2020 Domaine du Castel Grand Vin Judean Hills

Community Tasting Notes (5) Avg Score: 91.4 points

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  10/29/2023 - Kosher.wine.tastings Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Our hearts remain with our brethren in Israel, and never more than on Shabbat, when our prayers intensify, and the ability of our Nations's "shemirat Shabbat" contains its own majestic and historic power. Continuing our focus on buying and promoting Israel's wines, and eating Shabbat dinner with a lifelong friend celebrating a special birthday, the time was appropriate to open and taste the (very young) Domaine du Castel, Grand Vin, Haute-Judée, 2020.
  
  The story of Domaine du Castel יקב קסטל is thoroughly Israeli. A combination of fortitude, and a duality ancient and classic, while thoroughly modern. Eli-Gilbert Ben-Zaken, in 1988 just a novice and following jobs in agriculture and in the restaurant business, aimed not to create "wine," but to create world class wine to rival the great houses of Bordeaux. Ben-Zaken was imbued with the panache and chutzpah which motivates those with an entrepreneurial spirit to rise to great heights. Born in Alexandria, Egypt, Ben-Zaken's family immigrated to Israel from Milan in the 1970s, and Eli set forth with the shared gruff spirit of the Israeli start-up nation.
  
  Just four years after planting his vineyard in 1988, the first harvest was realized via the impassioned labor of family and friends - a shared story with many winery's first harvests, and Ben-Zaken would crush the first Cabernet and Merlot in an empty stable next to the chicken shed.
  
  By 1995, and after being aged for two years in Seguin Moreau new French oak barrels (which Ben-Zaken brought to Israel by hand), the first 600 bottles were produced. The name? Grand Vin du Castel. Hardly shy but demanding a tone of excellence from the outset.
  
  More than a quarter century later, Eli has achieved his dream of working the Land of Israel while integrating wine into his family's future, as his children are now fully invested into the estate. Ariel, Eytan, and Ilana all serve the winery as CEO, winemaker, and Director of Export & Procurement. Today, Domaine du Castel is truly a family estate winery.
  
  Sitting at an average altitude of 700m, and mostly facing northward towards the Mediterranean (and not more typically south as in the northern hemisphere), the vineyards are planted on terra rossa, clay and limestone with good drainage, and the climate shows large diurnal range.
  
  Today, Castel grows Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Chardonnay. The Grand Vin 2020 is a blend of 60% Cab, 30% Merlot, and 10% Petit Verdot, aged 20 months in new French oak. Unfined and unfiltered.
  
  In the glass, dark purple to ruby on the edges. The nose is of dark ripe fruit, blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, oak, coffee, vanilla, and a little smoke. On the palate, full bodied, with medium plus acidity and round, smooth tannins. Nice structure with good length. A big wine, and not cheap certainly, but a very good wine. Very approachable now but should age nicely and gain complexity. Drink 2025-2035.
  
  $110, 14.5% ABV, non-mevushal

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  10/7/2023 - JBL19 Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Výborné. Kralsné Bordeaux blend. Vyvážené a hezké. Málo třislovin ale hezky vybalancované. Otázka je trvanlivost.

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  2/27/2023 - sshayfin Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Red Bordeaux blend- CS, Merlot, Petit Verdot. One of the most consistent winemaking in Israel, top winery with a Lot of character.
  
  Deep red colour,
  Primery aromas of black ripe fruit, blackcurrant, spices, eucalyptus, herbs.
  Secondary aromas of vanilla, butter and coffe
  Triatry aromas - hint notes of dried black fruit.
  
  The tannins are round, and the wine is very complex with aging potential of 8-12 years.
  The wine is still young but yet enjoyable now, will benefit from aging
  
  92pts. Outstanding

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  12/23/2022 - MR1216 Likes this wine:

  very drinkable for a 2020 - ordered a case directly from winery in Israel

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  10/13/2022 - vlzat wrote: 91 Points

  Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot
  
  Full body, deep garnet colour. Elegant ripe and blue fruits aroma complemented by spices and toasted oak. Black currants, plums palate and long finish. Rich, bold and complex but very delicate, juicy and balanced, young tannins and wild berries acidity. Tasted with light cheeses but requires medium rare beef. Serve 18ºC - 20ºC. Too young and closed now, wait at least six years.

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