This wine puts me in an awkward position. I have promised to give my unfiltered opinion of the wine I taste – but this wine was brought over for lunch this past Shabbat by a friend and I know he tasted it before he bought it….. In fact, I am FULLY aware that this is exactly the kind of wine that many people LOVE.  Big bold Cabernet Sauvignon, a ton of oak,  very fruity and slightly sweet. Unfortunately, for me this typifies what I consider the worst characteristics of Israeli wine. But clearly this kind of wine sells because I would say the majority of Israeli Cabs can be described that way – and there HAS to be a reason why so many wineries are pumping out so much of the exact same stuff. But what am I to do – this wine is just not for me.

Lets start. The wine is actually a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot and it spent 24 months in oak. Clocking in at a whopping 14.8% alcohol, on the nose  we have ripe fruit with raisin and plum coming through clearly.  In the mouth the super sweet ripe fruit is front and center with raisin, date  and plum. There is some acid mixed in there – but what really hits you is the tannin. It is just ridiculous – and not in a good way. It wiped out whatever flavors I might have been hoping to taste on the finish. I am going to guess that this is what they were going for  – why else leave it in oak for 24 months… but, it’s just SO over the top and for me it only takes away from whatever enjoyment one could hope to get out of this bottle.

And I TRIED. I tasted it alone.  I swirled. I had it with food. I gave it time (probably  about an hour in the glass). There was simply no configuration I could come up with where this was something I could enjoy for what it was.  I would like to end on  a positive note though; because it was so crazy over the top in every way, you really didn’t taste that 14.8% alcohol. Small consolation though….

Bottom Line:

• Price: About NIS 99
• For Aging: The label says yes – and with the amount of tannin I am going to guess that was the intention
• Would I Buy Again: Didn’t even buy it the first time….
• QPR Rating:  Poor
• Taste/Depth/Quality: Poor
• Overall Rating  (1-5): 1.5*

*Note: This is an overtly negative review. That is clear – but it is only my opinion and my taste. As I note in the body of the review – there is a HUGE market for this wine – and for people who like this style, this I going to be a winner. As I note elsewhere in this blog, my grades are PURELY SUBJECTIVE. Unless you know that your tastes match mine, you won’t know how you feel about this wine until you taste it yourself – and until you develop a feel for what you do and don’t like, I would encourage you to taste as many wines as possible regardless of what someone else thinks – even when the someone else is me….