Yarden Katzrin Blanc de Blancs Brut, Late Disgorged, Golan Heights Winery 2007, Galilee, Israel

The 2007 Yarden Blanc de Blancs shows off bright lemon and floral notes complemented by lime and green apple characters, rounded out by a touch of mineral and hints of toasted baguette. Possessing a slight creaminess, this complex sparkling wine is crisp, drinkable and tasty. The 2007 Yarden Blanc de Blancs is made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes grown in the northern Golan Heights, Israel’s coolest viticultural area. The sparkling wine is made strictly according to the traditional method, including pressing of whole clusters and secondary fermentation in the bottle. Disgorging began after nearly five years of bottle aging on the tirage yeast. The Galilee (or Galil) is the most northern, and generally considered the best, appellation in Israel. The highest quality area within the appellation is the Golan Heights (or simply the Golan), the coldest region in Israel. The vineyards on this volcanic plateau rise from 400 meters (1,300 feet) above sea level to 1,200 meters (3,900 feet) and receive snowfall in the winter. Golan Heights Winery is located in the town of Katzrin in the central Golan.