In the June 30th edition of the Wine Spectator, Kim Marcus reviewed some 21 wines from Israel and many scored above 85 point. The highest scored wines were:

1. 2009 Bazelet HaGolan Cabernet Sauvignon – 90
2. 2007 Binyamina Cave – 90
3. 2009 Yarden Chardonnay – 89
4. 2008 Yarden Pinot Noir – 89
5. 2009 Domaine du Castel Petite Castel – 89
6. 2009 Segal Chardonnay, Special Reserve – 89
7. 2007 Barkan Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve – 88
8. 2007 Barkan Merlot, Reserve – 88
9. 2009 Binyamina Cabernet Sauvignon/Petite Verdot, Yogev – 88
10. 2009 Dalton Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Cabernet Franc Alma – 88
11. 2009 Segal Merlot, Special Reserve – 87
12. 2009 Galil Yiron – 87
13. 2010 Teperberg Meritage – 86
14. 2007 Binyamina Merlot, Reserve – 85
15. 2010 Barkan Merlot/Argaman, Classic – 85
16. 2009 Binyamina Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot, Yogev – 85
17. 2010 Segal Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon, Fusion- 85
18. 2009 Binyamina Sauvignon Blanc/Chardonnay, Yogev – 84
19. 2010 Barkan Pinot Noir, Classic – 83
20. 2009 Binyamina Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz, Yogev – 83
21. 2007 Binyamina Zinfandel, Reserve – 82

Personally, I have a few things to comment here. First of all I am so very happy to see Israel again being taken seriously and having their wines scored, whether for the good or the bad.

Secondly, these scores are VERY much in line with expectations, though there are a few shockers in there as well, more on that soon. The wines that were tasted were not blockbuster superstars, on the contrary these were second tier wines, for the most part, and many of which we have scored in the very same manner. In other words, the reason why these “low” scores are such good news is that they are VERY legitimate scores for the wines reviewed.