Eric L

9.4

Got at Young’s. Good balance, not dry but not too thick & yellow either. French Estate bottled at a good price. Buy again. — a month 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. — 9 months ago

Shay A

9.3

Jarvis has always been such a unique producer with its incredible underground facility and fascinating lineup of wines. Their Finch Hollow Chardonnays (this one and the Unfiltered version) are outrageously expensive, but they sure know how to deliver on flavor profile.

My notes here are actually quite similar to the 2015 I opened last year, but everything is a touch more restrained. Normally quite rich with expensive oak usage, this seems nicely balanced…it’s almost fresh in profile. Sweet lemon cream alongside marzipan and sea breeze aromatically. From a phenolic standpoint, it’s close to some of the Aubert offerings with its powerful texture. Finishes with a surprising amount of honeysuckle, caramel dipped apple, and honeycrisp. This seems to be built for a bit longer aging compared to the 2015. I’ll be curious to see how the 2018 is. — 5 years ago

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

9.2

Happy New Year! — 6 years ago

Lisa Holms

9.0

Not quite as yeasty as a rose champagne but quite lovely to celebrate an anniversary — 6 years ago

with A

Nancy Schnur

9.6

Whole Foods great for a pricier dinner wine — 7 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.8

Astonishing right out of the bottle. Gorgeous Northern Rhône nose of green and black olive, granite, blackberry, red currant and wild Syrah perfume. But the story is the tannins. My God. The refinement here is insane: molten, elegant, seamless tannins that melt across the palate with ridiculous class. So drinkable, so pure, so balanced, with deep fruit, granitic freshness and a long, graceful finish. This is my favorite Saint-Joseph, and it is drinking beautifully already. — 2 months ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.3

Cool simple bottle and label. A screw-top with class. Color is golden straw. Aromas of lemons and honey. Hint of freshly scrubbed flagstone patios. Flavors are lemon water, honeydew melon and jasmine tea. This is like all the good things in non-buttery Chardonnay mixed with the minerality and zing of Sauv Blanc. It’s fuller, denser and more elegant than most CA Chenin Blanc I’ve had. It’s also a white that seems to age nicely. If I could find it somewhere around here, it would join the short list for go to whites. — 10 months ago

Charlie Frago

9.1

Earthy, terroir nose. Opened nicely. Palette- enjoyable , long finish, medium tannins . After one hour, improved, earthiness is a nice change from Napa cabs. — 4 years ago

Donald Williams

9.3

A really nice Rosé to celebrate Bastille Day. — 5 years ago

with Bonnie

AJ Gubser

9.1

Nose of cherries, violets, beef fat, bell pepper, black pepper, fennel, and top soil. So good.

Those red fruit and floral notes come through with some licorice and a touch of beefy meatiness and leather. Medium body acidity and tannins.

Another delicious, balanced Loire red. So good for such a small price. — 6 years ago

Pat Taylor

8.9

On the nose, the forward aromas are sweet-honey and brown sugar. On the palate, the acidity balances it all off with ripe lime zest and granite/petrol. Its thinner and shorter than you’d want it to be, but it also has a visceral personality with an oily slipperiness that really rounds it back into solid form. — 6 years ago

Alex Leonardini

9.1

What began upon opening as a disjointed blend of sour cherry and earthy funk focused into tightly structured Pinot Noir with a few days of air. At its best, tilled Earth, spice, and a persisting anise character. Worth the wait. — 7 years ago

JoEll White

9.0

Delicious, bright, great depth of flavor. Tasted beautifully with a loaded hummus (fresh cucumbers, peppers, olive oil) and heavier cheese and fatty meats. — 5 months ago

Taylor Jukes

9.1

Almost dessert-like with a rich, sweet, pear and honey finish. — 9 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

A pale tawny cherry red in colour. A monopole (lots of Monopoles in Volnay) This from only 1.5 acres. Sappy, but overall aromas are subdued. The palate is subtle, restrained and overall delicate but has wonderful balance and the ideal accompaniment to Roast Duck Legs. Makes the most of its terroir in Volnay aided by the winemaking of Benjamin Leroux. After a few hours in decanter that light to medium bodied sappy palate remains. Certainly right to drink this now I believe. — 2 years ago

Chris A

8.9

A nice, smooth French Syrah from the Hermitage appellation. Heavy yet smooth with that luscious mature red fruit - tobacco ending with a hint of chocolate that presents as a “fruity” old world French red. Pair with a meal or cheese…Great glass! — 5 years ago

Alder Yarrow

Wine Blogger Vinography

9.2

Sticking with the “great wines from grapes you’ve never heard of” theme for a while longer, why not join me for a sip of this alpine gem. Grown in the northerly reaches of Italy’s Valle d’Aosta, just over the border with France and Switzerland, and in some of Europe’s highest altitude vineyards (1200 meters) this wine is made from the Prié Blanc grape. Prié Blanc is the region’s only indigenous white grape, and is rarely found within the Valle d’Aosta, let alone outside of it. Vibrating with mineral intensity, the wine tastes of green apple, lemon cucumber, dried honey, and a hint of herbs. Electric acidity and a sort of peach-pit tanginess linger in the finish. Because the region is mostly tiny growers, Cave Mont Blanc is a cooperative, and a very high-quality one at that. — 5 years ago

Arden Barnett

9.6

Tonight I learned there is a lot more to that yellow label. What a night with Veuve Clicquot’s winemaker Pierre Casenave. Thanks Clare for making it happen! — 7 years ago

with Clare

Thomas Aristide

8.9

Paired well with a robust French chicken, vegetable, risotto dish. Would buy again. Purchased at Wholefoods $19. — 8 years ago