Savion Winery: My Visit and Tasting Notes 
 29.10.2010 
By: Daniel Rogov

This early afternoon I made my way to taste the wines of the Savion Winery. The winery, a true garagiste operation was founded by Ashi Salmon and Eli Pardess. Set on Moshav Mesilat Tzion in the Jerusalem Mountains, this micro-winery released its first wine from the 2000 vintage and is currently producing about 1500 bottles annually. Grapes come primarily from Ramat Dalton and other vineyards in the Upper Galilee, but the winery has new vineyards in which it is raising its own Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah grapes. For primarily logistic reasons, no wines were released from the 2007 vintage.

My usual cut-off point for entry into my annual Guide to Israeli wines is 3,000-3,500 bottles, that making this the smallest winery to be entered. The reason for the entry – quite simple – excellent and interesting wines! My thanks to Eli and Ashi for a fine tasting and for their good company.

The wine currently available is the 2006 release. The wine is going for a quite reasonable NIS 90 and can be purchased directly from the winery by sending an email to Pardesse@bezeqint.net or by telephoning Eli Pardess at 052-3665247

Best
Rogov

Savion, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009 (Barrel Tasting): Dark garnet, full-bodied, with still firm, near-sweet tannins just starting to integrate. Showing an appealing spiciness from the French and American barriques in which the wine is developing, that partig to make way for an appealing array of blackcurrants, purple plums and bittersweet chocolate. A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot, showing a hint of licorice on the long finish. Best from 2013. Tentative Score 88-90.

Savion, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008 (Advance Tasting): A concentrated and deep blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, about 8-10% Merlot and the balance of Syrah. Super-dark garnet towards royal purple, with a traditional Bordeaux nose of black fruits and lead pencil notes, opens in the glass to show generous black fruits, spicy oak and a note of roasted herbs that rises on the finish. Firm and tannic at this stage but showing fine balance and structure that bode well for the future. Drink from release-2015, perhaps longer. Score 90.

Savion, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006: Made entirely from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, showing medium- to full-bodied with soft, gently caressing tannins, those integrating nicely with notes of spicy cedar wood and fruits. On first attack ripe plums, those going to blackberries and currants. Tannins, fruits and a note of minted chocolate rise nicely on the finish. Drink now-2014. Score 90.

Savion, Someq, 2008 (Advance Tasting): A full-bodied blend of 60% Syrah, 24% Petit Verdot, 10% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Sauvigon. Oak aged in American barriques for 12 months, showing dark ruby towards royal purple. Round and supple, with tannins that grip gently and part to make room on first attack for raspberries and crushed berries, those yielding to notes of blackcurrants and roasted herbs. Drink from release-2015. Score 90.

P.S. As a potentially interesting side-note, when last I visited the winery (about two years ago), I tasted Savion's 2000 release. I was pleased to see that the wine was still drinking very nicely but did not believe it would "make it" until 2010. I made a friendly wager with Dr. Ashi Salmon and today a bottle of the 2000 wine was opened for me. To my great pleasure, the wine was still holding its own quite nicely. True, I felt it fading some 25 minutes after pouring but I comfortably acknowledge having lost my wager. Sometimes it is even rewarding to lose a bet.