The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon in fact has 11% Shiraz included and the blend, from the Judean Hills with an elevation up to 2,700 feet, was aged for 12 months in French oak. This is fresh and quite delicious, handling its oak beautifully. It is very bright and has just an interesting underlying tinge of something earthier underneath. It is on the lighter side early on, not showing a lot of concentration and seeming a little too laid back for a wine in its price category. In the short run, its charm and gracefulness made up for its compact nature, but I was pleased to see it develop a bit in the glass after 45 minutes or so, expanding at least a little and becoming considerably more intense and focused. This has a lot of good things going on. Drink now-2019. Yatir, Carmel’s prestigious boutique in the Judean Hills, does have an importer, but note that these 2008s will not be sold as they are from a shmitta year and its importer is a Kosher specialist.Importer: Royal Wine Corp, Bayonne, N.J.; tel: (718) 534-0118.

The 2007 CABERNET SAUVIGNON was aged for 12 months in French oak. Quite charming and gracefully constructed, it is juicy on the end, yet quite elegant in the mid-palate. Aeration brings out a little complexity, including hints of game that may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but that I thought added some character. A pleasure to drink, this should age gracefully for its useful life. There were 21,000 bottles produced. Drink now-2017. Yatir, one of Israel’s best know boutiques, does have an importer, but not all of these may make it into the USA marketplace. In particular, I’m advised by the winery that the Shiraz will not be sold in the USA.Importer: Royal Wine Corp, Bayonne, N.J.; tel: (718) 534-0118.

The 2006 CABERNET SAUVIGNON is in fact a blend, with 15% Petit Verdot added in, aged for 12 months in mostly French oak. This is only the second vintage of this wine. In terms of structure and depth, it is a step up on the 2005, but it is also rather funky with some herbaceousness as well. I warmed up to this a bit and at least some of the funkiness blew off with a couple of hours of aeration, a good sign that may make it more promising in the future after it has some rest and cellaring. Drink now-2015. Yatir is Carmel’s boutique winery in the Judean Hills, producing about 110,000 bottles as of this writing. Although Carmel also uses some grapes from these vineyards, the winery advises that Yatir’s winemaker gets first choice, selecting the best grapes for the top of the line Yatir Forest, the next best for the regular Yatir wines, and the remainder or excess going to Carmel. It will be interesting to see how this winery progresses in the future. At one point, I thought they were headed in the “big and bold” direction. Recent efforts show a more elegant style.Importer: Royal Wine Corp, Bayonne, N.J.; tel: (718) 534-0118.

The 2005 CABERNET SAUVIGNON is in fact a blend, with 15% Shiraz added in aged for 12 months in French oak. This is the winery’s debut release of a Cabernet Sauvignon. This is pleasant and tasty, with ripe tannins gripping on the finish. It is a bit light in the mid-palate. I liked the balance in the ’05 blends from Yatir reviewed this issue better. Drink now-2014. Yatir is Carmel’s boutique winery in the Judean Hills, not far from the Negev desert. It is interesting terroir, to say the least. Yatir is under the helm of winemaker Eran Goldwasser, a graduate of Adelaide University.Importer: Royal Wine Corp, Bayonne, N.J.; tel: (718) 534-0118.