Achziv Winery: Mostly Re-Tastings
 30.05.2009 
By: Daniel Rogov

Founded in 2005 by the Guberman family, with Mark Guberman as the winemaker, and located on Kibbutz Gesher Haziv, not far from the city of Nahariya in the Western Galilee, the Achziv winery produces red wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot grapes. Current production is about 2,000 bottles annually. The wines were tasted in my own tasting room.

Best
Rogov

Achziv, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007: Blended with 10% Merlot, oak-aged for 12 months and unfiltered. Dark garnet, with firm tannins settling in nicely but now showing far too much almost puckering acidity that throws the wine out of balance and tends to hide the berry and chocolate flavors that do not fully succeed in making themselves felt. Drink now. Score 82. (Tasted 29 May 2009) N.B. Perhaps an off-bottle. Scheduling a re-tasting.

Achziv, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006: Blended with 15% Merlot, full-bodied, firmly tannic and reflecting its 12 months in French oak with a light smoky overlay. Opens to reveal traditional black currant and blackberry fruits, those leading to a moderately long finish with an appealing hint of dark chocolate. Drink now. Score 86. (Re-tasted 29 May 2009)

Achziv, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005: Garnet toward purple, medium- to full-bodied, with soft tannins, a round and generous wine. Blended with 12% Merlot, showing spices and vanilla from the wood and an array of currant, berry and purple plum fruits. Drink now. Score 85. (Re-tasted 29 May 2009)

Achziv, Merlot, 2007: Garnet to royal purple in color, with the addition of a 11% of Cabernet Sauvignon, medium- to full-bodied, showing wild berry, cassis and blackberry fruits on a gentle background of earthy minerals. Soft tannins and a gentle wood influence lead to a long finish. Drink now–2011. Score 87. (Tasted 29 May 2009)

Achziv, Merlot, 2006: Dark royal purple in color, an oak-aged blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, showing blackberry, chocolate and citrus peel, those somewhat marred by rough-edged tannins and a high level of acidity. Drink now. Score 84. (Re-tasted 29 May 2009)

Achziv, Impression, n.v.: A red, oak-aged dessert wine from Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Light, almost diluted in color, with moderate sweetness and an abundance of strawberry, raspberry and cherry fruits. Too much like alcoholic fruit juice and not enough like wine. Drink up. Score 74. (Tasted 29 May 2009)