Ratings

Domaine du Castel 'C' Blanc du Castel

Winery: Domaine du Castel

Year: 2004

Type: White

Country: Israel Judean Hills)

Grape Variety: Chardonnay

Note: Aged for 12 months on French oak barrels

Alcohol: 13.5%

Mevushal: No

Date Reviewed: 7/14/06

Color: 2.5 (of 3)

Note: A light golden color that is crisp and clean. It sparkles in the glass. Very nice.

Aroma: 6 (of 7)

Note: Oh, this is promising! Aroma's of vanilla and mellon with lighter scents of oak and tropical fruits, including passionfruit and small hints of kiwi and lime. Very tropical! I think I hear Jimmy Buffett music...

Taste: 9 (of 10)

Note: A crisp and tart taste with lots of tropical fruit. The mellon and lime flavors are in just the right balance. You can certainly taste the oak after 12 months in the barrel but it's not harsh at all. At the end you taste vanilla and even figs. This is a wonderful blending of flavors and the best Chardonnay I've tasted this year. No qustion about it. If you close your eyes you can imagine the beach of a tropical island. Well done!

The only questions is "Is it worth the price?" At $40 a bottle, this is an expensive wine that you won't be drinking every day. On the other hand, take a look at the French Herzog Chardonnay I reviewed last month (see the link below) for a wine that's almost as good and only $10 a bottle. There's no doubt the Domaine du Castel is the better wine, but the Herzog is the better value. If money is no object, the Domaine du Castel is the choice for you. But how many of us can really say that? As they say in the commercials, "What's in your wallet?"

Total: 17.5 (of 20)

Food: I enjoyed this Chardonnay with a chicken dish that's quickly fried in a very light batter and then cooked on a bed of spanish rice. A delicious meal for a terrific wine!

Compare to :

Herzog Chardonnay Vin de Pays du Jardin de la France

Fortant Chardonnay

Teal Lake Chardonnay

Beckett's Flat Margaret River Reserve Chardonnay

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