Recanati Winery Tasting

Recanati winery was founded in 2000 and since then has consistently released some of the best QPRs and the most interesting wines made in Isreal. This tasting had a clear sign: Lewis Pasco (the winemaker) is making a clear shift in the upper series towards more complex and Mediterranean wines. Emphasizing the uniqueness of local wines and complementing the local food is a direction that will create brand for Israeli wines. So, instead of trying to produce yet another California-like wine, Lewis makes local, interesting and unique wines. I got the opportunity to taste a couple of 06 & 07 samples - this was extermly interesting. To the wines:

Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Pineapple, grass, tropical fruit all very nicely integrated with the right amount of acidity. Very good wine. 88
Sauvignon Blanc 2007
This is a baby, but so good that you hope it will not loose anything along the process. Guava, passion fruit, grassy aromas. Bites you a bit at the finish, but overall a wonderful wine. 90-92

Chardonnay 2007
Light straw color, Apple, pear, Medium bodied with a nice finish. 87-88
Chardonnay Reserve 2007
Round and already harmonious wine, just enough oak too show the fruit: pears, apples. Has an excellent potential. 88-90
Chardonnay Reserve 2006
Very elegant wine, with apple, butter, lingers in your mouth. Has a good structure and an excellent finish. 90

Shiraz 2005
Earth, blackberries, cassis, led pencil. Light to Medium bodied with integrated tannins. Providing a very harmonic drinking experience. A wine that goes very well with food. This is a very good QPR. 89

A small vertical of Special Reserves:
Special Reserve 04
Very round and fruity wine which is really ready to drink now. Medium bodied, red fruit and an impressive long finish. 92 (Drink while listening to Diana Krall)
Special Reserve 05
Blueberries, green herbs, elegant but powerful. Very Cabernet Sauvignon in nature. Looong finish and an excellent potential. 92-94 (Drink while listening to Chick Corea)
Special Reserve 06
Almost opaque black color, full bodied with ample amount of tannins. Red fruits, green pepper and blackberries. Has a potential to be the best RSR to date. 93-95 (This goes well with Miles Davis!)
Special Reserve 07
This wine is so young that it needs a more experienced taster... Very tanninc, pencil led, red & black fruit and a green component. Excellent potential, but not scoreable right now.

Petit Syrah - Zin 2005
Olives, herbs, blackberries and earthy notes. Very balanced and with a good finish. 90
Petit Syrah - Zin 2006
Very similar to the 05, but has a more extrovert nature - the young thug in the neighborhood. 90
Petit Syrah - Zin 2007
Red fruits, very perfumy and with some earthy notes. This has the potential to be much better than his older "brothers" 90-92