He is cheif winemaker for the Golan Heights winery in the Golan Heights. Tags: News and Merlot vintage arden Rom blend of Syrah cabernet franc Have you had Israeli wine before? few years back, several producers came to the US and I was overwhelmed by how delicious all the wines were.

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! 

I'm headed up North tomorrow to the Galil region which includes the highly regarded Galil & Golan Heights viticultural sections. While at a winery last week talking to a winemaker he had some visitors.  I was in Jerusalem for the last day and made my way upon the holiday's completion from Jerusalem to a winery near Sederot. 

A favorite Cabernet of mine is the Yarden Cabernet.  Both of these wines are lush and concentrated wines that provide a change from the usual Cabernet's. Staying with the theme of uncommon varietals is the Recanati Reserve Cabernet Franc.  Those are: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot & Malbec.

Amazingly enough the Galil Cabernet has gotten so good it even does well with a little age. 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.

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.