Sagee Aran

9.3

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

"Odedi"

9.1

#KosherWineSunday

Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose and medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate and very fruity.

Showing red and black fruits with light wood, spices, licorice, coffee, dark chocolates, peppercorn, tobacco, bitter herbs, light vegetables, dried meats and light iron notes.

Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 8 year old Syrah blend from Israel is drinking at its peak now. Elegant and nicely balanced. Spicy and fruit forward. Complex and interesting.

I had this vintage 5 years ago, and it is drinking better now. Will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

Wine Enthusiasts 90 points.

Good right out of the bottle, and good by itself or with food.

A blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Mourvedre. Aged in French oak barrels for 13 months. Kosher and not Mevushal.

14% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$30 (at release). — 3 months ago

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. — 6 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

#AgedWineTuesday

Beautiful golden in color.

Nose of citrus, lemons, red apples, light sea salt, flowers, peaches, light oak, spices, light earth, minerals and light herbs.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with yellow apples, citrus, light oranges, spices, light wood, limes, light grapefruits, herbs, earth and light vegetables.

Long finish with bitter herbs and spices.

This is a delicious 11 year old White blend from Israel. Well balanced, elegant and rich. Complex and entertaining, tangy and interesting.

Still feels fresh and youthful. I had a few vintages of this wine before, and decided to wait for a few years. I could have waited even longer.

Such an interesting wine. Smells like a Chardonnay /Viognier blend, and on the palate the Sauvignon Blanc is more dominant. The mouthfeel reminds me of a white Burgundy.

Good right out of the bottle, and better when not too cold. Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food.

A blend of 40% Viognier with Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Dabuki. Aged in used French oak barrels for 10 months.

13.4% alcohol by volume.

92 points. — a month ago

Sagee Aran

9.4

The years have done good for this bottle. Dark in color, thick and chewy structure but subtle in texture, mild + nose, palate of dark fruits and maturity, very tasty. At its peak... — 4 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

#KosherWineSunday

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim. A very pretty color.

Fruity nose and medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing blueberries, sweet plums, cooked cherries, light oak, spices, chocolates and licorice.

Nice length on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a very tasty 8 year old Marselan from Israel. Nicely aged now, and drinking better than when I last had it four years ago.

Elegant and nicely balanced. Fruit forward and easy drinking. Spicy and entertaining.

Needed 45 minutes to open up and show the beautiful nose. What a great surprise.

Wine Enthusiasts 90 points.

Drinking at its peak now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

Good by itself as a sipping wine.

100% Marselan grapes from the Galilee were aged in French oak barrels for 16 months. Kosher.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$25 (at release). — 8 months ago

Stuart Pollack

9.1

Good Kosher Syrah. Real Syrah flavor in a Kosher wine. Nice pepper. Somewhat overpowering. — 2 months 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. — 6 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

#KosherWineSunday

Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim, and medium plus intensity.

Fruity nose of black currants, cooked plums, licorice, light wood, tobacco, chocolates and black pepper.

Medium plus in body and elegant, with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, blackberries, black plums, cooked cherries, oak, licorice, light vanilla, herbs, tobacco, peppercorn, dark chocolates and light earth.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This Israeli Cabernet Sauvignon based blend is drinking beautifully now. Complex and engaging. Fruit forward and elegant. Soft and smooth.

Easy drinking and good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour of airtime.

This 6 year old is delicious right now, and drinking at its peak. Will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

I had it a 3 years ago, and decided to wait for another 3 years and let it mature. That was a good choice, as it is drinking so much better now.

A great sipping wine. Delicious stuff.

A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 20% Shiraz and 10% Petit Verdot. Grapes are grown in the Galilee region, and aged for 16 months in oak barrels. Kosher and Mevushal.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$100. — 8 months ago