Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/26650
Galil Mountain Winery 2009 Viognier, Galilee, Israel ($18) Creamy and fresh with lovely aromatics and notes of apricot and soft oak; generous, minerally and balanced with intrigu- ing flavors. 90 YARDEN, INC. YARDEN, INC. Rota 2008 Yael, Negev, Israel ($23) A smooth, lush Bordeaux-style blend (50-50 Merlot-Cabernet) with earth, spice and ripe fruit; fleshy and stylish. 88 EXOTIC IMPORTS, LLC Golan Heights Winery 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Galilee, Israel ($15) Ripe with dense blackberry and chocolate; rich, jammy and showing vanilla oak and considerable power. 89 YARDEN, INC. B. R. Cohn 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Trestle Glen Estate, Sonoma Valley ($28) Smooth and elegant with plum and spice; balanced and softly herbal with subtle oak and a long, fresh finish. Sustainable. 89 Herzog 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Special Reserve, Alexander Valley ($38) Smooth and juicy with bright plum, cherry and notes of licorice; balanced, fresh and supple with good structure and length. 90 ROYAL WINE CORP. Herzog 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Clone # 6 Edition, Chalk Hill ($140) Supple and smooth with lush vanilla, plum, black- berry and soft spice; complex and elegant; silky, harmonious and long. 93 ROYAL WINE CORP. Recanati 2006 Special Reserve, Galilee, Israel ($48) Dark and smooth with concentrated plum and cassis; rich, thick and ripe; spicy, dense and balanced; 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot. 90 PALM BAY INTERNATIONAL Galil Mountain Winery 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Galilee, Israel ($15) Smooth and bright with lovely crisp plum and black raspberry fruit; juicy, long and supple with soft herbal complexity; tangy and charming. 89 YARDEN, INC. Fortant 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Vin de Pays d’Oc, France ($13) Smooth and fresh with bright plum fruit and lively acidity; clean, juicy and quite decent. 87 ST. SUPÉRY Carmel Winery 2007 Carignan, Old Vines, Zichron Ya’acov, Israel ($30) Velvety and ripe with smooth, lush black rasp- berry fruit; tangy and juicy with good acid structure and lively spice; quite charming. 91 ROYAL WINE CORP. Terra di Seta 2008 Chianti Classico, Italy ($20) Lean and juicy with lots of racy acidity; clean, tangy and nervy; fresh and balanced; long and zesty. 89 ROYAL WINE CORP. Capçanes 2008 Flor de Primavera Peraj Ha’abib, Montsant, Spain ($60) Velvety smooth with ripe blackberry and blueberry fruit; lush and dense with lovely balance and spice; rich, precise and expressive; long and charming. 92 ROYAL WINE CORP. Binyamina 2007 Zinfandel, Binyamina Reserve, Lower Galilee, Israel ($28) Dark, dense with concentrated black- berry and cassis; rich and meaty with spice and chocolate; long and intense. 89 ROYAL WINE CORP. Baron Herzog 2008 Zinfandel, Lodi ($13) Fleshy and ripe with bright berry fruit and some green notes; clean and balanced. 87 ROYAL WINE CORP. Shiloh 2007 Petite Syrah, Secret Reserve, Judean Hills, Israel ($32) Dark and dense with ripe plum and blackberry fruit; rich, earthy and supple with good balance; long and intense finish. 89 ROYAL WINE CORP. Barkan 2009 Classic Merlot-Argaman, Dan, Israel ($13) A fresh and pleasant wine made with a combination of Merlot and an Israeli-created hybrid called Argaman; silky smooth and juicy with plenty of charm and bright fruit flavors. 89 ROYAL WINE CORP. march 201 1 / the tasting panel / 95