Golan Heights Winery Yarden Viognier, Galilee, Israel

點(diǎn)擊次數(shù)：5300

Decadent notes of buttered brioche and baked apple add depth to the orange oil and floral bouquet of this wine. The mouthfeel is round but balanced, and ripe notes of peach and melon unfold on the palate. A tasty ginger and clove spice develops on the finish.——L.B.(4/1/2012)—— 88

The 2006 VIOGNIER YARDEN was aged 1/3rd in stainless steel and the rest in new French oak. It is sourced from Odem Vineyard, 4000 feet above sea level. The wine is relatively full bodied for a Viognier—no ethereal, light white here. It is also rather aromatic and that may be its best feature. This has some merits, including its ability to project plenty of flavor, but much of it is from oak and the alcohol (15%) is noticeable on occasion. Drink now-2010. Golan Heights is Israel’s semi-mythical winery, the one that pretty much kicked off the quality revolution that people are now talking about. Its best wines are among Israel’s best, although the wide range of products and lack of focus can make it somewhat unpredictable. These are all Kosher (not Mevushal).Importer: Yarden, Inc., New York, N.Y.; tel: (212) 997-9463

The 2005 Viognier (Yarden) was raised two-thirds in French oak and one-third in stainless steel. It is a rather rich, full bodied and fruity Viognier, with little delicacy, but lots of flavor. The oak shows a bit too much, and there is a vanilla overlay that marks the wine. Drink now-2009.Golan Heights is on most short lists for the title “Best Winery in Israel.” It is one of Israel’s larger wineries, with about 20% of the local market share. Some of its vineyards were first planted in 1976, and its 1983 founding was a landmark and turning point in Israel’s development into a country that produces wines that can compete in the world marketplace. It is not one of the trendy boutiques, obviously, but the quality level is very high, and few have as much prestige. Golan Heights is perhaps best known for its flagship subsidiary “Yarden” with the familiar ancient oil lamp design on the label. (Yarden is Hebrew for Jordan, as in the Jordan River.) The upper level wines can be pricey for what they are. These wines are Kosher.Importer: Yarden, Inc., New York, N.Y.; tel. (212) 997-9463