Yatir Forest 2009

The wine is comprised of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, 41% Petit Verdot, and 10% Merlot grapes. The composition of the varieties varies from one year to the next, depending on the nature of the vintage and in order to accentuate the Yatir-like quality and the singularity of the region and its vineyards. The winery’s vineyards are planted on top of slopes in the heart of the Yatir Forest, rising to an altitude of 900 meters above sea level, and located just a few minutes’ drive away from the winery. The forest was planted by the Jewish National Fund (“Kakal”) in 1964 and is the largest planted forest in Israel. The planted grape varieties benefit from ideal conditions for wine-grape growing. The grapes are from several plots in the Yatir Forest, located at an altitude of 650-900 meters, generating wines of the highest quality in a given vintage year. The wine was aged for 16 months in French oak barrels, with a third of them being new. The wine was bottled in March of 2011 and was left to further age at the winery for an additional year in the bottle. Suitable for further aging for a period of 10 years or more.

Tasting Notes: The wine’s color is deep purple, with a rich aroma and a flavor that combines intensity with elegance and freshness.

Yatir Forest Vineyards 2009 Vintage: The winter was arid, lacking rain (only 70% rainfall of the average amount). Most of the rain fell at the end of the winter and at the beginning of spring. There was a 15% decline in crops, compared with the previous year, and the ripening process was deferred by 7-14 days. Harvesting of the red varieties was completed by the end of September.