Covenant Israel Syrah (OU Kosher) 2016
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Wilfred
Wong -
Tasting
Panel -
Wine
Spectator -
Robert
Parker
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Syrah in Israel can be quite full-bodied and ripe, with rich plum, black cherry, and blackberry flavors at the fore. This wine also has a spicy, anise-like undercurrent that adds interest. It’s all framed in soft, silky tannins that give good structure but are extremely accessible even in the wine’s youth.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2016 Covenant Syrah is an outstanding wine. TASTING NOTES: This wine sends generous and appealing black fruit and notes of violets onto the palate and into the finish. Pair it with slowly braised stews with abundant fingerling potatoes in the mix. (Tasted: July 16, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
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Tasting Panel
Dark ruby color; smooth, creamy, and ripe. Tangy and long with spice and pepper; rich, balanced, and deep. A stunning wine by Jeff Morgan.
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Wine Spectator
Undertones of black olive and menthol flank the currant and blackberry notes of this sinewy, full-bodied red, with iron, black tea and cedar details cast into the savory, spicy finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Syrah (there is also 10% Cabernet Sauvignon) was aged for 18 months in 40% new French oak and comes in at 14.7% alcohol. Big, dense, jammy and rather powerful (although not particularly astringent), this is a wine that tends to go for the blockbuster impression. It certainly makes a big first impression out of the gate. Some will adore it. Some will wonder where the finesse is. The Syrah is very ripe, showing some hints of beef but not gaminess or funk. It's not a wine with a lot of personality overall. Aeration does certainly help this out a bit, which gave me some hope that this would evolve and smooth out with another year or two in the cellar.
Other Vintages
2019-
James
Suckling
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Wilfred
Wong
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Wine
Enthusiast -
Robert
Parker
In 2011, a trip to Israel by Covenant founders Jeff Morgan and the late Leslie Rudd sparked a desire to make wine in Israel as well as in California, where they have made Covenant wines since 2003. The wine regions of Israel so reminded them of France’s Rhone Valley as well as some of their California vineyards. The call of Israel proved so strong, that they made their first vintage of Covenant Israel in 2013. Since then, the Covenant Israel project continues to be an amazing journey for them, one that they are happy to share with you in your wine glass!