Flam Noble (OK Kosher) 2012
-
Robert
Parker
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Blend: 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot, 11% Merlot, 11% Syrah
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2012 Noble is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon (Upper Galilee), 11% Petit Verdot (Judean Hills), 11% Merlot and 11% Syrah (Upper Galilee), sourced from Dishon and Ben Zimra Vineyards in the Upper Galilee and Mata in the Judean Hills. It was aged for 20 months in French oak (85% new) and then held back for bottle aging for 24 more months. The style here seems to be a bit different than the earliest Nobles that I saw—this leans far more to elegance, it has a bit less oak treatment and it does have that certain something that was bewildering to me on opening: the Syrah added to the blend this year. It showed beautiful finesse, elegance and that extra complexity, a hint of beef lurking in the background, particularly on opening. It did fade as the wine aired out. It is always filled with flavor and it is simply delicious. While it is ready to drink, it is still the best structured of the winery's submissions this issue, showing a somewhat longer finish and a bit more grip. Of course, it is also the oldest and most mature of the submissions. Thus, it is rather expressive, too. Overall, its graceful demeanor makes it hard to resist just now.
Other Vintages
2019-
James
Suckling
-
James
Suckling
-
Robert
Parker
-
Robert
Parker
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
With a rich history of wine production dating back to biblical times, Israel is a part of the cradle of wine civilization. Here, wine was commonly used for religious ceremonies as well as for general consumption. During Roman times, it was a popular export, but during Islamic rule around 1300, production was virtually extinguished. The modern era of Israeli winemaking began in the late 19th century with help from Bordeaux’s Rothschild family. Accordingly, most grapes grown in Israel today are made from native French varieties. Indigenous varieties are all but extinct, though oenologists have made recent attempts to rediscover ancient varieties such as Marawi for commercial wine production.
In Israel’s Mediterranean climate, humidity and drought can be problematic, concentrating much of the country’s grape growing in the north near Galilee, Samaria near the coast and at higher elevations in the east. The most successful red varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, while the best whites are made from Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Many, though by no means all, Israeli wines are certified Kosher.