Château Golan Royal Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

9.0

Time for my Friday's Cabernet fix. This time it's a great Israeli Cabernet.

Deep ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Sweet nose of cherries, blueberries, wood, earth, vanilla, molasses, red candy, spices, coffee, chocolates, tobacco and black pepper.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cherries, chocolates, smoke, licorice, oak, vanilla, pot pourri, herbs, spices and peppercorn.

Long finish with medium tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a great Israeli Cabernet. Well balanced with nice complexity. Drinking nicely now, although still very young. Needs 7 to 10 years to mature.

Delightful and enjoyable by itself or with food like a big piece of steak. I paired it with a cheese plate and crackers.

Grapes are grown at 1200 feet elevation and hand picked. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Syrah and 1% Petit Verdot. Aged in French and American oak barrels for 12 months.

14% alcohol by volume.

$40.

Feb 9th, 2018

"Odedi"

9.3

It's Friday, and it is time for my Friday's Cabernet fix. This week it's a fabulous Israeli Cab.

Dark ruby in color with a brick rim.

Great fruity nose with black currants, blackberries, figs, smoke, licorice, oak, vanilla, sweet cherries, earth, wild flowers, graphite and black pepper.

Full bodied and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and spicy on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet raspberries, cherries, dried figs, tobacco, spices, wood, licorice, peppercorn, earth, dark chocolates and espresso.

Long finish with round tannins, tangy cranberries and spices.

This is a great Cabernet from Israel. Well balanced with great complexity. Smooth and elegant already, and will get better with more time in the bottle. Showing a great mouthfeel, a spicy finish, and it still has enough acidity to make it interesting.

Needs 90 minutes to open up properly and show some tannins and complexity.

14.5% alcohol by volume.