Having worked at Israeli wineries I was sure that others would eventually acknowledge the high quality of up-and-coming Israeli wines.  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.  How cool is that! 

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. 

Among the many things I must do is to better acquaint myself with one of Israel's oldest wineries - Carmel.  Well guess what folks, quietly the Carmel people have made HUGE advances in the vineyards, winery & their resulting products.  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). the winery does produce several other wines that have been of particular interest of late. 

The last wine I want to bring up in this category comes from the Golan Heights Winery, famous for its Yarden wines. Hermon" wines, but the GH Winery has a 2nd label you should all familiarize yourselves with - GAMLA. Rogov gives the 2004 the best score of the bunch, but any will do the trick at $14 or so. category.

Well ladies and gentlemen, the results are in. will be copying a list of wines & their scores from Israeli Wine Critic Daniel Rogov's "Wine & Food Forum".  I am waiting for my physical copy of the issue to arrive before I comment specifically.  More comments later.  Without further ado, the scores.