Grand vin 2021 (Domaine du Castel)

Kosher wine. Cellar for up to 11 years. Decant 1 hour before serving. The story of Domaine du Castel dates back to the 1970s when Eli Ben Zaken migrated from Milan to Israel with his family. He bought a small piece of land close to Jerusalem and began to fulfil his dream of working the land by planting an orchard and keeping chickens. In 1988 Eli decided to plant the first modern-day vineyard in the Judean Hills and in 1995 he released the first 600 bottles of his Grand Vin matured in oak barrels which he had imported from France himself. Eli’s Grand Vin quickly gained a cult following and a bottle was even sent to the head of the wine department at Sotheby’s auction house, Serena Sutcliffe, who heaped praise on the wine. Made in the classic Bordeaux style, the Grand Vin is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc grapes which are carefully selected from Eli’s top vineyards. Following the vinification the young wine is aged in oak barrels for 16 months followed żeby a further four months of maturation in concrete tanks. The result is a remarkably complex red which boasts a full body, rich dark fruit flavours and a very long finish. Although approachable now, this is a wine which has excellent ageing capabilities and will continue to develop and evolve over the next decade or so.