The colour is medium purple. On the nose cherries, anise, dark chocolate, a lot of spices and some menthol notes. In the mouth herbaceous, well balanced, with a pleasantly tasting finish. The aftertaste is pretty long.
Guvrin Stream is made by Tel Maresha Winery with a blend of 50% Pinotage and 50% Syrah grapes, under the Judean Hills appellation of Israel.
Pinotage is South Africa’s signature grape variety. It is a crossing of Pinot Noir and Cinsault. The name Pinotage is a compound word of its two parents, as Cinsault was once known in South Africa as Hermitage.
Tel Maresha Winery is a kosher family winery that aims to produce high-quality wines. The vineyard, the winery and its visitor’s center are located in the Judean Hills, in the Tel Marsha region near the Guvrin River. The very first vines were planted in 2006.
The Judean Hills (or Mountains) form a low mountain range that dominates the landscape around Jerusalem. They formed the core territory of the Kingdom of Judah, where the earliest Jewish settlements were located. Although not one of Israel’s better known wine regions (like Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights), Judean Hills is an emerging viticultural area, and significant potential has been identified for its future.
I drunk this bottle in Jerusalem while recovering from a 75 km walk over 2 days from Jaffa to the Holy City. I paid 89 Shekels (23 CHF) at a wine store. On the winery website it sells for 120 Shekels (31 CHF).
Country: Israel
Region: Judean Hills
Grapes: Pinotage, Syrah
Type: Red
Vintage: 2020
Producer: Tel Maresha Winery
Price range: Premium (30-50 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 4/5