This being my first formal tasting note on the site, it’s fitting that it is both an Israeli Wine and super Quality to Price Ratio (QPR) to boot.

The 2016 Carmel 4 Vats is the third vintage of this wine and as always is made up of a blend of Marselan (from the Judean Hills), Old-Vine Carignan  (form the southern Mt. Carmel area) and Grenache (from the Upper Galil). The wine is aged in 4 large French oak barrels (or vats ) of 5000 liters each.

The nose of this wine is full of spice, slightly jammy fruit and roasted meat . In the mouth there is some  up front-fruit (not too sweet), tart berries, warm spice and finishes in umami, earth and a little of that roasted meat  – with some nice tannin and medium+ acidity to balance it out. Really very nice!

Bottom Line:

• Price: About NIS 55
• For Aging: No
• Would I Buy Again: For Sure
• QPR Rating: Great
• Taste/Depth/Quality: Good +
• Overall Rating  (1-5): 4

EDIT: The rating system is a work in progress.  I hope to write a full explanation in the next day or two. As this is my first full note/rating – please allow for some minor tweaking until I work out the kinks. -A.