Israel
Israel was one of the big stories from last year’s Sommelier Wine Awards, going from pretty much nowhere to 17 medals, so we weren’t too surprised that it couldn’t sustain that level of performance in 2020. And overall this was still a pretty good effort.
Stylistically, most of these wines were in the bigger, oakier spectrum. The sun-filled climate probably plays a role in that, but Israeli winemakers are not, for the most part, playing down the ripeness. These seem to be designed to taste expensive – presumably for an audience that likes that Parker-inflected style.
So if you are looking for a range of sleek, kosher wines for your list, there’s a good selection on offer here.
From The Tasting Teams
‘I liked a lot of the Israeli whites but it comes down to the price point. If some of these were £2 cheaper, I’d go for them because they are great wines.’ Carolina W Seibel, Comptoir Cafe and Wine
‘Surprisingly good wines here, with consistent winemaking. The fruit [in some of the reds] was overripe, so there was some sweetness, but it was balanced with freshness and oak. Not cheap but the quality was stunning – rich, with great tannins.’ Andre Luis Martins, team leader
‘We saw several different styles in the whites, from oaky to clean, dry and crisp. There is real quality here, but you need to know where to put them on a list.’ Rémi Cousin, Le Gavroche
‘If you’re focused on unusual wines, Israel and Turkey are great places to try. The good ones are from higher altitudes, and are quite comparable to many French wines. Israel has a more international style compared to Turkey, but it’s interesting to see how things are developing.’ Markus Dilger, Dilger Sommelier Selection
‘Wines from Israel, Lebanon and Turkey are still a hand-sell. It’s a niche market.’ Andre Luis Martins, team leader