“Complex and deep with plenty of fruity aromas including: ripe cherries, currants and young plums as well as notes of oak and vanilla. Full bodied and rich, the wine offers a long and pleasant finish.” Yonatan Sternberg greets His Majesty, the Cabernet Sauvignon…
The Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely one my favorite grape varieties. This noble grape variety, often referred to as the “King of Red Grapes” is capable of producing great wines and is usually used in the classic Bordeaux style blends along with Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes. For many years the Cabernet Sauvignon was thought to be an ancient variety, however recent studies at U.C Davis in California have determined that the Cabernet Sauvignon is actually the crossbreed offspring of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc. The grape’s high tannin content insures that Cabernet wines will keep and often benefit from cellaring.
Recently I had the privilege to attend a professional wine tasting of various cabernet wines produced by the Golan Heights winery. We sampled four wines which represent the different series as well as four vintage years. These included the; Golan, 2006, Gamla, 2005, Yarden, 2004 and the single vineyard Cabernet, El Rom 2003.
Tasting Notes :
Yarden, Cabernet Sauvignon, El Rom Vineyard, 2003
This full bodied red is showing lovely aromas of black fruits particularly currants and cherries followed by hints of herbs, pepper and thyme. The wine offers rich and complex flavors all leading to a long finish.
In my opinion the El Rom 2003 would probably benefit from further cellaring and has not yet reached its peak.
Yarden, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004
Complex and deep with plenty of fruity aromas including: ripe cherries, currants and young plums as well as notes of oak and vanilla. Full bodied and rich, the wine offers a long and pleasant finish.
Gamla, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005
Dark ruby with shades of purple, this Cab gives off lovely aromas of red and black fruits with touches of spices and wood.
Although the wine is ready for drinking, the winery suggests that this red will keep 6-8 years from the harvest.
Food Pairing:
Different Cabernet wines can be paired with different foods; on a general note the wines above should go well with elegant red meat dishes, potent cheeses and quality dark chocolate.
Tip of The Week: “wine tasting – Aromas and Scents”
In order to detect the wine’s aromas, swirl the wine in the glass. As the wine aerates, it releases its bouquet and reveals the various scents offered by the wine.
