Beautiful, whip-smart Northern Rhône Syrah with blackberry, violets, granite and, after air, a gorgeous olive note running through both the nose and palate. The texture is sleek and refined, with excellent freshness, fine tannins and a long, elegant finish. Not quite as complete or tightly composed as the monumental 2019, but still an exceptional Gonon and a brilliant expression of the vintage. — 2 days ago
An excellent Pinot Noir. Balanced, slightly tart cherry flavor with a floral bouquet. Love it. — 4 months ago
Fabulous character! The best of Virginia’s Piedmont foothills on display — 9 months ago
Nose: hint oak. Airy. Hint sea breeze. Lovely. White flowers.
Palate: lovely sweet oak. Sweet wood. Rich. Not over the top. — 2 years ago
Rich, fruity, effervescent. Super complex. Great value for the price. — 4 years ago
Pretty sure we tasted Guy Bossard’s 2009s in barrel in January of 2011, we were WAY late for our appointment that day (drove 90 minutes in the morning from our B&B near Chinon, started at Luneau-Papin, then lunch (which took seemingly forever), which in turn made us late for our visit to Marc Ollivier at Domaine de La Pepiere. After a great (albeit long) visit with Marc, he was then kind enough to call Guy for us to tell him the 3 idiot Americans who were his 4:00 pm appointment would hopefully make it by 5:00-5:30 pm. Guy was nothing if forgiving and gracious, he had a young Dutch gentleman there when we arrived, Fred Niger, who we found out later was in negotiations to buy Domaine de l’Ecu from Guy, which DID happen (and Fred and his wife still own the estate). Domaine de l’Ecu had already been biodynamic for some time (and remains so), and was maybe the first of the Muscadet producers to do so (???). This wine, the top end Granite cuvée, is still quite alive, but it’s time to drink up. Fun times wine tasting in Muscadet in January of 2011!!! — 11 days ago
Another good Bethel Heights Pinot Noir. Great floral notes and a clean finish. — 3 months ago
Another great, albeit young vintage of Zach. The palate has depth, purity, minerality and more but it’s a bit ‘all over the place’ but the bones are there. Super complex and long. Nose is blackberry, red cherry, red berry, super clear, floral and complex. 9.6. nose. Will get better. Palate is super concentrated but boy does it need air but oh man what promise. Calmer, sweeter today but still a bit backwards. Gorgeous inner mouth aromas and a spicy granite finish. This has really come alive on day 3. Best day by far. — 4 months ago
Really nice. — 7 months ago
A beast, and still shockingly young. Barely budged in a year and a half, maybe 5% evolution. Nose is unbelievable: crystalline blackberry, blueberry, crushed granite, then more granite, then more blackberry. Palate still has that grapey, youthful, barrel-sample intensity, with massive concentrated fruit and granite oozing through everything. Tannins are significant at first, then smooth out into something velvety, sweet and seamless. Terrific purity, absurd material, huge structure and a long blackberry-granite finish. This is insane Cornas, but it needs forever. — 11 days ago
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. — 8 months ago
Joel Lara
PnP. Raspberry, cranberry, plums, and dried herbs on the nose. On the palate, the same flavors come through, and with time in the glass, florals and cardamom with underlying hints of cloves and allspice emerge. Nice finish, with the floral and cardamom flavors lingering. Overall really tasty, but required time in the glass to open up. Probably would benefit from a short decant. — 20 days ago