Joel Lara

9.2

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. — 5 days ago

Miles Perry

9.3

An excellent Pinot Noir. Balanced, slightly tart cherry flavor with a floral bouquet. Love it. — 4 months ago

Scott E. Becker

9.3

[Tasted on February 1, 2026 at Tom and Kathy’s house with Tom and Kathy]

Cherry and strawberry fruit, with black tea, spice and rose petals. — 5 months ago

Ron from VA

9.2

Fabulous character! The best of Virginia’s Piedmont foothills on display — 9 months ago

Miles Perry

9.2

A good Pinot Noir. Well balanced with a slightly tart finish. — 9 months 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

David Shaw

8.9

Revisiting vintage, last bottle, Oregon-based winemaker, wine from his “offseason” making wines in New Zealand — 6 years ago

KA

9.6

Barry’s Prime Las Vegas — 6 days ago

Sagee Aran

9.3

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

Robert Torretti

9.1

Nice, cool-climate California Pinot Noir. Good red and dark fruits on the palate. I served it a bit too cold, but as it warmed up, the earthiness that this wine is known for came through. I don’t love California Pinot, but Rhys almost always impresses me. — 5 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Yarden – Chardonnay – 2023
Galilee – Golan Heights Winery, Israel 🇮🇱

Overview
A dry, terroir-driven Chardonnay from the elevated vineyards of the Galilee and Golan Heights, where altitude and cooler temperatures preserve freshness and minerality. This is a restrained, modern expression, focused more on clarity and balance than overt oak influence, allowing site and fruit purity to take center stage.

Aromas & Flavors
Clean and expressive with notes of tropical fruit layered over subtle orchard tones. Pineapple and ripe mango lead, followed by baked pear, green sliced apple, and a light citrus peel accent. Mineral undertones add definition and keep the fruit in check.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a refreshing line through the palate. The texture is smooth yet energetic, finishing dry and clean with lingering fruit and mineral tension.

Food Pairings (Kosher-friendly)
Grilled or roasted fish, herb-roasted chicken, vegetable couscous, quinoa salads, or kosher cheeses such as aged gouda or manchego-style alternatives. Also excellent with Mediterranean mezze or simple olive-oil–driven dishes.

Verdict
A well-made, honest Chardonnay that delivers freshness, balance, and a clear sense of place. Not flashy or heavily oaked, but dependable and expressive, an easy recommendation for those who enjoy mineral-driven, food-friendly whites.

Did You Know?
Yarden sources fruit from some of Israel’s highest-elevation vineyards, where cooler nights help maintain acidity, key to the wine’s freshness and structure.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
I appreciate the purity here. Clean, mineral, and refreshing, with just enough fruit weight to stay engaging. A solid kosher, non-mevushal Chardonnay that respects both terroir and balance. — 7 months ago

Matthew Cohen

9.3

Nose: hint oak. Airy. Hint sea breeze. Lovely. White flowers.

Palate: lovely sweet oak. Sweet wood. Rich. Not over the top. — 2 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Been awhile since I pulled out an Insigna.

The 03 Pichon Lalande is the better wine and steak pairing. However, Napa Cabernet is the choice to finish steak and enjoy on its own after. You never want to do Napa before Bordeaux IMHO. It’s much harder to adjust from sweeter to something more earthy.

Enjoyed the 05 as my score reflects. I don’t remember it being as sweet as it was in previous tastings. Still quite good. It just tipped my sweet scale a little too much.

The body is, rich, lush & round. It’s achieved good evolution after 13 years in bottle and will continue to improve over the next 6-8 years and last another 15 years. As I mentioned, the fruit was ripe & sweet. Blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, plums, hints of blueberries and strawberries haunting the backend. Rich, dark earth, Rutherford dusty tannins and dry soils, purple cola, touch of fresh tobacco & graphite, light baking spices of; cinnamon, dash of clove, nutmeg and vanillin, anise to black licorice, saddle-wood, used leather, dry stems, some dry, crushed rocks/limestone with red, dark, purple and blue florals. The acidity round and nicely executed. The finish was similar wire to wire. It’s, lush, rich, elegant, touch too sweet, polished, well balanced & knitted with a soft, persistent, dark spice on the long set. Very enjoyable second bottle.

Photos of; Joseph Phelps Winery & sloping estate vines, inside lounge are with views of the back side, tasting terrace and front lobby/salon area upon entering past check in. — 6 years ago

with Christina and James

Miles Perry

9.0

Another good Bethel Heights Pinot Noir. Great floral notes and a clean finish. — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2022 vintage. Medium/medium heavy body/ Good push and concentration without specificity. Excellent, large party, Pinot upgrade. 4.15.26. — 3 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 — 5 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. — 7 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2022 vintage. 02.12.25. — a year ago

Andrew

8.9

Crisp, apples — 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. — 7 years ago