Carmel Winery Limited Edition, Galilee, Israel

卡梅爾限量版干紅葡萄酒

點(diǎn)擊次數(shù)：9876

The 2007 LIMITED EDITION (there was no 2006) is the first made 100% from grapes grown in the Upper Galilee, an important step, I think, considering that this is supposed to be an upper tier wine, and wines with blended regions are generally not held in high regard (fairly or unfairly) in the grand scheme of things. This first iteration is a big enough success so that I can say that there is little or nothing to choose from qualitatively this year between this and the Yatir Forest, its Judean Hills top-of-the-line sibling, and their styles are fairly similar this year, too. The wine is a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, 5% Malbec, and 2% Cabernet Franc, aged for 15 months in a mixture of new and old French oak. Simply sensual, this softly textured, remarkably graceful wine shows impeccable balance and the structure to age awhile. A lot of earthiness and a touch of funk pops up here and there, which gave it a little character as far as I was concerned. Here (unlike with some other wines) it is reasonably restrained rather than overly dominant and I rather liked how it showed. It brooded a lot initially, but this Limited Edition also demonstrated that it should resolve into something sunnier and friendlier with time. While needing to integrate its oak a little better, it shows clear evidence of the ability to do so. I suspect that not everyone will appreciate this wine’s earthiness, but those who do will rightly adore it. Give this a couple of years in the cellar; it has to grow into its potential and the aromatics may improve, but it is potentially a beauty and it has some upside potential as well. There were 13,344 bottles produced. Drink now-2020. Although these wines are imported by Royal, probably the best known Kosher Wine importer in the USA, I am advised by the winery that not all of them may be immediately placed in our marketplace. With both the Carmels and to a lesser extent the Yatirs (a boutique owned by Carmel), I seemed to smell a lot of funky notes this year, perhaps attributable to different issues, perhaps including some reductive issues, which might improve with time. It will be interesting to see where these wines go.Importer: Royal Wine Corp, Bayonne, N.J.; tel: (718) 534-0118.