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. — a month ago

Adam Beasley

9.4

Complex, aromatic, and in a great spot at 14 years old. On the nose there are slightly bruised apples and pears, warm buttered bread, honey, vanilla, and a subtle maple syrup thing. An oxidative style (which I enjoy) with fine, delicate bubbles. According to one of my favorite retailers in town, this is one of ten bottles allocated to the Natural State. Here’s to putting 2021 in the rear view mirror. — 4 years ago

Brett Rogosin

9.0

Smells of ripe blue and blackberry, black pepper, fresh leather, sweet flowers. Very pretty. The tannin is fading, but holding on. Acidity rushes down the side and front of the tongue. The mouth feel is thick and fruit forward, but not over extracted in any way, with blue and blackberry to mirror the nose. The method of production using weight to crush the grapes really comes through with softer tannin and less extraction, yet still fruit forward and rose bud and leather finish. Just yum. — 5 years ago

John W

9.4

Ruby coloration. Translucent. In the nose, cherry, cherry cola, red berry, on the palate, a close mirror to the nose. Medium-Long finish. — 2 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.1

What a mirror like, transparent expression from the Pfalz. Off dry at 8%, just a lovely kiss of a wine. That said, a serious minerality operating in the background. Light bodied, long finish, & stunningly integrated at this age. Complex apple & raw fennel notes. — 4 years ago

Robert Stackowiak

9.3

Aging nicely with smooth Tannins. A powerful Cabernet. May 2021. — 5 years ago

ESF

9.3

See my previous note: feeling the heat & ton of cassis - otherwise mirror image — 3 years ago

Hilary McCown

9.5

Incredibly approachable for the style.
Interesting aromas of salted golden delicious apple, incense cedar, fresh herbs, baking spice.
Palate notes mirror aromas, with papaya, loads of minerals, barrel spice, and medium high acidity. — 4 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.7

Stunning right out the bottle! — 4 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.3

Murky, tawny and opaque. Old Bordeaux nose. Notes of dark fruit, hickory wood, some mocha and unsweetened dark chocolate, and some herbal thing. Silky in the mouth with tannins fully resolved. Fruit is absent in the overall impact. Medium finish. Drinks well, but its highest peak seems to be in the rear view mirror. — 5 years ago