The Savannah Morning News picked the Galil Mountain Chard as the “Wine of the Day” for January 30, 2008. Saying that it could fool anyone into thinking it’s a California Chardonnay in a blind tasting, I have to admit that I would be very interested in trying. Israeli wines definitely would make a useful blind tasting as they are so poorly viewed by those who think it’s Carmel Conord (and, sadly, these people still exist despite having NO basis in reality) but would be very good in blind tastings.
WINE & SPIRITS
Wine Guy’s Pick of the Week
While I haven’t actually done it, I’m fairly confident that if I put Galil Mountain’s 2005 Chardonnay from Israel in the middle of a blind tasting of California Chards, it would be difficult to pick out. The varietal character is correct and its oakiness gives it the typical butter and toast that one comes to expect in Chardonnays from warmer climate AVA’s.
The wine comes from the northern border in what is considered Israel’s best viticulture area. 100 percent Chardonnay, this is the real deal, and at a mid-teens price point, it is quite competitive.
While Kosher wine has often been the butt of jokes, this Kosher for Passover bottling will only have you laughing if you fool your wine-loving friends into thinking it’s a new world Chardonnay. It is a nice food wine and fills the bill for any typical Chardonnay or white Burgundy pairing.
