Carmel Winery’s Quality Revolution Continues
Posted on August 5, 2008
Carmel’s quality revolution is not over. In the past few years, Carmel Winery has made serious changes in management, viticulture, and structure. They created new excellent top level wines including the Appellation series which provides great value-for-money and the Single Vineyard smash hits. Slowly and unnoticed by us “wine snobs” their supermarket Selected and Private Collection brands have also significantly improved in quality. With the 2007 Private Collection series, Carmel has taken the next leap forward. I’ve known about these changes in the Israeli wine world for a few months and have been in anticipation of finally being able to release the great news.
Three major changes have taken place with this latest vintage:
- Private Collection wines will not be mevushal - neither in Israel nor abroad. For the past several years, Private Collection wines were not mevushal in Israel (where it’s less of a concern even among kosher wine drinkers) but they were mevushal abroad due to the different requirements of the kosher wine industry, particularly in North America. Yet, the mevushal (flash pasteurizing) process is the one - and only - issue in kosher wines that can lower quality. So, in the name of quality (even if it means foregoing some the kosher restaurant market in North America and kosher banquet-hall events), Private Collection wines – including those sold outside of Israel – will no longer be mevushal. Those who are used to this wine outside of Israel will see an increase in quality and improved cellaring potential.
- Improved branding/new labels – Branding and wine marketing is more than just a passion of mine, it is reality. People don’t drink wine if the label is ugly or if it’s associated with past vintages. Carmel and especially the Carmel Private Collection still has a bad reputation due to Carmel’s past history. So, people avoid the wine based on the past – not the present. So, beginning with the 2007 vintage Carmel will have a new label – reprinted below.
- Significant raise in quality. Carmel’s wines keep on getting better and better. Just look at Rogov’s newly released tasting note for the newly released Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot (and remember, this is the Private Collection, not the higher end series):
Carmel, Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot, 2007: A blend of 50% each Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, aged partly in stainless steel and partly in French and American oak. Medium- to full-bodied, with soft tannins and a gentle spicy wood influence, opening in the glass to show black and red berries and notes of purple plums on a background that hints of vanilla and cinnamon. Drink now-2010. Suggested retail price NIS 50. (About US$ 14) Score 87. K (Tasted 2 Aug 2008)
I plan on picking up a bottle (or more) of the 2007 Carmel Private Collection. What about you?
» Filed Under Israeli wine industry, Kosher and Jewish Tags: Tags:Brut, Carmel, Carmel Winery, marketing, mevushal, Private Collection, wine branding, wine marketing
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I was a senior cellarman for Sam Soroka at Carmels Boutique winery during the 06 harvest. the Carignan 2006 is one to watch, unfortunately I cant buy it here in northern california. If you havent had the 2005 petite syrah you should definately pick up some bottles, it is the best kosher example of this varietal in the world.
[...] wine critic Daniel Rogov’s latest wine review in Ha’aretz continues the last post of Carmel’s rise in quality and includes numerous great Israeli wines. Read the full review here or [...]
[...] it’s available in the US yet but the 2007 Carmel Private Collection Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot is absolutely excellent and highly recommended. Previous variety still available and available in Cabernet Sauvignon, [...]