This is the third wine in the new Galil Series of wines from Galil Mountain Winery. The other two are varietals, one Pinot Noir, which we have yet to taste and to report on, and the other, the one white wine of this series, about which we previously reported, Sauvignon Blanc. Today’s tasting is of the wine they call Alon. It is a blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Sirah, 9% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. The wine is aged in oak barrels for one year before bottling. We opened a bottle after slowly allowing it to reach room temperature. It then was exposed to air for an hour.
The aromas and tastes are complex and balanced with smells of strawberries and with a hint of lavender and roses. The taste, like its aroma, is of strawberries, but here it reminded us of chocolate covered strawberries. It also contained tastes of oregano/zaatar/majoram in addition to other sweet berries. In the mouth it has a moderate body with the gentleness of a blended wine. The tannin level is significant but not overwhelming, but we have doubts as to its ability to age in the wine cellar. Another good point is that it has a moderately persistent finish.
The price at the winery is 70 ₪ (shekels), which at the current rate of exchange is roughly equivalent to $19. We give it an israelwinetaster grade of A for drinking now and in the coming year.
