A new wine, Carmel Mediterranean, has been launched at Carmel’s Zichron Ya’acov Wine Cellars in Israel. It was also offered for preliminary tastings at the New York Kosher Wine Experience in New York.
If the Carmel Limited Edition is a Bordeaux style blend made from Bordeaux varieties, the Carmel Mediterranean is a blend made from Mediterranean varieties. The Limited Edition label has a drawing of Rishon Le Zion Wine Cellars on the label. The Mediterranean label has a drawing of Zichron Ya’acov Wine Cellars. Rishon Le Zion & Zichron Ya’acov were both founded in the 1890’s by Baron Edmond de Rothschild and they remain until today, Israel’s two largest wineries.
Carmel Mediterranean 2007 is made from 37% Carignan old vines, 26% Shiraz, 20% Petit Verdot, 15% Petite Sirah old vines and 2% Viognier. These come from vineyards from diverse places such as Zichron Ya’acov in the Shomron Region, Ramat Arad in the Negev, the Kadesh Valley in the Upper Galilee, the Judean Hills and a vineyard in the foothills of Mt Meron. The variety of source, clearly show Carmel’s strength in being able to cherry pick from vineyards all over Israel.
Carmel’s winemaker, Lior Laxer explained the use of Petit Verdot, traditionally a Bordeaux variety, by saying it performed so well in Israel, that it should be a Mediterranean variety. He said that the small percentage of Viognier, a white variety, contributed to the aromatics and the extraction of color. He also mentioned the winery was watching closely new plantings of Grenache and Mourvedre as possible components of future blends.
The different varieties in the blend were fermented and then aged separately for seven months, and then blended together for a further eight months. So the wine was aged for 15 months in total – mainly in used 300 liter French oak barrels. Carmel Mediterranean is deep purple in color with aromas of black cherries, herbs and leather. The tannins are soft and the wine exhibits an ‘old world’ elegance.
Carmel has made a speciality of Mediterranean wines, believing that Israel is an Eastern Mediterrranean country and that certain varieties are more suitable for Israel’s hot, humid climate than others. The easy drinking Carmel Ridge Red (Reches Adom in Hebrew), is a blend of Carignan and Shiraz. Under the Appellation label Carmel sells Carignan Old Vines, Zichron Ya’acov and Petite Sirah Old Vines, Judean Hills. Carmel’s Single Vineyard Shiraz from Kayoumi Vineyard, in the Upper Galilee, is considered one of the best Shiraz’s in the country. Now the Carmel Mediterranean is a blend made in the style of a southern Rhone wine.
The launch in Israel was hosted by Israel Ivzan, Chairman of SCV des Grandes Caves & CEO of Carmel Winery, Lior Laxer, chief winemaker, and Adam Montefiore, wine development director.