Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/288975
april 2014 / the tasting panel / 67 The Festival: A Royal Treatment Here are just some of the global standouts from this year's show. FROM MONTSANT, SPAIN: CAPÇANES Capçanes has been making kosher wines in Spain's Montsant D.O. since the Jewish community in Barcelona first made the request in 1995. Since then, new equip- ment has been installed that allows the winemakers to identify, isolate and vinify small parcels of quality fruit, including old-vine Garnarcha. Limestone and schist soils create complex, round, fruity wines—and the pretty 2012 Peraj Petita, a blend of Garnacha, Tempranillo and Merlot, shows off the floral qualities for which this "petite flower" is named. Aged in barrel and tank and kept just a short time on the skins, the tannins are soft and the wine is juicy. Jasmine and Old World minerality make a wonderful combination in this value-quality $20 SRP red. Jürgen Wagner, winemaker for Spain's Capçanes Cellars. FROM GALILEE, ISRAEL: TABOR Growers first, Tabor Winery were already farming grapes in the early 20th century. Almost 100 years later, in 1999, the family started producing their own label, led by CEO Oren Sela, fourth generation of wine growers in the Galilee region of Israel. The Tabor Adama focuses on the terroir of fertile Galilee, with grapes grown on four unique soils in the foothills of Mt. Tabor through the guidance of superstar viticultur- ist/agronomist Mical Akerman. "We're the sixth largest producer in Israel," says Justin Kohn, Export Manager for Tabor. "We produce 2.3 million bottles a year." Experimental plantings by the Tabor team include the country's first-ever Roussanne and Tannat, according to Kohn. "There are so many sub-climates in Israel," he explains. "It's perfect for Mediterranean varieties." The 2010 Adama Cabernet Sauvignon, released last August, offers up chocolate cherry on the nose with a pure, sensuous bright-fruited, subtly spiced palate and silky tannins. The rich Terra Rossa soil of the Kedesh Valley is well-drained and abundant in vital minerals, contributing to this wine's earthy and textured full body. Justin Kohn is Export Manager for Tabor Winery. TP0414_034-71.indd 67 3/21/14 2:42 PM