- Silverstone's previous recommendations

Golan Cabernet Sauvignon 1998

May 2001

There is something quite extraordinary about wine making. It inspires a passion which transcends the most remarkable obstacles, so the craftsman can achieve his dreams.

While chaos and pain hang heavy on the daily lives of people throughout the Middle East, in the small town of Katzrin, high on the Golan Heights in Israel, each day some magic is performed. The Golan Heights Winery, produces its glorious nectar from vineyards on the Golan Heights and in the Upper Galilee. The 300,000 cases of wine produced for the winery's Yarden, Gamla and Golan labels are astounding, given the sheer infancy of the business. The winery is owned by 4

Kibbutzes (collective farms) and 4 Moshavs (co-op farms), and the winemaker, Victor Schoenfeld, is a graduate of the University of California at Davis. Drainage from the volcanic soil and a relatively cool climate proved conducive to the vines planted in 1976. Rather than sell the grapes to large co-operatives the decision was made to build a winery in 1983. Thanks to state of the art winemaking facilities the results are of biblical proportions! This oak aged Cabernet, is soft, still relatively young, tannic and full of familiar, typical Cabernet fruit. A definite player on the wine world's stage.

Cheers!

Region Katzrin, Golan Heights,Northeast Israel

Climate Dry summers, snow in winters, cool breezes from Mount Hermon

Price (approx US) $13.99

Technical Pneumatic membrane presses; maturation in French and American oak barrels.

Food match Lamb, Steak, Pasta. Cheese: Bel Paese, Cheddar, Goat (Chevre), Monterey Jack

Best of the Red Bunch

- Silverstone's previous recommendations