The following is a guest post from wines-israel and reprinted with permission
Many Israeli wineries win awards, many win gold medals. There are even wineries which ‘collect’ awards, sending wines to any competition where medals are generously given. This is because to the general consumer, a gold medal looks the same whether it is a competition in Panama or London. However the weight & value of the gold medal can be vastly different according to the credentials of the competition.
Most independent analysts would agree that one of the most important and transparent competitions, and with the most professional judges, is the Decanter World Wide Awards, organized by Decanter Magazine. Carmel Winery’s recent triumph in being awarded The International Trophy in the Decanter World Wide Awards 2010, was arguably the best award ever given for an Israeli wine to date. It was described by Decanter Magazine as: “A sensational achievement. By triumphing over more noted giants around the world, this cracking wine has turned in one of the performances at this year’s – and indeed any other – DWWA.”
Decanter is regarded as the number one competition in England as far as quality is concerned. The IWSC (International Wines & Spirits Competition) is older and more established and the IWC (International Wine Challenge) is larger. However all three have very stringent controls. Vin Italy is in the same category of quality, but the London competitions attract a more international attendance than the Italian competition. The main French competitions (Challenge International du Vin, Les Citadelles du Vin, Vinalies) are better than many, but offer too many awards to be at the standard of the others.
In the finest competitions, winning a Trophy really means something. Only one Trophy is awarded per category and it is considered above a Gold Medal. Only a select few Israeli wines have won Trophies in the most important wine competitions. These wines really earn a place in the ‘Israeli Wine Hall of Fame’. The few wines that have contributed most to advance the image of Israel as a quality wine producer, by the awards they have won or recognition they have received, are as follows:
SPARKLING WINE
Yarden Blanc de Blancs has been a successful award winner. The non vintage version won the Trophy for the Best Bottle Fermented Sparkling Wine at the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) in 1996, and then repeated this achievement in 2003 with the 1997 vintage. The Yarden Blanc de Blancs 1999 won a Grand Gold medal at Vin Italy in 2007. Israel’s finest traditional method sparkling wine, has succeeded at the highest level of international competition.
WHITE WINES
Israel has won gold medals for white wines, but no Trophies to compare with the other categories. Israel’s most successful white wine is ‘C’ Blanc du Castel. The 2003 was the first Israeli wine to receive more than 90 points in the Wine Spectator and the 2005 received 91 points from Robert Parker – the highest score yet received for an Israeli dry white wine. The 2007 and 2008 both received 90 points from Robert Parker, confirming this Chardonnay as Israel’s most successful white wine.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon has been winning awards at the very highest level for twenty three years. The 1984 vintage was the breakthrough wine, winning the Winiarski Trophy at the IWSC in London in 1987.
The 1985 was the first Israeli wine to win the Grand Prix d’Honneur Trophy at Vinexpo in 1988. The winning habit continued through the nineties until today. The 2000 and 2005 won the Grand Gold Medal at Vin Italy in 2004 and 2009 respectively. The 2004 was the first Israeli wine ever included in the Wine Spectator Annual Top 100 Wines. Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon has been Israel’s most consistent major award winner over the years.
MEDITERRANEAN VARIETALS/ BLENDS
Carmel’s Kayoumi Single Vineyard Shiraz 2006 won the Decanter International Trophy in 2010, as the best ‘Red Rhone Varietal, over GBP10 a bottle.’ In this category were Australian Shiraz, French Syrah and Chateauneuf du Pape. This is the finest award ever received for an Israeli Mediterranean variety and it may even be considered the best competition result ever for an Israeli wine. There were 10,983 wines in the competition from 41 countries. This Trophy is a wonderful award for Carmel in the year of its 120th harvest, and a great honor for Israeli wine.
BORDEAUX STYLE BLENDS
Yatir Forest, produced by Yatir Winery at Tel Arad, received the highest score yet given to an Israeli wine by the world’s most famous critic. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate awarded Yatir Forest 2003 93 points. Also, the 2004, 2005 and 2006, all received 90 points or more. Kim Marcus of the Wine Spectator gave 92 points to Yatir Forest 2005. This equaled the highest score given to an Israeli wine by this magazine. Tom Stevenson, author of Sotheby’s Wine Encyclopedia, wrote that Yatir Forest 2004 was: “Quite simply the classiest Israeli wine I have ever tasted.” The wine was awarded two stars in Oz Clarke’s Pocket Wine Book 2010 and 2011.
The success and consistency of Castel Grand Vin also reflects great credit on Israeli wine. The 1992 was then described by Serena Sutcliffe MW, as the finest Israeli wine she had tasted. The 1997 was the first Israeli wine to be Decanter Wine of The Month. The Grand Vin 2004 received 92 points from Robert Parker, the 2007 91 points and the 2003 and 2006 both received 90 points. Gary Vaynerchuk (Wine Library) gave the 2004 93 points, the highest score he has given for an Israeli wine. Castel Grand Vin received two stars in Oz Clarke’s Pocket Wine Book and the winery received the maximum four stars in Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book.
Both Yatir Forest and Castel Grand Vin are the Israeli Bordeaux style blends to have received the best third party recommendations from the world’s most famous critics.
DESSERT WINES
Yarden HeightsWine has been awarded international recognition in a number of competitions. This dessert wine has won gold medals at the Challenge International du Vin and Citadelles du Vin in Bordeaux, and also at both the IWSC and IWC in London. The winning vintages have been 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007. Furthermore, the 1995 HeightsWine received 93 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. This is Israel’s most awarded dessert wine.
BRANDY
Two Israeli brandies deserve a mention because, even though they are not wines, the prize they won was outstanding. Both received exactly the same award, so it is impossible to decide on just one of them. Jonathan Tishbi Brandy, 3 year old, won the Trophy for Best Brandy Worldwide at the IWSC in London in 1996. Carmel 100 Brandy, 9 year old, won the same Trophy in 1998. Both were massive awards and the special achievement, never received the true credit due.
These are the wines (and brandies) that have made history and by their success, propelled the acceptance of Israel forward as a quality wine producing country.
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Adam Montefiore and Lior Lacser of Carmel Winery receiving the International and Regional Trophies from Stephen Spurrier of Decanter. |
