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Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon El Rom 2003

750ML

Sku: 052231

The aromatic and complex 2003 Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon El Rom Vineyard offers up a rich mélange of attributes. Fresh cherry and berry notes are layered with hints of cassis, earth, cocoa and hints of potpourri. Nuances of fresh herbs provide an organoleptic backdrop, completing the sensory picture. The wine combines elegance of body with good concentration and a lingering finish. The 2003 Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon El Rom Vineyard is enjoyable now. That said, based on past performance, the wine will continue to improve over the next five to eight years or so and stay in good drinking condition for 15 plus years from the vintage. We enjoy this wine along with festive occasions, with a good meal that might include the likes of prime rib, slowly roasted over wood coals, or Beef Wellington or saddle of spring lamb.

Rating

Wine Spectator 90 points (Sep 30 2008)
A crisp, minerally style, delivering luscious flavors of raspberry, blueberry and red plum. The lively finish features touches of mint and dark chocolate. Powerful. Kosher. Drink now through 2012. 1,027 cases made. –KM
Wine Advocate 88 points (Dec 2007)
Yarden’s upper level Bordeaux blends are impressive – although not just because the wine is good. They are pretty pricey. The 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon "El Rom Vineyard” (Yarden) is from a vineyard planted in 1983 and 1985. It was aged in French oak for 18 months. It is intense and burly on opening and a bit oak-dominated, but there is plenty of fruit here and a gripping finish as well. For all of its powerful opening, the mid-palate is elegant, and it has a finely crafted feel to it. It does not take long for the fruit to assert itself, and it is quite delectable, nuanced with cherries. I was not as happy with its evolution, however, and it did not entirely fulfill its promise after a couple of hours in the decanter. It held its flavor and drank fairly well, but it ultimately seemed foursquare and one dimensional. It cracked up by the next day despite refrigeration overnight. Everything is relative – it is still pretty good. I’m not sure its quality matches its price point, though, and its balance is suspect. There were 1,000 cases produced. Drink now-2012.

Wine maker notes

A cold and wet winter, with precipitation about one third higher than normal, preceded a cool March and April. After a warm May, moderate temperatures set in for the remainder of the 2003 season. Unusually stable temperature and weather patterns resulted in our longest ever vintage of 17 weeks. The optimum conditions and relaxed harvest pace allowed the harvesting of each vineyard block at its peak of ripeness and flavor. The 2003 Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon El Rom Vineyard was produced from three blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon within the vineyard. The ten acre area was planted between 1983 and 1985. The vineyard sits at 1.100 meters (3,600 feet) above sea level, resulting in quite a cool location. For this reason, getting the canopy very open to maximize sunlight exposure to the grape clusters is critical. If the fruit is even a little bit too shaded, aggressive herbaceous characters can dominate. The soil is relatively deep in this site, resulting in fairly vigorous growth, especially in years with late spring rains. The grapes were harvested in the upper block on October 19 and in the bottom two blocks on November 9. The wine aged for eighteen months in small French oak barrels, approximately 70% of them new.

Other text

The Galilee (or Galil) is the most northern, and generally considered the best, appellation in Israel. The highest quality area within the appellation is the Golan Heights (or simply the Golan), the coldest region in Israel. The vineyards on this volcanic plateau rise from 400 meters (1,300 feet) above sea level to 1,200 meters (3,900 feet) and receive snowfall in the winter. The Golan Heights Winery is located in the town of Katzrin, in the central Golan.

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Country: Israel
Region: Galilee
Grape Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Type: Still wine, Kosher

Reg. 193.00

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