Tishbi: My Visit and Tasting Notes (K)  
17.07.2009  
By: Daniel Rogov

Yesterday, (Thursday, 16 July), I visited the Tishbi winery, there both to do a fairly extended tasting and to dine at the winery's restaurant.

Following the initiatives of Baron Edmond de Rothschild, the Tishbi family started to plant vineyards in 1882 on the slopes of Mount Carmel near the town of Zichron Ya’akov and continued to cultivate vines throughout the next hundred years. In 1985, Jonathan Tishbi, a fourth-generation member of the family, launched this family-owned winery in the nearby town of Binyamina, initially named HaBaron as homage to Baron Rothschild, and later renamed Tishbi.

With Golan Tishbi serving as senior winemaker, the winery is currently producing about 1,000,000 bottles annually. Drawing on grapes from their own nearby vineyards as well as from vineyards in the Jerusalem region, the Upper Galilee and Golan and the Negev, the winery produces several series. The top-of-the-line wines are in the age-worthy varietal Special Reserve wines and the varietal Estate series. It is my understanding that the Vineyards series is being discontinued, that to be replaced by a more up-swing level of the Tishbi series. The existing Tishbi series is also being continued. That there are now two "Tishbi" series may confuse some even though the labels on the two series are quite different. The winery also occasionally produces a sparkling wine, a reinforced red dessert wine and is re-inaugurating the production of their fine Charantais style brandy.

A family owned and operated winery, each member seems to have a specific set of responsibilities but when talking with Golan Tishbi it becomes quite clear that he considers himself the responsible party for the overall operation.

My warm thanks to Jonathan, Golan, Nili and Oshra Tishbi for their courtesies during my visit. My tasting notes follow in the order of my tasting.

Best
Rogov

Tishbi, Sauvignon Blanc, Estate, 2008: Unoaked, light- to medium-bodied, light golden straw colored and generously aromatic, showing apple and citrus fruits on a light grassy background. Drink now. NIS 50. Score 86. K (Re-tasted 16 Jul 2009)

Tishbi, Chardonnay, Estate, 2008: An unoaked white blended with 10% of Viognier. Golden straw in color, medium-bodied with green apple, orange, summer fruits and pineapple notes. Fresh and refreshing. Drink now. NIS 50. Score 87. K (Re-tasted 16 Jul 2009)

Tishbi, Shiraz, Gush Etzion, Tishbi, 2008: A light- to medium-bodied red, unoaked, showing dark cherry red in color and opening to reveal generous raspberry and cherry fruits along with a hint of spices. A good and refreshing quaffer, best served lightly chilled. Drink now. NIS 45. Score 86. K (Tasted 16 Jul 2009)

Tishbi, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tishbi, 2008: Going along with their 2008 policy of releasing several unoaked wines, this deep purple , medium-bodied wine proves without complexities but quite plesant, its light tannins and black fruits making for a fresh and appealing quaffer. Drink now. NIS 45. Score 85. K (Tasted 16 Jul 2009)

Tishbi, Merlot, Tishbi, 2008: A very nice unoaked quaffer, medium-bodied, soft and round, with strawberry and cranberry fruits yielding to blueberries and a hint of milk chocolate. A fun wine. Drink now. NIS 45. Score 86. K (Tasted 16 Jul 2009)

Tishbi, Pinot Noir, Judean Hills, Estate, 2007: Ruby towards garnet, medium-bodied, somewhat on the acidic side, with cherry and berry fruits leading to a pleasant near-sweet finish. A good summer-time quaffer. Drink now. NIS 45. Score 85. K (Tasted 16 Jul 2009)

Tishbi, Syrah, Organic, 2007: A limited edition, dark garnet in color, reflecting its 12 months in new barriques with sweet-and-spicy wood. Full-bodied, with caressing tannins, opens to reveal a tempting array of plum, black cherry and currant fruits, those supported nicely by notes of Mediterranean herbs and earthy minerals. Long and generous. Drink now-2012. Score 90. K (Tasted 16 Jul 2009)

Tishbi, Merlot, Estate, 2006 (Advance Tasting): Opens with blackberries, spices and a hint of tar, goes on to reveal black and red berries and hints of chocolate. Medium- to full-bodied, with soft tannins and reflecting its 12 months in oak with generous hints of spicy wood. Long and generous. Drink now-2011. NIS 85. Score 88. K (Re-tasted 16 Jul 2009)

Tishbi, Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate, 2006 (Advance Tasting): Blended with 7% of Petit Verdot, dark ruby towards garnet, medium-bodied, with soft tannins and a gentle wood influence from its 12 months in barriques. On the nose and palate blackberry, blueberry and currant fruits complemented by notes of spices. Drink now–2011. NIS 85. Score 87. K (Re-tasted 16 Jul 2009)

Tishbi, Shiraz, Estate, 2007: Developed in oak for 12 months, medium- to full-bodied, garnet red towards royal purple, an aromatic wine opening to show traditional black fruits, leathery and earthy mineral notes. Round, well balanced and long. Drink now-2012. NIS 85. Score 89. K (Tasted 16 Jul 2009)

Tishbi, Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate, 2007: A Bordeaux blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, that flushed out with Merlot and Petit Verdot. Full-bodied, with an appealing note of tar on the nose and generous but soft tannins parting to make way for blackcurrant and wild berry fruits. In the background nutmeg, fresh Mediterranean herbs and a hint of black olives. Long and mouthfilling. Drink from release-2013, perhaps longer. Score 90. K (Tasted 16 Jul 2009)

And one fortified wine

Tishbi, Barbera-Zinfandel, 2006: A blend of 50% each Barbera and Zinfandel, those "sun aged" for 18 months and fortified with brandy to bring it to an 18% alcohol level. Full-bodied, with caressing tannins and showing blackberry and raspberry fruits, those highlighted by notes of spicy dates and prunes. Thickly textured and finishes with a note of candied walnuts. Best not with dessert but as dessert. Drink now-2014. Score 87. K (Tasted 16 Jul 2009)