Domaine du Castel Grand Vin Kosher 2021 750ml

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Winemaker Description

The Castel Grand Vin is a 90+ rated wine from the famed Judean Hills region in Israel. It is one of the most consistent high-end wines produced in Israel. The varieties used to create this wine are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc, harvested from the winery’s finest vineyard plots.

The wine matured in mostly new French oak barrels for approximately 16 months, and was then transferred to concrete tanks for approximately 4 months before bottling. Castel Grand Vin is a classic, elegant wine, bearing deep color and a concentrated and complex bouquet of blackberries, cherries, plum, and spice. This is a balanced wine, with a velvety smoothness, fine (yet tangible) tannins, and a long clean finish. The Castel Grand Vin can age for 10+ years when stored in proper conditions.

The story of Domaine du Castel dates back to the 1970s when Eli Ben Zaken migrated from Milan to Israel with his family. He bought a small piece of land close to Jerusalem and began to fulfil his dream of working the land by planting an orchard and keeping chickens. In 1988 Eli decided to plant the first modern-day vineyard in the Judean Hills and in 1995 he released the first 600 bottles of his Grand Vin matured in oak barrels which he had imported from France himself.

Elis Grand Vin quickly gained a cult following and a bottle was even sent to the head of the wine department at Sothebys auction house, Serena Sutcliffe, who heaped praise on the wine. Made in the classic Bordeaux style, the Grand Vin is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc grapes which are carefully selected from Elis top vineyards.

Following the vinification the young wine is aged in oak barrels for 16 months followed by a further four months of maturation in concrete tanks. The result is a remarkably complex red which boasts a full body, rich dark fruit flavours and a very long finish. Although approachable now, this is a wine which has excellent ageing capabilities and will continue to develop and evolve over the next decade or so.