Vineyard: Yarden
Wine: Mount Hermon, 2000
Type: Dry Red

This is a perfect and lovely red table wine. Over the years Yarden has gotten better at making good and yet less expensive wines. This wine, the Mt. Hermon 2000 red and its counterpart, the Mt. Hermon 2000 white, are proof. The wine industry has to realize that it is unnecessary to only produce expensive wines.

This Mt. Hermon dry, red, wine is a blend of cabernet, merlot, cabernet frank and sangiovese grapes. This is the first time, to my knowledge, that sangiovese grapes were blended into this wine, or, for that matter any Israeli wine. The sangiovese is the primary grape in chianti wines and adds tremendous character. Last year's wine had only three types of grapes, this year's is a vast improvement resulting in a more complex and mellow wine.

The wine is inexpensive and perfect for tasting at any meal. It need not breath, and, despite what we are always told about not chilling red wines, this dry, red, Mt. Hermon 2000 will actually benefit from being placed in the fridge for 15 minutes before opening and serving.

NOTE: Finally, some Israeli vintners have realized the need for inexpensive, fine tasting wines. Wines that one can open on any occasion, not just special occasions, and wines that are good enough and affordable enough to be opened even at those special occasions. One should be able to enjoy a reasonably priced wine and spend no more than 30-45 NIS ($8-$12). This Yarden, Mt. Hermon 2000 wine fits the bill.

Rated: 8+++
Price: Low to Moderate
Size: 750 ml
Price per bottle: NIS 35 at Mendel, 218 Ben-Yehuda St., Tel-Aviv. 03-6044672
Case: 12 bottles.