral nose and going on to aromas and flavors of citrus, summer fruits and peach pits, all with a generous mineral note in the background. Drink now. NIS 65. Score 88. K (Re-tasted 27 Mar 2007)

Psagot, Prat, Red Dessert Wine, n.v.: Said to be made in the style of Port but with no specification of the grapes used. Aged in oak casks for 18 months, those exposed to outdoor conditions, this sweet and distinctly plumy wine shows an appealing range of spice and fruit flavors. Little relationship here to true Port but a red dessert wine worth of our attention. Drink now-2010. Score 87. K (Tasted 2 Apr 2007)

Also tasted, from barrels in this case and all from the 2006 vintage, three Merlot and three Cabernet components each from different vineyards in different parts of the country. But those will wait, as other recent component tastings that I have made recently, for a separate and rather lengthy article I am writing.