Domaine du Castel - Grand Vin 2019

In 1988, Eli Ben Zaken planted the first modern-day vineyard in the Judean Hills. Just four years later, Eli, his family and friends harvested the grapes for what would become his first wine: Grand Vin. The estate's vineyards are planted on the mountains of Jerusalem — facing the Mediterranean Sea at an altitude of 750 meters above sea level — in soil that is a combination of terra rossa, clay and limestone. Today, Castel owns over 400 acres of vineyards planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Chardonnay. Eli and his family aim to create wines with a strong sense of place, but also a down-to-earth modesty.

Eli's flagship wine is composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, harvested from the vineyard’s finest plots. Prior to bottling, the wine is set to mature in French oak barrels — most brand new — for approximately 16 months, followed by 3-5 additional months in concrete tanks. Castel's Grand Vin is a classic, elegant wine, bearing deep coloring and a concentrated and complex bouquet of blackberries, spices and fine tannins. This is a balanced wine with a velvety smoothness and a long clean finish. It is recommended to decant the wine before serving.