Freddy R. Troya

9.5

The Cave – Red Blend – 2020
Galilee, Israel 🇮🇱

Overview
A powerful Bordeaux-inspired blend composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, and 9% Petit Verdot, sourced from high-elevation vineyards in the Upper Galilee. Aged 24 months in French oak inside the historic Carmel Mountain cave, a naturally cool, humidity-stable cellar that shapes the wine’s depth and structure. Mevushal / Kosher for Passover.

Aromas & Flavors
Dark mulberries, black plum, and blackberry compote meet cedar, mahogany wood, espresso, and subtle graphite. The Petit Verdot adds an herbal-floral edge, giving the wine both muscle and nuance.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied with firm, assertive tannins and a deep, wood-toned intensity. Concentrated, layered, and long, with an oaky spine that lingers on the finish.

Food Pairings
Braised lamb shoulder, smoky short ribs, aged Gouda, slow-roasted brisket, or charred portobello mushrooms.

Verdict
One of Israel’s most characterful red blends — bold, structured, and cellar-worthy. The interplay of fruit density, mineral tension, and pronounced oak makes this a standout Mevushal wine for those who appreciate power and polish. Cheers!

Did You Know?
The Cave winery ages its wines in a 250-year-old man-carved cave in Carmel Mountain, originally quarried in the 18th century and repurposed in the 19th century as a brandy cellar. Its natural insulation provides ideal conditions for long élevage, giving these wines their signature depth and aging potential. — 3 hours ago

Ted Holland

9.4

Start to finish luxurious! Bouquet, color, and legs are amazing. Delicious with matured flavors of vanilla, apple, and a hint of pear! Finish is long and velvety. Enjoy!! — 4 months ago

Mark Mannebach

9.4

2014 vintage holding up extremely well. Smooth balanced from front to finish of red fruit and spice. — 9 months ago

Taylor Jukes

9.1

Almost dessert-like with a rich, sweet, pear and honey finish. — 13 hours ago

Vin d’Ottawa

9.0

Hazelnut & marzipan with light bubbles. — 22 days ago

with Gillian

K

9.3

Red berries, light-bodied, medium tannin.
Elegant Loire red — 7 months ago

Andrew Belzer

9.0

Floral, green apple, toasted biscuits. Cremant’s will almost always be better than any Champagne you’ll pick off the shelf and at a fraction of the price! — 7 months ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.3

Cool simple bottle and label. A screw-top with class. Color is golden straw. Aromas of lemons and honey. Hint of freshly scrubbed flagstone patios. Flavors are lemon water, honeydew melon and jasmine tea. This is like all the good things in non-buttery Chardonnay mixed with the minerality and zing of Sauv Blanc. It’s fuller, denser and more elegant than most CA Chenin Blanc I’ve had. It’s also a white that seems to age nicely. If I could find it somewhere around here, it would join the short list for go to whites. — 25 days ago

Vin d’Ottawa

9.2

I have FINALLY tried wine from the rare Humange Rouge grape, grown deep in the Swiss Alps, and it did not disappoint.

Black cherry and Cranberry to start before settling into a herbal and lightly mineral finish. The way it twists from one into the other is beautiful. — 2 months ago

with Gillian

Brad Jensen

9.2

Soft, creamy, not overly acidic but nicely balanced this is a great value! Nose of green citrus rind, maybe some orange or kalamunsi, sea air and slight hints of fresh cut grass on a pale yellow/green color. Light to medium bodied, with tiny bubbles, and slightly creamy palate that shines mostly of Chenin, with a dry palate but not stark, with notes of cooked leeks with butter, sumo orange and wet stone like minerality. — 7 months ago