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

boyd

9.1

Braised beef shoulder + this wine = 🙌🏼 — 6 years ago

Kathryn Dirks

9.0

Had with fatty pork shoulder, beautiful acid cut through. Delicious, crisp, drinkable. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

A pre-tasting of my heavy meat red sauce in order to fine tune the spices and seasoning it before serving for 30 people for our friend’s 60th birthday party tomorrow night.

The sauce is 9 cans of whole tomato’s crushed & drained, 9 can cans of tomato sauce, 3 cans of tomato paste, 6.5 pound whole pork roast braised in diced garlic & olive oil that falls apart & shreds when done, 5 pepperoni sticks sliced, 4 pounds of meatballs (with Italian bread crumbs, garlic salt, coarse black pepper, eggs with warm water) and 14 seasonings & spices slow cooked over 36-48 hours. It’s a blend that once it’s done is magical harmony in the mouth like a well crafted & aged wine.

The wine works well but, I’ll have better pairing wines tomorrow night.

The nose reveals; dark, sweet & slightest sour dark cherries, cherry kirsch liqueur notes, ripe, bright blackberries, baked black plum, ripe, juicy, strawberries, slightly candied black raspberries, blue fruits, mixed berry cola, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, dry stems, soft, leaner, sweet, tarriness, touch of dry herbs with the most amazing, bright, red, dark blue florals, violets and shades of lavender.

The body is medium full, round with great mouth presence. The tannins nicely, rounded, slightly tarry and baby teeth. The tension, structure, length and balance have just started to tango. Dark, sweet & slightest sour dark cherries, cherry kirsch liqueur notes, ripe, bright blackberries, baked black plum, ripe, juicy, strawberries, slightly candied black raspberries, blue fruits, mixed berry cola, medium intensity dark spice with a little palate heat, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, dry stems, leathery, dry tobacco, shades of graphite, soft, leaner, sweet, tarriness, nutmeg, clove, a touch of dry herbs with the most amazing, bright, red, dark blue florals, violets and shades of lavender. The acidity is nicely executed. The long finish is nicely knitted, balanced fruit and earth, polished with soft, brilliant florals and persists minutes.

Third largest Co-op in Europe and they produce some quality wines. Especially, for the volume the make.

Delectable has this @ $99. I bought it at Costco upon release for $28.99.

Photos of, the beautiful, quaint hilltop town of Barbaresco, my meat sauce, their tasting room just to the right at the feet of the clock tower with Gaja just a little further down to the right of there and the best Michelin star restaurant we’ve experienced for lunch. We dined there right after our visit to Gaja. What service, food and a day!
— 7 years ago

Niran Fajemisin

9.0

Very jammy. Delicious on its own and went well with slow roasted pork shoulder. — 8 years ago

Henry Fuseler

8.9

1/2025. Good fruit and flavor. Paired very well with the pork and braised cabbage at Motor Supply. — a year ago

Matt

9.2

Dark, smokey, sauvage. No notes really, just delicious as hell with braised pork shoulder, flageolet, onion, carrot and harrissa — 3 years ago

ShayShayShaylyn

9.5

Really liked it (with smoked pulled pork shoulder). More nuanced than the Provence Rose' s I'm used to. Part of the Thomas July cellar 6 pack. — 6 years ago

Sarah O'Kelley

9.2

Sangiovese for burgundy lovers!  perfect with braised pork shanks for a comforting winter meal!  — 6 years ago

Seth Pelletier

9.0

Spanish grit. Real terroir. Pair with braised pork. — 7 years ago

Tegan Marriott

9.2

This was a tasty N.Z. Pinot that I would buy again if under $25. Went really well with a braised pork, pear, hazelnut, 🍕!!!! — 7 years ago

Kevin C

8.9

A bit of pepper, leather. Medium body. Not overbearing. Pork, some poultry, braised meats or pasta (with red sauce) — 8 years ago

Monica Layfield

9.2

Loved. Fab fruit. Stood up to Casey’s killer pork shoulder ragu and pappardelle. Stock up on this one. — 8 years ago

with Casey, Erin and 1 other

Brad Jensen

9.3

Beautiful, explosive nose of pine needles, eucalyptus, cherries, forest floor and musk thus is a special wine. The pairing I don’t think was perfect, paired with spicy roast pork shoulder, but the wine was medium bodied, rose red with hints of purple. The palate is fresh, floral and light, but with vegetal and forest-y notes, with hints of soy glaze, plum, and grass notes on the finish. — 3 years ago

Severn G

9.4

Nose has ripe blackberry, fresh black cherry, cherry jam, mashed cherries, toasted anise seed, sweet smokey cedar, cherry liqueur. Rich and beautiful.

Palate has bright black cherry, old milk chocolate, cherry jam reduction, ripe fig, dried fig, black currant jam, moist garden soil, licorice and grape Jolly Rancher candy. Rich palate with mild tannins and long finish. This wine is in an outstanding spot with years ahead of it still, enjoy 2024-26, in proper storage. Decanted 6H.

Paired with pulled pork sandwiches, a Superbowl Sunday tradition for us. A local pork shoulder (Mill River Farm, New Marlborough, MA), dry spice rubbed and rested for 24H, then 10H in the slow cooker; it's just falling apart...so beautiful, our kitchen smells amazing! Garnished with our garden bread & butter pickles, homemade barbeque sauce, pickled red onion and a dash of cilantro, all a worthy combination. — 5 years ago

Jon Ebsworth

8.9

Mature claret still holding on (just about) with roast pork shoulder. Benefits of a v good vintage. — 7 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

The 2016 Long Shadows ‘Saggi’ is the best bottling of this storied wine that I have tried since they began producing this wine more than a decade ago. The ‘Saggi’ is a thrilling blend of Sangiovese (Boushey and Candy Mountain Vineyards) with 29% Cabernet Sauvignon (Weinbau Vineyard) and the remainder Syrah (Den Hoed Dutchman and Bacchus Vineyards). The nose is drop-dead gorgeous with bacon fat, black olive tapenade, mocha and fennel. The stunning range of aromas bring you back to the glass for more. Revealing a silky texture and a wonderfully ripe mouthfeel, the ‘Saggi’ slowly unveils smoked pork shoulder, black tea, milk chocolate covered cherry and roasted fig flavors. Decadent, layered and downright delicious, this beautiful wine will enjoy an exceedingly long life in the cellar. If enjoying in its youth be sure to give this a two hour decant. Drink 2019-2033- 95 — 7 years ago

Edward Chung

9.3

Silky, inky and drinking well (2005 vintage, opened February 4, 2019). A wonderful pairing with Chinese braised pork shoulder. As elegant as I remembered... — 7 years ago

Perry Sutton

9.2

Incredibly smooth - red silk in a glass. Fruit forward and goddamned good with pork shoulder! — 8 years ago

Luke Burke

9.1

One my favorite whites! Great minerality and salinity. Went great with pork shoulder sous vide with tomatillos and sambal. — 9 years ago