2017 Gamla Golan Height Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

Is Israel a wine country? Certainly and for a long time too. Thousands of old wine presses have been found. The oldest is estimated at more than 6500 years. So yes, Israel is already a very old wine country. But on the other hand, it has only been since 1880 that wine has been invested again, thanks to Baron Edmond de Rothschild (Lafite). So if you look at it that way, Israel might be one of the New wine countries. Although Israel originally had a warm climate, the vineyards of this winery, due to its high location, are nevertheless classified as 'cool climate'. This, in combination with the volcanic surface, makes their wines among the best in the world. The most famous wine guide on Israeli wines, Rogov, gives Golan Heights Winery 5 stars and writes: "From the moment they produced their first wines in 1984, there is no doubt that Golan Heights Winery has placed Israel on the world wine list. They are the leader in the quality of the country. The chief winemaker, Victor Schoenfeld, knows well what he is doing. He has had his education in California, France and Australia and combines old and new world style. " The Yarden wines are the figurehead of the winery. This is where the most beautiful grapes from the best vineyards come together. The name refers to the Jordan River (Yarden in Hebrew), which separates the Golan Heights from Galilee. In addition to the Yarden wines, there are the Gamla wines. Gamla was an old town on the Golan Heights, after which these accessible wines are named. Slightly less complicated but very pure. Golan Heights Winery is located in the town of Katzrin in the center of Golan.

This red wine from the Gamla series is one of the newest projects from winemaker Victor Schoenfeld. He wanted to make an Israeli red wine with the most common blend on earth, the Cabernet Sauvignon and the Merlot grape. Well that is more than successful and this red wine is a piece of craftsmanship. But that is not self-evident, for years Victor has tested and looked at where these grapes grow best in Israel. It eventually became the Galilee area because that is where Israel's best appellation lies. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vineyards are located in the northern part at an altitude of 1200 meters. With deep roots in the volcanic soil, the grapes get their own identity. When both grapes have been able to absorb everything from the rich soil, they are harvested entirely by hand. Both grapes are vinified separately, after which the blend is made. The entire wine ages no less than twelve months in both French and American wooden barrels. That gives this red wine from Israel its special character. In the glass, the wine is garnet red. The fruit of blackberry, dark currants and notes of vanilla and oak wood dust from the glass. In the mouth this red Gamla gives a warm mouthfeel with a wealth of black fruit, spices, oak wood, chocolate, along with hints of flowers and French oak.