Carmel Signature Single Vineyards Volcano Merlot 2020, Evyatar Creek, Galilee, Israel Information

Technical Bottle Notes: "Single Vineyards Merlot was harvested from the Evyatar Creek Vineyard located in the upper Galilee on the slopes of the Dalton Volcano at an elevation of 800 meters (2,700 ft), above sea level. The vineyard was planted in 2009and is characterized by volcanic and well-drained, fertile soil. This provides the wines with many nutrients and a high capability in the winter of retaining water, which is released gradually during the growing season. The unique soil properties of tuff, scoria and volcanic ash allow for entrenched and deep-rooted vines, contributing to the wine's balanced acidity, delicate structure and unique elegance." 

Tasting Notes: Grown in volcanic soil, this wine has a rich earthiness that delivers the best of the region on the palate. It is a wine that deserves a place of honor in your wine cellar, and while stunning to drink now, this wine will continue to get even better with a little more aging. 

The color is a deep, dark ruby, with layered aromatics on the nose. Black raspberries, black cherries, tobacco, a hint of cigar box, with black pepper notes and a delectably slightly spicy finish on the palate. Balanced acidity and tannins. This is a gorgeous, medium to full body, elegant yet powerful, wine at 15% alcohol that has layered nuances of flavors. 

Pairing Suggestion: Luxury Experience was "In The Kitchen and Behind The Bar®" with our pairing menu of Luxury Experience Rack of Lamb with Pea Puree, Roasted Beets and Carrots, and Roasted Tiny Potatoes. The rack of lamb was well matched with the richly flavorful wine, which we also used to deglaze the pan and create a sauce for the meat. 

Method for the Rack of Lamb: We simply prepared the lamb by seasoning it with salt and pepper. Added a small amount of olive oil to an ovenproof pan and heated the pan over high heat. We then seared the rack of lamb on all sides for about 6 minutes per side. We removed the pan from the stove, covered the rack bones with foil so they would not burn, and finished the rack of lamb by cooking it in a 475-degree Fahrenheit (246-degree Celsius) oven for about 15-minutes per side (or until desired doneness). We removed the pan from the oven and removed the rack of lamb and set it on a cutting board, and loosely covered the meat while we created the sauce. 

Method for the Sauce: Add 2-ounces of the wine to the pan drippings and cook over high heat on the stove to reduce the liquid and create a sauce. 

Method for the Pea Puree: Cook peas until tender but not mushy. Season with salt, pepper, olive oil and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Blend in a food processor (or stick blender) until smooth. 

Method for the Roasted Vegetables: Place the cut beets and carrots in a plastic sealable bag, add garlic cloves, olive oil, and salt and pepper. Place them in a baking dish. Do the same with the tiny potatoes and place them in another baking dish. Roast all vegetables in a 475-degrees Fahrenheit oven until tender. 

Presentation: Place a mound of pea puree on the plate, arrange lamb on top. Arrange beets and carrots in a small mound, and another mound of the potatoes. Put the sauce in a small pitcher to serve over the lamb. 

Until next time, Cheers and Bon Appetit!

Yiftah Perets -Winemaker Carmel Winery

About Carmel Winery and Carmel Signature 

"Carmel Winery is the historic winery of Israel. It was founded in 1896 by Baron Edmond de Rothschild, owner of Château Lafite in Bordeaux. Carmel Signature - Carmel Winery's most premium wines. The grapes for these wines receive meticulous nurturing and are produced from Carmel's most outstanding, carefully selected vineyards. This results in high quality wines, with an emphasis on elegance and harmony between all of the elements." 

Kosher Wine Terminology 

For those new to the terminology for Kosher Wines, Royal Wine Corp. notes: "A big misconception about kosher wine is that it's made differently from non-kosher wine, or it's been "blessed" by a Rabbi.  In fact, kosher and non-kosher wines are made the same way, it's just the handling that is a little different. In order for wine to be kosher it must adhere to the following: A Sabbath-observing Jew to handle the process. Each and every ingredient added, whether infiltration or clarification along the vinification process must be kosher. All tools and equipment must be dedicated to kosher winemaking alone. Aside from the constraints mentioned above, there needn't be any difference between the techniques used to make a fine kosher wine or a fine non-kosher wine."

Royal Wine Corp. defines the term "mevushal" as: "...the most misunderstood term in the kosher wine tradition. In Hebrew, mevushal means literally boiled. However, mevushal wines are not heated to a boiling temperature. Thanks to modern-day technology, mevushal wines are flash pasteurized to a temperature that meets the requirements of an overseeing rabbi. The technique does not noticeably harm the wine. In fact, flash-pasteurization is used at a number of very well-known non-kosher wineries, where it is thought to improve certain aromatics. For Jews, however, the technique simply alters the spiritual quality of a kosher wine, making it less susceptible to ritual proscription. That means anyone-whether kosher or not-can open a bottle of mevushal wine and have it retain its kosher status. Non-mevushal, wines are more sensitive to religious constraints and must be opened and poured only by Sabbath-observant Jews." 

Carmel Signature Single Vineyards Volcano Merlot 2020 is imported by Royal Wine Corp, Bayonne, NJ, USA. 

For more information and to purchase Carmel Signature Single Vineyards Volcano Merlot 2020 please visit the website: https://signature.carmelwines.co.il/carmel-signature/ or call them at 1-800-270-700. 

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Royal Wine Corporation
663 LeFante Way
Bayonne, New Jersey 07002
United States
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