June’s Superstar Wine of the Month

Yarden Mount Hermon 2009

…And the best wine producer…comes from Israel!

I don’t expect you thought you’d hear that in 2012!  But this was declared at the 19th International Vinitaly 2011 Wine Competition, as Golan Heights Winery earned the 2011 Gran Vinitaly Special Award for the World’s Best wine Producer.

Golan Heights Winery is a relatively young cellar founded in 1983 in Israel, and markets its wines under the renowned Yarden, Gamia and Golan brands.  The two winning wines leading to this Italian accolade are the 2009 Yarden Chardonnay Odem Organic Vineyard and the 2008 Yarden Heights Wine.

Now, I can’t claim to have a cellar full of these winners, but I did try the Yarden Mount Hermon Red, a Kosher wine from the cool Yarden region in Israel and I can certainly recommend that!

Featuring an ancient Israeli, Aladdin-style oil lamp, nothing much happened when I rubbed the bottle, but when I tasted the contents I was most pleasantly surprised.  Lovely, aromatic raspberry and cherry flavours lie beautifully alongside herby, tarragon notes, along with a hint of black pepper.  Grapes are Bordeaux varieties, with a little malbec thown in;  giving a medium body with a generous, long finish.

Enjoy with a wide variety of foods, from tapas and pizza to barbequed meats.

Price approximately £ 12.00 -13.00 per bottle

Available on line at:

www.simplywinesdirect.com