Sagee Aran

9.3

all in place. a benchmark CS. full body, ripe, juicy, good acidity, tasty. — 2 months ago

Sagee Aran

9.2

A barrel aged Chardonnay. Balanced with blossom and full body — 6 months ago

Sagee Aran

9.0

Very tanin. Needs more years — 8 months ago

makin mayu

9.7

Rich, condensed umami, like maple syrup. — 10 months ago

with Shoko, Masako and 1 other

Bruce Leboff

9.3

Lovely with ripe acidity and very long finish. Tough grape to work with. Lovely to drink — 4 years ago

with David

Iwan

9.0

Lovely Cabernet from Israel, made in an old world style, but still with great fruit. 2012 is drinking well now. — 6 years ago

Joe Weinberger

8.9

First time trying a wine from Israel. This was pretty nice—lots of autolytic notes and it was nice to try one that was vintage dated and with some bottle age. — 6 years ago

Jordan Savitsky

10

Delicious. 2016 vintage. Israeli wines stepping it up! — 7 years ago

ESF

9.2

better than the 2021, more dense extracted generous, this had a decade or more to unfurl... 2021 was Old World - this was New World, a more in your face CA Napa Cab style, outstanding QPR — 4 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

The Cave – Red Blend – 2020
Galilee, Israel 🇮🇱

Overview
A powerful Bordeaux-inspired blend composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, and 9% Petit Verdot, sourced from high-elevation vineyards in the Upper Galilee. Aged 24 months in French oak inside the historic Carmel Mountain cave, a naturally cool, humidity-stable cellar that shapes the wine’s depth and structure. Mevushal / Kosher for Passover.

Aromas & Flavors
Dark mulberries, black plum, and blackberry compote meet cedar, mahogany wood, espresso, and subtle graphite. The Petit Verdot adds an herbal-floral edge, giving the wine both muscle and nuance.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied with firm, assertive tannins and a deep, wood-toned intensity. Concentrated, layered, and long, with an oaky spine that lingers on the finish.

Food Pairings
Braised lamb shoulder, smoky short ribs, aged Gouda, slow-roasted brisket, or charred portobello mushrooms.

Verdict
One of Israel’s most characterful red blends, bold, structured, and cellar-worthy. The interplay of fruit density, mineral tension, and pronounced oak makes this a standout Mevushal wine for those who appreciate power and polish. Cheers!

Did You Know?
The Cave winery ages its wines in a 250-year-old man-carved cave in Carmel Mountain, originally quarried in the 18th century and repurposed in the 19th century as a brandy cellar. Its natural insulation provides ideal conditions for long élevage, giving these wines their signature depth and aging potential. — 7 months ago

Mike Holzer

9.1

Pre dinner wine at Dead Sea resort jordan. Med to full bodied. Black fruit tobacco anise. Nice tannins. — 4 years ago

with Ania

Cynthia Stevenson

9.4

Smooth, mod body, low acidity, light tannins. — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

8.9

It's time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here's a nice one from Israel.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Nose of cherries, blueberries, wood, earth, vanilla, licorice, spices, espresso, pencil lead, vegetables, herbs and black pepper.

Full bodied and soft with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, cherries, wood, licorice, light vanilla, light vegetables, dark coffee, herbs, tobacco leaf, spices, graphite and black pepper.

Medium plus in finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a nice surprise. I've had this wine for the last 4 vintages, and this is the best one yet. Easy drinking with mild complexity and a nice mouthfeel. Feels like a blend of new and old world wine.

Good by itself or with food. Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up ( 30 minutes). After an hour of airtime, tannins show up.

Drinking very nicely already, even by itself.

A blend of 36% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah, 12% Petit Verdot and 9% Cabernet Franc.

Grapes are grown in the Judean Hills at 2,000 feet elevation, and aged for 10 months in oak barrels. Kosher. Not Mevushal.

14% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$35. — 6 years ago

Iwan

9.1

Lovely thirst quencher after a day in the sun. — 7 years ago

Jason Keefer

9.0

I think my first Israeli wine. A little hot but has a good blueberryish backbone and a bit of floral undertones. — 5 months ago

with Natasha

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Yarden – Pinot Noir – 2022
Galilee – Israel 🇮🇱

Overview
100% Pinot Noir sourced from the northern reaches of the Golan Heights, where high elevation, cool nights, and rocky volcanic soils create an ideal environment for this delicate, thin-skinned variety. Aged for over 16 months in French oak, this bottling delivers surprising depth and complexity. Kosher, and produced in a non-Mevushal style, allowing greater finesse and aromatic purity.

Aromas & Flavors
Lifted floral notes, red cherry, wild berries, rose petals, clove, and subtle baking spice. The volcanic influence adds a faint smoky-mineral edge that enhances its old-world charm.

Mouthfeel
Silky, medium-bodied, and beautifully balanced. Fresh acidity supports a layered palate with refined tannins and an elegant, persistent finish.

Food Pairings
Herb-roasted chicken, mushroom risotto, seared tuna, Mediterranean lamb skewers, or grilled vegetables with za’atar.

Verdict
A sophisticated and terroir-driven expression of Pinot Noir from one of Israel’s most compelling cool-climate zones. Remarkably elegant, with an old-world spirit shaped by a uniquely volcanic landscape. Cheers!

Did You Know?
The Golan Heights sits atop an extinct volcanic plateau. Its basalt-rich soils and high elevations mirror some of the world’s great cool-climate regions, making it one of Israel’s best sites for Burgundian varieties. — 7 months ago

Brad Kalish

9.6

J/h. Decanted 4 hrs. Still too young — 2 years ago

Roman Ochocki

9.0

Very good merlot. Low acidity, medium tannins. Very oaky with a sweet vanilla, dark fruits, but with a dark chocolate finish, maybe with a pepper. Still: one of my favorite labels. — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Strong nose of blackcurrants, black cherries, plums, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, tobacco, earth, mint, light herbs and black pepper.

Full bodied and elegant with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, cherries, currants, oak, vanilla, dark chocolates, cloves, licorice, herbs, spices, earth, peppercorn and pencil lead.

Spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This young Israeli Cabernet Sauvignon is starting to drink nicely now.

Showing nice complexity with a gentle mouthfeel. Nicely balanced and tangy. Tasty, spicy and interesting.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime.

This beautiful Bordeaux blend from Israel would benefit from 3 to 5 years of bottle time.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a delicious Brie cheese.

A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Aged in French oak barrels for 12 months. Kosher and not Mevushal.

14.5% alcohol by volume

92 points.

$60. — 6 years ago

Raka Khushu

10

It's a delicious wine. — 6 years ago