Finally was able to take the time to open this bottle and re-taste it after not having had it for quite some time. From my experience, the 2002 vintage in Israel was quite good-- I tried the Castel lineup back then when they were first making the transition to kosher, and I still am keeping a bottle for later on. The Yarden 2002 Cabernet, which I've had plenty of times, has also been good to me.
But this bottle is my secret. The Yarden Syrah is probably better than the Cab in some respects. The Yarden Cabernet can sometimes produce some weird green pepper flavors and a certain rubber flavor that doesn't always agree with me (not evident in the 2004, which I enjoyed more than the 2003). The Syrah is all class. Elegent aromas of coffee and chocolate right out of the glass, after about an hour of sitting on the counter breathing. It almost smells like Cabernet, but has a certain perfume element that makes it more unique. Also some nice peppery notes on the finish. Yeah, this is some good Syrah. It might be worthwhile to track down some of their single vineyard stuff to find out if it's really worth the extra bucks. But at $19 or so, this wine is a no brainer to me. Should be good for another couples years, too.
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