Blog Israel Goods

BEST ISRAELI WINES RELEASED IN 2011

Any wine that garners a rating or 90 or above is considered to be a great wine.This post lists Israeli wines, released in 2011, that were rated 95 and 94 in The Toby Press "The Ultimate Rogov's Guide to Israeli Wines" This guide is very complete and is readily available from Amazon.

These highly rated wines are:

EARNING 95 POINTS
Golan Heights Winery, Rom Yarden,2007 (k)

Margalit, Cabernet Sauvignon, Special Reserve, 2009

EARNING 94 POINTS
Clos de Gat, Ayalon Valley, 2007
Clos de Gat, Chardonnay, 2009
Golan Heights Winery, Syrah, Yonatan Vineyard, Yarden 2007 (k)
Flam, Cabernet Savignon, 2009
Margalit, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
Pelter, Cabernet Sauvignon, T Selection, 2008

Wines earning 93 points will be listed in the next posting.

 

 

ROGOV'S LAST GUIDE TO ISRAELI WINES

Daniel Rogov, long the recognized guru of Israeli wines, passed away last September, of lung cancer. His Rogov's Guide to Israeli Wines, published annually, provided to most complete information as well as ratings of individual wines and wineries.

The recently published, byThe Toby Press, is the moswt comprehensive edition of this essential book, which is readily available from Amazon.

A few hours before hisw death, Rogov posted his own obituary, which read, in part:

"Wine and food lto me are not simply things that enter our body. They are a reflection of our anthropology, history, psychology, social needs and, of course, pleasure."

The next entry in this BLOG will list the best Israeli wines released in 2011.

WINE FROM GRAPES GROWN IN THE NEGEV DESERT

Two thousand years ago, the Nabataeans made wine in Israel's Negev Desert vineyards. Daniel Kish (picture above) has brought grapes and wine back to the desert.

Only a very special kind of person would plant a vineyard in a desert that gets less than 4 inches of rain per year. Kish, by himself, built his home and winery, and planted the vines, near Sede Boger. Kish produces 4,500 to 5,500 bottles each year, featuring blends of six different grapes, from merlot to syrah.

Kish's wines are sold in two Tel Aviv restaurants and to visitors to the winery.

Kish is working with researchers at nearby Gen-Gurion University to further develop the science of growing grapes in the desert. One of the researchers believes that, with careful management, the drought response can produce a better wine.

BIG thanks Israel 21C for the above story.

ISRAELI WINES ATTRACT CONNOISSEURS TO TEL AVIV WINEEXPO

As reported by ISRAEL21c (www.israel21c.org), about 18,000 wine consumers, businesses, and connoisseurs attended the 2012 Israel Wine Exposition in Tel Aviv. Wine maven Haim Gan, known as The Grape Man, organizes this annual exposition.

Gan estimates Israel's wine production at 58-60 million bottles  per year. Since the 1990s, and especially in the last 15 years, the industry in Israel has become state-of-the-art and produces world class fine wines.

With about 300 wineries in Israel, the five largest are Carmel, Barkan, Ramat Hogolan, Binyamina and Teperberg which combined control about 80% of the local market. Other strong wineries are Tishbi, Dalton, Galil Mountain and Recanati. There also many fine boutique wineries.

Israel wineries offer varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz (particularly suitable for Israel's climate) and Bordeaux. Many of the best wines are blends.

Israel's wines are among the best in the world and deserve a place on dinner tables at home, at restaurants, and at banquets.
 

ROGOV'S TOP ISRAELI WINES - CONTINUED - SCORES 94-96

Rogov's Guide to Israeli 'Wines - 2011 lists the top-scoring Israeli wines released in 2010. Last week, we listed those wines that scored 93. Listed below are the wines that scored 94-96.

EARNING 96 POINTS 
  Golan Heights Winery, Rom, Yarden 2006 (K)

EARNING 95 POINTS
  Margalit, Cabernet Sauvignon, Special r'eserve, 2008

EARNING 94 POINTS (In alpha order by winery)
  Clos de Gat
    Cabernet Sauvignon, Har'El, 2008
    Merlot, Har'El, 2008
    Ayalon Valley, 2006
  Golan Heights Winery
    Chardonnay, Odem, Organic Vineyard, Yarden, 2008 (K)
    Syrah, Ortal Vineyard, Yarden, 2004 (K)
    Syrah, Yonatan Vineyard, Yarden, 2007 (K)
    Cabernet Sauvignon, El Rom Vineyard, Yarden, 2004 (K)

  Margalit
     Enigma, Special Reserve, 2007
     Cabernet Franc, 2008

For a complete guide to Israeli Wineries and wines, do buy Rogov's Guide - 2011.

 

DANIEL ROGOV'S BEST ISRAELI WINES IN LAST TWELVE MONTHS

Daniel Rogov is Israel's most influential and pre-eminent wine critic. His book - Rogov's Guide to Israeli Wines - 2011  - lists the top 26 Israeli wines released in 2010. All of these wines scored between 93 and 96 points, making them among the best in the world. Rogov's book is very comprehensive,  was published by The Toby press (www.tobypress.com), and is readily available at amazon.com.

Listed below are the Rogov picks scoring 93, in winery alphabetical order. The wines that scored 94-96 will be listed next week. The symbol K means the wine is kosher.

Carmel Winery
  Single, Shiraz Single Vineyard, Kayoumi Upper Galilee 2008 (K)
  Cabernet Sauvignon, Single Vineyard, Kayoumi, Upper Galilee 2008 (K)
  Mediterranean, 2008 (K)
  Limited Edition, Upper Galilee, 2007 (K)
  Gewurztraminer, Late Harvest, Single Vineyard, Sha'al Golan, 2009 (K)

Castel Winery
  Chardonnay "C", Blanc de Castel, 2008 (K)
  Grand Vin Castel, 2008 (K)
  Petit Castel, 2008 (K)
 
Clos de Gat - Syrah, Har'El, 2008

Dalton - Matatia, 2008 (K)

Flam - Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve, 2008

Golan Heights Winery
  Katzrin, 2007 (K)
  Syrah, Ortal Vineyardm Yarden, 2007 (K)
  Cabernet Sauvignon, El Rom Vineyard, Yarden, 2007 (K)
 
Margalit - Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008

Pelter
  Petit Verdot, T-Selection, 2008
  Cabernet Sauvignon, T-Selection, 2006
 
Racanati - Special Reserve, 2006 (K)

Yatir
  Yatir Forest, 2007 (K)
  Shiraz, 2007 (K)

For complete infoirmation on Israel's wineries and wines, do buy Rogov's book.

JNF JOINS WITH TZORA VINEYARDS IN SUPPORT OF SDEROT

Jewish National Fund has joined with Tzora Vineyards and importer Israel Wine Direct in support of Sderot. Tzora will donate $1 for every bottle of 2006Tzora Neve Ilan or 2006 Tzora Shoresh sold through the JNF website:

https://www.jnf.org/support/loyalty-program

Tzora vineyards was selected by JNF because, in addition to being delicious, its wines uniquely connect people to the land and history of the Judean hills in Israel. Tzora is a leading producer of Israel wines that reflect a sense of place, the Judean Hills, the elevated mountainous region surrounding Jerusalem that is so full of history. In fact, Tzora is a place mentioned in the Bible in a reference to wine-making.

The JNF loyalty program offers savings and/or great offers on many Israeli products, including:

Osem food products - discount coupons

 Tzora Vineyards - 12% discount

El Al Airline

Israel Phones - 10% off

Setty - Up to 40% off on Israeli Jewelry

Isrotel - Special amenities

Support Israel and JNF, and purchase fine products at good prices.

SAN FRANCISCO WINE SMACKDOWN

The Jug Shop, in San Francisco, in cooperation with Richard Shaffer's Israel Wine Direct, held a blind wine tasting between California and Israeli Cabs, with six winery marketing people and San Francisco sommeliers.

 Here are the Israeli wines entered into the tasting:

Flam Cabernet Reserve 2006
Margalit Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Tzora Shoresh 2006
Pelter T-Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007

These are the California Cabs entered into the tasting:

Caymus Cabernet 2007
Benziger Tribute Cabernet Blend 2006
Murphy-Goode Terra A Lago Cabernet 2004
St. Supery Elu Cabernet Blend 2004

Here are the top wines with the most #1 votes from the tasters:

Tied for 1st:
Flam Cabernet Reserve 2006
Tzora Shoresh 2006

2nd: Pelter T-Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

3rd: Benziger Tribute Cabernet Blend 2005

If you want to conduct a similar SMACKDOWN, contact Richard Shaffer at 866-469-8708.

ISRAELI WINES WIN SMACKDOWN IN HOUSTON

Block 7 Wine Company, in Houston, held a tasting of 7 wines from small wineries in israel. Toward the end of the event, Block 7 and Richard Shaffer's Israel Wine Direct held a blind tasting of 8 wines, 4 from Israel, 3 from California, and 1 from Washington state.

All of the wines were very good. The punch line is that Israeli wines took 3 out of the top 4 places in the competition. Here are the rankings:

WINNER: Tzora Shoresh 2006 (Israel)

2nd Place: Amavi Cellars 2007 (Walla Walla, WA)

3rd Place: Margalit Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (Israel)

4th Place: Flam Cabernet Reserve 2006 (Israel)

5th Place: Lail Vineyards Blueprint 2006 (California)

6th Place: Pelter T-Selection Cab. Sauv. 2007 (Israel)

Tied for 7th: Cloverdale Ranch Cab Sauv 2005 (California) and Volume 2007 Cab. Sauv (California).

Perhaps the best part of these blind tastings is the look of surprise and discovery from the tasters.

WINE TASTING POSTING #5 - ARIZONA WINES BEAT FAMOUS REGIONS

A New York Time article of February 14, 2010 tells of the Scottsdale, Arizona restaurant called FnB that serves ONLY Arizona wines. This was considered to be quite risky, as there are few if any who would consider Arizona wines to be worthy of such exclusivity.

The truth turned out to be that, in blind taste tests, tasters thought that the wines come from famous wine regions.

It has been demonstrated time and again that wine drinker opinions of wines are very greatly influenced by what they think they know about the wines they are about to drink. In blind tastings, only a very small minority have any chance of distinguishing any wine from any other in terms of quality.

Sadly, even Israeli wines that rank very high in blind tastings fall short when the drinkers know they are about to drink Israeli wines. What tricks our minds play on us. Do not be deceived - Israeli wines are at least as good as any others.