The Golan Heights winery's Yarden 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon came in at 91.  Having followed Israel wines for many years I knew this day would come.  Having worked at Israeli wineries I was sure that others would eventually acknowledge the high quality of up-and-coming Israeli wines.  How cool is that!  Happy Israeli wine tasting!

Made a trip back up to the Golan Heights today.  Making wines exclusively grown in the Golan Heights region on its volcanic soils (a result of two volvano eruptions - the most recent a short million years ago), GHW (Golan Heights Winery) grows 22 varietals and produces close to 30 wines. 

As for the reds, the single vineyard 2005 Kayoumi Cab showed black fruit, was round, approachable and very elegant, while the 2004 Kayoumi Shiraz was very upscale shiraz in style with a touch of black pepper, very fruit forward and a long finish.  YES, that Carmel, of the sweet, thick sacramental wine.  Neither stuck, but how cool is that?!

The 2003 is drinking great, the 2004 is delicious and the just released 2005 is gorgeous.  Yiron" , a favorite of mine for many years, whose 2004 vintage includes Cabernet, Merlot and a touch of Syrah (not technically a Bordeaux varietal). I'm sorry for the delay in writing this post.  I'm pressed for time (aren't we all) so here goes.

The last wine I want to bring up in this category comes from the Golan Heights Winery, famous for its Yarden wines. Rogov gives the 2004 the best score of the bunch, but any will do the trick at $14 or so. Definitely fruit forward, the PS/Zin can be found in the 2004 vintage and sells for between $16-$24 - yes, a wide range.