Yarden 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is a full-bodied, expressive red from Israels Galilee/Vinous Golan Heights region. It shows ripe red and black fruits, layered with earth, spice, tobacco, and oak, delivering both power and elegance. Drinks well now, but built to age gracefully for 10-15 years.

Critic Ratings & Quotes

Source Score / Medal Quote / Descriptor Decanter World Wine Awards 2025 Platinum Medal, 97 points Luscious black fruit aromas with a charming underpinning of floral scent. Flourishing with plush oak modernity and sleek satin tannins plenty of ageing potential. Wine Spectator 91 points This is shown on retail pages like Voyageurs du Vin with a commentary that the wine is bold and expressive 100 % Cabernet Sauvignon full-bodied and layered, rich core of dark fruit, framed by fine-grained tannins.

---

Key Specs & Origins

Feature Detail Winery / Producer Golan Heights Winery, under the Yarden label (Yarden means Jordan) Appellation Galilee, Israel; grapes sourced from vineyards in the Golan Heights plateau. Kosher for passover. Vintage 2021 Grape Variety 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Aging / Oak Treatment Aged about 18 months in French oak barrels; some proportion likely new oak to build structure and oak character. Alcohol Level 14.5% ABV

---

Tasting Profile

Element Notes Appearance Deep garnet / ruby red with a rich saturation; youthful rim coloring suggests some potential aging is still to come. Nose / Aroma Ripe black-and-red fruits like blackcurrant, cherry, plum; layered with earthy tones, tobacco, herb, spice, chocolate, nuanced anise; underpinned by oak. Palate / Taste Full-bodied wine with concentrated dark fruit core; firm yet ripe tannins; complementing flavors of cedar / oak spice; herbal undertones and some earthiness; balanced acidity that gives freshness. Finish Long and sustained: oak spice, dark chocolate or cocoa, tobacco echoes, lingering fruit, herbal / earth notes.

---

What Makes It Special

• Terroir: The Golan Heights vineyards altitude, volcanic soils, and diurnal temperature shifts (warm days, cooler nights) help build strong fruit ripeness while retaining acidity and aromatic detail.

• Balanced use of French oak gives structure, spice, and elegance without overwhelming the fruit.

• Age potential: While enjoyable now, the wine is made to develop in bottle over years, gaining complexity and smoothing out edges.

• Flagship status: Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the long-standing benchmark wines from Golan Heights Winery. It tends to reflect consistency and status in Israels premium wine sector.

---

Suggested Food Pairings & Aging

Pairings:

• Grilled or roasted red meats: ribeye steak, lamb chops with herbs (mint, rosemary, thyme)

• Dishes with earthy flavors: mushroom risotto, roasted eggplant, beetroot with goat cheese

• Hearty sauces: wine reductions, peppercorn sauces, balsamic glazes

• Strong cheeses: aged Gouda, mature cheddar, pecorino

Aging / Drinking Windows:

• Drinkable now, especially with decanting, to allow aromas to open up.

• For further complexity, cellaring for 5-10 years will help integrate oak, mellow tannins, and deepen secondary / tertiary notes like leather, herb, savory earth.

• Should remain in excellent condition for 10-15 years from vintage.