Tzora Winery, located in the Judean Foothills crafts some of the best wine to come out of Israel. The winery employs a unique focus on the quality of the soil and the overall terroir of their vineyards. The winery, under the guidance of Master of Wine Eran Pick, picks the best grapes form the choicest plots in the Judean Hills, to make a wine focused on the terra rosa and limestone soils that are characteristic of the region. They employ a minimal intervention method of winemaking, such that the wine is truly an expression of the grapes, and not oak or other additives.
The winery has a number of lines of wines starting with their entry level Judean Hills line, then their single vineyard Shoresh line, and finally their Misty Hills wine. All of these wines are QPR in their own right as they deliver really good value for the money at each of their respective price points. However, with this post I will focus on their Judean Hills line alone.
Tzora, Judean Hills, Blanc 2016 ($29)
This wine is comprised of 90% Chardonnay and 10% Sauvignon Blanc. The wine is perfectly balanced between creamy viscosity and racy acid. The nose opens with a whiff of buttered toast, some Anjou pear, green apples, and a hint of Mediterranean herbs characteristic of all of Tzora’s wines. The mouth is full but focused. Juicy white fruit comes bursting through, peeled pears, peeled apples, white flowers, almonds, toasted sesame seeds, and saline. The minerality that sticks in your mouth on the finish is crazy. This wine strikes a great balance between strong body and precise balance. I love it. This wine would be perfect by itself or with a wide range of fish and poultry.
Score: A
Value Score: A/A-
Tzora, Judean Hills, Red 2015 ($31)
For anyone that has read this blog in the past, you know well that I am skeptical of red wines coming from Israel. The style is just generally not my thing. However, this wine breaks the mold.
The 2015 vintage marks a bit of a deviation from previous vintages of this bottle, as the winery has scrapped their Merlot vineyards and is now focusing on Cabernet, Syrah, and Petit Verdot. This vintage is comprised of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Syrah, and 20% Petit Verdot.
The nose on this wine is intoxicating, with notes of red berries, black berries, tons of smoke, cigar box, and smoked meat, with some oregano and herbal notes in the background. The mouth is more sharp than in years past, as it has lost the roundness of the Merlot. Personally, I like the rustic mouth-feel of this wine as it goes well with its rustic notes. The mouth of the wine really tastes like smoked beef, freshly cut flowers, and some cherry with some of the cedar notes come through as well. The tannins are still pretty stiff, but they are approachable. The finish is non-stop; you can still taste the wine 2-3 minutes after sipping. For people looking for a versatile and elegant, yet complex wine at a good price point this wine is fantastic.
Score: A
Value Score: A