2016 Flam Classico Judean Hills, Israel, Wine Review

This is a Bordeaux blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, 16% Merlot, 13% Petit Verdot and 7% Syrah. It is a delicious wine that is very "French" in style. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is nice with cassis, cherries, tobacco, plums and slight green beans. On the palate, this has nice cherry fruit with some cassis over dry roasted earth. Good acidity. Nice finish. Food friendly. I doubt this gets better but will hold for 5 to seven year or more. It is not a big wine, but worked great with our meal during the Seder at Passover.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2016

Current Price:

$31.00USD

2016 Flam Classico Judean Hills, Israel, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

B+

Current Price:

$36.00USD

This bottle was left from our Seder in 2021 so we added it to this year's. It is a Bordeaux blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, 16% Merlot, 13% Petit Verdot and 7% Syrah. While still drinking well, it is showing a bit of age and has dropped some of its fresh fruit notes (the prior note is on this site). Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has cassis, black cherries, tobacco, and dust. On the palate, this has nice cherry fruit with some cassis over dry roasted earth. Easy drinking. Food friendly. It is not a big wine, but worked great with our meal dur

2017 Psagot Edom, Israel, Judean Hills, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$33.00USD

This a red blend of 45% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 13% Petit Verdot grown at high elevation in the Edom Mountains. It is Kosher. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. A very nice Bordeaux-like nose. Cassis, black cherries, cherries, slight cigar box, gravel and slighter bell pepper. On the palate, this is medium bodied with lighter but present tannins. Moderate acidity. A nice depth and complexity. Notes of cassis and cherry fruit over gravel. Ripe but not overtly. Drinks easily right now. I don't think this will get better but should drink well for five to seven more years.

2017 Domaine du Castel Petit Castel Kosher Judean Hills, Israel, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$43.00USD

This is the second wine of Domaine Castel. It is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. Purple in color. The nose has cassis, plums, chocolate and slight black olives. Nice texture. On the palate, sour black cherries, some black raspberries over char and earth. Medium tannins. This needs a couple of years to sort itself out and then should be good for a decade. A nice choice for roasted meats, fowl and veggies.

2017 Domaine du Castel Grand Vin Judean Hills, Israel, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$75.00USD

Castel is probably the consistently best top winery in Israel. Although modern Israel wine is a very young industry, so this is always changing. Castel has a proven track record. The Grand Vin is the best wine that they make. This is quite young and just not giving up much right now. After a couple of hours of air, it had improved but its best days are at least five years in the future. Inky purple in color. The nose has nice baking spices along with some cherries. On the palate, firm tannins. Black cherries. Monolithic at present. It is tasty but needs time develop a complexity

2016 Psagot Edom, Israel, Judean Hills, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$34.00USD

Impressive showing for this wine. Inky purple in color. The nose has cassis and slight olives. Great texture. On the palate, black raspberries, black cherries. Sweet tannins. Nice finish. This is young and could improve a bit with a few years in the cellar. It will drink well for at least a decade after that. It will go well with brisket, burgers or roasted meats and fowl.

2016 Flam Classico Judean Hills, Israel, Wine Review

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