3/12/2017 - babrams wrote:

Exceptional Cab. Big yet restrained fruit, perfectly balanced acidity and wood, with notes of black fruit, tobacco and cigar box. At peak now and should hold for another 2 years or so.

2/16/2017 - babrams Likes this wine:

Beautifully balanced, still a bit young but one of the best values in the market.

2/4/2017 - babrams Likes this wine:

My preferred style of Chard is cleaner than this, but with another year or two of bottle aging this will be up there with the Yarden Katzrin and Castel as among Israel's best oaked Chards. Really excellent.

2/3/2017 - babrams Likes this wine:

What a pleasant surprise. Big and tannic, this bottle still needs another year or two or cellaring for the tannins to soften, but a what a great bottle. Leather and spice with great acidity and a long and lingering finish. Must find some more.

1/31/2017 - babrams Likes this wine:

One of my favorite Sauvignon Blancs. Screaming acidity, minerals and grapefruit with a complex finish.

1/30/2017 - babrams Likes this wine:

My tasting notes of a year ago hold. Tannins have definitely softened and the wood is more muted and well integrated. This will be perfect come summer, 2017. For the money, you're hard pressed to find a better wine, certainly not from France.

1/29/2017 - babrams Likes this wine:

One of the best wines from Israel over the decade. Ripe blackberry with earth, forest floor and mushrooms all backed with still excellent acidity and near sweet tannins.

12/24/2016 - babrams Likes this wine:

Exceptional Bordeaux plus blend and one of the best values in Israel.

12/17/2016 - babrams Likes this wine:

One of the best Carignan varietals I've enjoyed. Full bodied and dark with almost meaty/animal notes.

12/17/2016 - babrams Likes this wine:

Round and full bodied, with just enough acidity to keep it balanced, although I'd prefer a bit more brightness.

12/17/2016 - babrams Likes this wine:

Exceptional. It was spectacular 18 months ago and has continued to develop and improve, now showing wonderful tertiary flavors of earth, forest floor and a hint of barnyard on the nose, still with a solid core of red fruit and acidity. Really special. Some bottles beginning to throw significant sediment. Drink within the next 12 months.

7/2/2016 - babrams wrote:

Sweet up front with the perceived sweetness disipating after an hour or so of air, at which point the structure, both acidity and tannins asserted themselves resulting in a lovely and balanced bottle.

4/30/2016 - babrams Likes this wine:

As good of a white wine as you'll find in Israel.

5/1/2016 - babrams wrote:

Gorgeous, luscious, delicious. One of the very best white dessert wines Israel has to offer.

4/30/2016 - babrams Likes this wine:

Wonderfully balanced wine, with wood, soft fruit and enough acidity to keep it interesting. Creamy, almost viscos mouth feel.

4/30/2016 - babrams Likes this wine:

Still needing an hour to open but once it does, just a lovely bottle. Medium body, terrific acidity on a background of Mediterranean herbs and red fruit.

4/28/2016 - babrams Likes this wine:

Fresh, fruity without being overripe. Terrific value and infinitely drinkable with just about any food.

4/28/2016 - babrams Likes this wine:

Wonderful stuff.

4/28/2016 - babrams Likes this wine:

Starting to fade, but still very nice.

4/28/2016 - babrams Likes this wine:

Crazy good QPR. Varietally true Viognier with that great funkiness. Love it.

4/28/2016 - babrams Likes this wine:

Falls short of greatness, but a very good bottle, rich and layered.

4/28/2016 - babrams wrote:

Not my cup of tea.

4/28/2016 - babrams wrote:

Nice and clean.

11/16/2015 - babrams wrote:

One of my favorite Merlots, with loads of that Shomron specialness.

4/22/2016 - babrams Likes this wine:

Best under 100 shekel Cab in Israel. Old world elegance with great balance of acidity, fruit, wood & tannins. Starting to develop some tertiary aromas. Will save the last bottle for a couple of years to see what develops.

3/6/2016 - babrams Likes this wine:

Wonderful. Tannins still searing but starting to soften and did with time in the decanter. Probably needs another 18 months cellaring before optimal drinking window.

4/28/2016 - babrams Likes this wine:

Delightful. Juicy with great acidity and a lovey funky twist. One of the best values in Israeli wines.

4/16/2016 - babrams Likes this wine:

Lovely Port style Israeli wine. Balanced without the stewed fruit flavors too common in other Israeli fortified red dessert wines.

10/22/2015 - babrams Likes this wine:

Best Israeli bubbly around and easily competes for best kosher bubbles regardless of origin. Sharp bubbles and bracing acidity with balancing warm flavors of yeast and toast. Quite excellent.

4/28/2016 - babrams Likes this wine:

One of Israel's best Port style wines, alongside the Fine Ruby from Netofa.

4/16/2016 - babrams Likes this wine:

One of the very best Israeli wines ever produced and having now reached it's peak, should hold and age gracefully for another 2-5 years. Truly a wow wine.

4/28/2016 - babrams Likes this wine:

Maybe the best white in Israel, but certainly the best Sauvignon Blanc.

9/28/2015 - babrams Likes this wine:

Lovely, fresh clean Chard without heavy wood and butter. One of my favorites.

1/27/2016 - babrams Likes this wine:

What a beautiful wine. Deep, rich, full bodied and full of black fruit and herbs. Great acidity balancing the fruit and tannins with enough structural to evolve for at least another couple of years.

1/27/2016 - babrams wrote:

Overly oaked, weak structure, disappointing.

11/29/2015 - babrams Likes this wine:

This is simply one of the best Israeli Cabs made. Rich and layered with vanilla, chocolate and spices, a perfect balance of acidity and now softening tannins. Will open another bottle in a couple of years to see how it's developed. Just spectacular.

10/8/2015 - babrams Likes this wine:

Had no expectations for 2009 that I never loved, but age has treated this pretty well. The slightly harsh edge hasn't smoothed out, but the acidity, tannins and fruit are very well balanced with some secondary aromas now present. Not bad at all.

8/22/2015 - babrams Likes this wine:

Along with the Tzora, one of the very best Israeli Chards. Great acidity balancing the fruit with a solid core of minerals.

8/25/2015 - babrams Likes this wine:

Very much still on the upswing with no signs of fading. Fruit, acidity, tannins all in perfect balance. Approachable but still a bit tight on initial opening. Another year or so to peak, in my estimation. One of my very favorites.

8/22/2015 - babrams Likes this wine:

Floral and round in the mouth showing some recessed acidity and softening from the brief but meaningful aging. One of my 3 or 4 favorite white wines in Israel.

8/8/2015 - babrams Likes this wine:

One of the 2 or 3 best Roses in Israel. A slightly bitter edge that adds intrigue to the fresh berries & citrus on the nose and palate. Perfect summer wine.

8/8/2015 - babrams Likes this wine:

Best Sauvignon Blanc in Israel! Minerals, fruit & acidity in perfect balance.

8/8/2015 - babrams wrote:

2nd favorite Israeli Riesling to the amazing Carmel Kayoumi Riesling. Aromatic, strong citrus notes on both the nose and palate. Lighter and more summery than the Kayoumi and probably less likely to age well, but really enjoyable.

8/20/2015 - babrams Likes this wine:

Just a stunning value. There are times when this could double as a Pomerol and not suffer by the comparison. Dark fruit, cedar box, pencil lead and the beginnings of some tertiary aromas and flavors. Definitely worth putting at least a half-case for another few years. At less than 50 shekel ($12), there's not a better red wine for the money in Israel.

7/25/2015 - babrams wrote:

Along with the Yatir, my favorite '14 Rose from Israel. Bracing acidity, bright berries and stone fruit on the nose and palate. Exactly what a Rose should be.

7/18/2015 - babrams Likes this wine:

Minerals, acidity and softer hints of wood in lovely balance. Not to the level of the Matar Chenin Blanc but very nice.

8/22/2015 - babrams Likes this wine:

Enjoyed it more than I had previously. It's softer and more elegant than some of the other excellent '14 Israeli Roses. On the nose, Hibiscus and ripe strawberries; on the palate, strawberries & stone fruit with slightly softer acidity. Very nice and different.

8/14/2015 - babrams Likes this wine:

One of my favorite Israeli reds and a ringer for a great Bordeaux, now showing beautiful tertiary aromas and flavors of forest floor and barnyard, while retaining it's core fruit and acidity. Shame I only have one bottle remaining.

8/15/2015 - babrams Likes this wine:

Continues to be one of my very favorite Israeli whites. Everything a dry Riesling should be. Incredibly aromatic, fresh and bracingly acidic. Great!

7/19/2015 - babrams Does not like this wine:

Flabby & nondescript. Barely discernibly Riesling, not really dry, but not really off-dry; lacking adequate acidity and not terribly aromatic. Blah.