Second annual Israeli wine competition

[Andre]

The Israeli Wine competition “Eshkol Hazahav” [Golden Cluster] 2004.

The results for the second annual Israeli wine competition were published in a special dinner held in Tel-Aviv on the 1st of February. Unlike the first year, this time, large industrial wineries did not participate.

Participation was free, yet winning cost some 650 $ some wineries were not ready to pay.

Five wine professionals and around 10 winemakers judged this competition.

Following are the results:

Red wines:

Participating production 10,000 – 100,000 bottles a year:

Amphora, Chateau Golan, Flam, Saslov, Alexander, Castel [petit castel]

, Tsoraa, Soreq, Ben-Haim, Tavor - Meskha, Clos de Gat, HaMasek, Nahshon, Bazelet Hagolan.

Cabernet Sauvignon:

1st place: Flam Reserve 2001

2nd place: Reserve Saslov 2000.

3rd place: Chateau Golan.

Merlot:

1st Ilan, Tsora 2001.

2nd Chateau Golan 2001.

3rd Ben Haim 2001.

Blends:

1st Eliad, chateau Golan 2001.

2nd Ayalon Clos De Gat 2001.

3rd Alexander Yama restaurant editin 2001

Under 15$

1st Ca2bernet Aviv Saslov 2002

2nd Sea Lovers series Ben Haim 2002

3rd Sandro Alexander 2001.

Red Wines:

Participating production 2000-10,000 bottles a year:

Yaffo, Chillag, Zauberman, Ben-Shoushan, Rosenbaum, Tavor Wines, Esence, Givon, Anatot, La Terra Promessa, Meiron, Gustavo and Jo, Agour, assi, Platter, Neot Smadar, Avidan.

Cabernet Sauvignon:

1st Meiron 2000

2nd Givon 2002

3rd Yaffo 2002

Merlot

1st Zauberman 2001

2nd Sassi 2001

3rd Yaffo 2001

Blend:

1st Cabernet-Merlot Ben Shoushan 2001

2nd Cabernet Shiraz Platter 2001

3rd Notera Anatot 2001

Under 15 $

1st Yaffo red 2002

2nd Merlot Anatot 2001

3rd Cabernet Rosenbaum 2001

White wines:

Sauvignon Blanc:

1st Adama Tavor Meskha 2003

2nd Chateau Golan 2002

3rd Platter 2002

Chardonnay:

1st Clos de Gat 2002

2nd Reserve Salove 2002

3rd Yamma Alexander 2001

Dessert wines:

1st Muscat Ben-Haim 2003

2nd Gewruztraminer Reserve Saslove 2003-2003

3rd Muscat Caneli “Sun” Neot Smadar 2002

Port Style:

1st Marina Ben-Haim 2000

2nd Soreq 1998

3rd Port de Yaffo 2000

Comments:

I don’t think different vintages should have been allowed in some years. For example, in the Sauvignon Blanc category. Tabor M. sent a wine from a much better vintage – 2003 that will only be released in a month’s time.

In general, the tasting reflects the quality of the wines even though there were many faulty wines that allowed some fairly simple wines to earn a medal otherwise they would not have deserved.

An excellent start for Clos de Gat's first two wines! Rankings well deserved.

[Craig Camp]

Do the winners of this competition sell out or raise their prices like happens with the Wine Spectator top 100?

[Andre]

Wines are easier to sell but raising prices is too risky for any of this very young wineries. The wineries are between 2 and 10 years old in a fast developing wine market.

The recently published annual Wine Report ranked Flam as the Top Cab. as well and sales are expected to boom in the U.S.

The 2001 vintage is selleing out quickly also due to the fact that 2002 was a problematic year in Israel.

2003 seems great with vineyards yielding sometimes 40% less than 2002. The wines I have already tasted seem very promising with an excellent start for the Sauvignon Blanc, a grape veriety that may ride the wave for a nice comeback.