Recanati Upper Galilee Merlot 2011

Recanati was founded in 2000 by Lenny Recanati and Uri Shaked to show what Israeli terroir can do, working both local and international grapes that suit the Mediterranean climate. This single-variety Merlot comes from the Upper Galilee in the north, where altitude and cool nights slow ripening and preserve freshness in a warm country. The limestone and volcanic soils of the region give the fruit grip and a savoury character that keeps the ripe Mediterranean fruit in balance. The wine is fermented and then aged in oak barrels, which knit the tannins and add a light spice and cedar frame. With the 2011 vintage now well into bottle age, the primary fruit has begun its slow shift towards tertiary character. Expect a medium-bodied, concentrated red, deep in colour, with ripe plum and black cherry on the nose moving into dried herbs, tobacco, leather and a touch of earth. The palate is velvety and rounded, the tannins resolved by time, the finish long and savoury. As a kosher wine it is made under rabbinical supervision. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, and decant to open the bottle-aged aromatics. Good with roast beef, lamb and hard cheese.