Castel Chardonnay "C"

Romazini: 3/5 Stars

The Winespectator: 88/100 Points

This has a seductive smoky essence to it, with ripe flavors of apple, pear, cream and basil. Thick, with rich, creamy notes on the powerful finish. Chardonnay. Kosher. Drink now through 2013.

Robert Parker: 90/100 Points

The 2007 CHARDONNAY is another fascinating, if pretty pricey, Chardonnay from Castel. Taste this blind and let the aromas from the on-the-lees aging fill your nose. It seems like a dead Burgundy ringer. Unfined, unfiltered and rather smoky, this elegant and graceful wine seems very old world, very French, very Burgundy. The length on the finish is not perhaps Le Montrachet, but it is fascinating in most respects. My enthusiasm was constrained a bit by its disjointed demeanor at the time I tasted this. Its component parts do need to integrate a bit better. I thought it might be a touch reductive, but it seemed much better with air, and I do not think it is a problem. Drink now-2015.

Domaine du Castel-on everyone's short list in the "Best of Israel" debate-is a boutique winery with a very French orientation. The reds are elegant Bordeaux ringers, and increasingly the Chardonnay resembles Burgundy. They are never the biggest or the most powerful, but they are always among the best crafted and most refined. Castel does need to be careful not to skimp too much on mid-palate concentration. On the whole, the wines have also shown remarkable consistency, granting that Israel's vintages are more consistent than not. The next test is whether they can continue to develop in the cellar, getting better in time rather than merely holding. At this price level, that is a fair expectation. There is some evidence that this may happen in newer vintages, but there is still something to prove in that regard.

The Winemaker

The 'C' is a 100% Chardonnay and comes from a hill top vineyard with very poor soil that produces grapes with very particular aromas and minerality. The must is barrel fermented and the wine is aged sur lie with frequent bâtonnage for 12 months in French oak barrels, one third new.