The 2008 Shiraz “Kayoumi Vineyard,” from the foothills of Mt. Meron, also has 2% Viognier added in. It was aged for 15 months in French oak. It is back on track this year, showing quite beautifully with an underlying tinge of oak cut with fairly high acidity. I suspect the oak will finish integrating in a year or two. There is an underlying earthiness that is quite appropriate and charming. The mid-palate is beautiful, elegant but not thin. This is still a bit tight and closed, but at the moment, I’d say it is the best of its type I’ve had from Carmel, crisp, focused, complex and ageworthy. It is austere at this moment, more than a little tight. Make no mistake, despite the “Shiraz” name, this is much more French than Barossa. Drink now-2018. As with many of the wines in this report, note again that 2008 is a shmitta year. The wines are available in Israel. However, Carmel’s USA importer is a Kosher specialist and will not be importing them. Prices given are approximates as a result, just to give the reader an idea of what they generally sell for. Perhaps the sample size is too small to merit the opinion, but it seems to me that as time goes on Carmel is becoming more and more French-styled (yes, yes, I know the history of its French origins). The wines this year are often ringers for French wines and the style seems to give increasing attention to structure, acidity, complexity and elegance. They are nicely done.Importer: Royal Wine Corp, Bayonne, N.J.; tel: (718) 534-0118.