Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Yarden – Chardonnay – 2023
Galilee – Golan Heights Winery, Israel 🇮🇱

Overview
A dry, terroir-driven Chardonnay from the elevated vineyards of the Galilee and Golan Heights, where altitude and cooler temperatures preserve freshness and minerality. This is a restrained, modern expression, focused more on clarity and balance than overt oak influence, allowing site and fruit purity to take center stage.

Aromas & Flavors
Clean and expressive with notes of tropical fruit layered over subtle orchard tones. Pineapple and ripe mango lead, followed by baked pear, green sliced apple, and a light citrus peel accent. Mineral undertones add definition and keep the fruit in check.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a refreshing line through the palate. The texture is smooth yet energetic, finishing dry and clean with lingering fruit and mineral tension.

Food Pairings (Kosher-friendly)
Grilled or roasted fish, herb-roasted chicken, vegetable couscous, quinoa salads, or kosher cheeses such as aged gouda or manchego-style alternatives. Also excellent with Mediterranean mezze or simple olive-oil–driven dishes.

Verdict
A well-made, honest Chardonnay that delivers freshness, balance, and a clear sense of place. Not flashy or heavily oaked, but dependable and expressive, an easy recommendation for those who enjoy mineral-driven, food-friendly whites.

Did You Know?
Yarden sources fruit from some of Israel’s highest-elevation vineyards, where cooler nights help maintain acidity, key to the wine’s freshness and structure.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
I appreciate the purity here. Clean, mineral, and refreshing, with just enough fruit weight to stay engaging. A solid kosher, non-mevushal Chardonnay that respects both terroir and balance. — a day ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Inky in color with a reddish rim.

Fruity nose with black fruits, wood, earth, spices, tobacco, vegetables, coffee, herbs and chocolates.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, light oak, spices, chocolates, licorice, coffee, light vanilla, tobacco leaf, herbs, peppercorn, earth and black tea.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Israel. Rich and extracted. Fruit forward and elegant.

Complex and well structured with good balance. Feels like a very rich Left Bank Bordeaux.

I've had a few vintages of this wine, and it is very consistent.

This 4 year old Cabernet is still young but already Complex, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly, and bring out the complexity and structure, but good right out of the bottle too.

A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 3% Syrah and 2% Petite Sirah.

14% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$50. — 8 months ago

Roman Ochocki

9.0

Very good merlot. Low acidity, medium tannins. Very oaky with a sweet vanilla, dark fruits, but with a dark chocolate finish, maybe with a pepper. Still: one of my favorite labels. — 5 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Yarden – Pinot Noir – 2022
Galilee – Israel 🇮🇱

Overview
100% Pinot Noir sourced from the northern reaches of the Golan Heights, where high elevation, cool nights, and rocky volcanic soils create an ideal environment for this delicate, thin-skinned variety. Aged for over 16 months in French oak, this bottling delivers surprising depth and complexity. Kosher, and produced in a non-Mevushal style, allowing greater finesse and aromatic purity.

Aromas & Flavors
Lifted floral notes, red cherry, wild berries, rose petals, clove, and subtle baking spice. The volcanic influence adds a faint smoky-mineral edge that enhances its old-world charm.

Mouthfeel
Silky, medium-bodied, and beautifully balanced. Fresh acidity supports a layered palate with refined tannins and an elegant, persistent finish.

Food Pairings
Herb-roasted chicken, mushroom risotto, seared tuna, Mediterranean lamb skewers, or grilled vegetables with za’atar.

Verdict
A sophisticated and terroir-driven expression of Pinot Noir from one of Israel’s most compelling cool-climate zones. Remarkably elegant, with an old-world spirit shaped by a uniquely volcanic landscape. Cheers!

Did You Know?
The Golan Heights sits atop an extinct volcanic plateau. Its basalt-rich soils and high elevations mirror some of the world’s great cool-climate regions, making it one of Israel’s best sites for Burgundian varieties. — 24 days ago

makin mayu

9.7

Rich, condensed umami, like maple syrup. — 4 months ago

with Shoko, Masako and 1 other

Sagee Aran

9.0

Good value Riesling from the Golan heights. Yellow gold color, notes of apple, crisp, good acidity. A food wine.
We paired it with a Brocoli suace pasta — 4 years ago

"Odedi"

9.3

#KosherWineSunday

Inky in color with a short reddish rim.

Fruity nose of blue and black fruits with mediterranean spices, light cedar, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, light earth and black pepper.

Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruit forward on the palate with black currants, black plums, blackberries, cedar, vanilla, leather, spices, light earth, chocolates, coffee and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This 6 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Israel is drinking wonderfully now. Rich and elegant. Fruit forward and easy drinking. Nicely balanced and soft.

Good right out of the bottle and better after 2 hours of airtime.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.

Complex and engaging. Tangy and spicy.

Interesting, and good by itself as a sipping wine.

Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months. Kosher.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$50. — 2 months ago

ESF

9.0

have had great luck with Israeli wine, this was no exception: great varietal typicity, not overdone & manipulated, classic Old World style, great QPR — 3 months ago

John Tan

8.9

After Ninja board meeting — 4 years ago

Andy Hein

9.0

Vino Mas. Had with cheese and crackers. Went really good. Nice white blend. — 4 years ago