Wine For Passover: From Israel's Carmel Winery

Wine from Israel isn't just for Jewish holy days, but since Passover is just around the corner, let's take a look at a kosher wine from the holy land.  Carmel Winery was founded in 1882 by Baron Edmond de Rothschild, who was the owner of Château Lafite in Bordeaux.   Carmel is now under the Royal Wine Company umbrella.  The winery covers a lot of land in Israel - more than 3,000 acres of vineyards in some of the country's prime growing regions: Carmel Mountains, Upper Galilee and Judean Hills.

Chief Winemaker Lior Lacser was in charge of the 2018 Appellation Cabernet Sauvignon - Shiraz, a 60/40 split of Cab and Shiraz grapes, respectively, from Upper Galilee.  It was aged 12 months in oak barrels, hits 14% abv in alcohol and retails for around $25.

Carmel Winery's 2018 Appellation Cab-Shiraz is a dark wine with a fragrant nose.  Blackberries, blackcurrants and plums stand right out front, with a nice layer of oak spice draped over them.  Notes of clove, cinnamon, coffee, chocolate and vanilla all appear in the aroma profile.  On the palate, it's a show of dark fruit and sweet oak.  The tannins are firm and ready to help with a brisket or roast chicken.  

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