Terravino 2008
מאת: Daniel Rogov
November 2008
Several general reactions on my part.
1. For many years competitions awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze medallions. TerraVino has gone to Double Gold, Gold and Silver. What that means is that wines that might once have won Silver can now boat that they won Gold, and what might once have been Bronze is now Silver. A rather frivolous way, in my opinion, to make prizes "look even better"
2. Because we have no idea of what minimum score was required to attain a given medal, it is difficult to say what medal is worth precisely what. More than that, we are not told what minimum score was required to attain any medal at all. Wines that earn scores of 85 are good wines. Of that there is no question. In my opinion, however, that is simply not good enough to take away a "prize".
3. If I were organizing or supervising such a competition minimum scores for attaining various medals would be as follows. Some may consider my guidelines too stringent but my feeling is that such medals should be for quality and not for effort or being a nice guy.
Gold: 93 or higher
Silver: 89-92
Bronze: 87-89
4. Considering that this competition considers price of wines as a category, should one assume that a wine costing US8.00 that wins a gold medal is the quality equivalent of a wine that costs US$30 and wines the same medal? Me doubts that. The list of prizes, however, does not list the price category so it is difficult to say just what gold, silver or other medals are the equivalent of which other wines.
5. Am I wrong or does it seem that every winery that entered the competition seems to have won at least one award? One wonders (or at least I wonder) if that is statistically possible. I cannot help but think that as scores and medals awards are tabulated that the vote counting and adjustments should be overseen by a completely neutral office of certified accountants and not by those involved in the competition.
6. Not to be ignored is the question of those wineries that did not enter the competition. Indeed some of the better wineries are represented but quite a few of the best wineries are not. Believe me, I cannot run very rapidly but I would certainly come in first in a race with one-legged men.
7. With regard to scores in particular, I sit somewhat open-mouthed at the discrepancies between the ranking of the wines at the competition and my own ratings. That some wines I consider truly mediocre won major prizes and that some I consider truly fine barely came in with "silver" rather amazes me.
Scores aside, the results of this particular competition are at wide variation with the tastings and published tasting notes of Robert Parker and Mark Squires, the Wine Spectator, Decanter and yes, myself and even several of my local colleagues.
8. Considering that a mini-industry of wine competitions has developed (there are at least 400 "international" commercial competitions annually), I cannot help but think that such competitions are better business for the competition industry than the wine industry. And I continue to ask – of what possible use are such competitions for consumers? As for me (and yes, the advice I give) – with the exception of several major competitions (e.g. those held at VinItaly and Vinexpo and the London Wine and Spirits Competition) – consumers continu8e to be far better served by reading individual critics.
9. In summary – as I see it, competitions like this remind me of Abraham Lincoln's axiom to the effect that "this is the kind of thing that people who like this kind of thing like" I guess I'm just not one of those who likes this kind of thing. That does not make me "right". It is, however, my honest opinion.
Following is the list of prize winners with my own scores attached (in parentheses) for those wines that I have tasted. Those wines that I have not tasted carry the notation NT. Also a few footnotes….
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TERRAVINO 2008
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Barkan Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (88)
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Double Gold Medal
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Adir Winery
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Plato 2005 (NT) (1)
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Double Gold Medal
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Carmel Winery
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Kayoumi Shiraz 2005 (91)
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Double Gold Medal
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Alona Winery
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Alona Merlot 2006 (89)
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Double Gold Medal
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Barkan Wine Cellars ltd.
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Segal's Merom Galil Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (89)
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Double Gold Medal
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Gvaot Winery Ltd.
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Gvaot Masada 2006 (86)
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Double Gold Medal
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Lili Winery
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Lili Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2005 (80) (2)
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Double Gold Medal
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Odem Mountain Winery
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Odem Mountain Merlot 2005 (85)
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Double Gold Medal
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Tabor Winery
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Tabor Adama Cabernet Sauvignon Terra Rosa 2005 (89)
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Double Gold Medal
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Tanya Winery
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Halel Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2006 (89)
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Double Gold Medal
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3 Vins
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3 Vins Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 (85)(3)
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Double Gold Medal
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Alexander Winery
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Alexander Sandro Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2006 (87(
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Gold Medal
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Alexander Winery
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Alexander The Great Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 (90)
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Gold Medal
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Asif Winery
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Jebley Eretz White 2007 (75)
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Gold Medal
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Assaf Winery
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Assaf Shiraz Reserve 2006 (90)
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Gold Medal
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Barkan Wine Cellars Ltd.
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Segal's Rehasim Dishon Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (90)
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Gold Medal
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Benhaim Winery
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Benhaim Cabernet Sauvignon Grande Reserve 2001 (85)
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Gold Medal
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Benhaim Winery
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Benhaim Cabernet Sauvignon Grande Reserve 2003 (86)
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Gold Medal
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Benhaim Winery
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Benhaim Cabernet Sauvignon Grande Reserve 2004 (NT)
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Gold Medal
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Benhaim Winery
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Benhaim La Petite Sira 2004 (83)
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Gold Medal
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Benhaim Winery
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Benhaim Merlot Reserve 2005 (NT)
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Gold Medal
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Binyamina Winery
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Hochen Ruby 2006 (90)
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Gold Medal
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Bustan Hameshushim
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Banias Red Blend 2004 (75) (4)
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Gold Medal
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Carmel Winery
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Carmel Appellation Petit Sirah 2006 (90)
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Gold Medal
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Carmel Winery
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Carmel Appellation Carignan 2006 (90)
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Gold Medal
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Galai Winery
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Galai Estate Sweetie Port Style 2004 (80)
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Gold Medal
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Gush Etzion Winery
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Nahal Hapirim 2005 (88)
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Gold Medal
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Gvaot Winery Ltd.
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Gvaot Herodion Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (88)
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Gold Medal
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Lewinsohn Winery
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Lewinsohn Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (NT) (1)
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Gold Medal
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Odem Mountain Winery
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Alfasi Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2005 (89)
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Gold Medal
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Psagot Winery
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Psagot Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (86)
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Gold Medal
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Psagot Winery
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Psagot Edom 2006 (86)
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Gold Medal
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Ramim Winery
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Ramim Art Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2005 (84)
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Gold Medal
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Recanati Winery
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Recanati Secial Reserve 2005 (92)
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Gold Medal
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Recanati Winery
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Recanati Petite Syrah Zinfandel Reserve 2006 (90)
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Gold Medal
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Ruth -Vineyard Ltd.
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Ruth Shiraz Merlot 2006 (84)
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Gold Medal
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Salomon Winery
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Salomon Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (84)
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Gold Medal
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Savion Wine Ltd
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Savion Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (90)
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Gold Medal
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Sde Boker Winery
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Sde Boker Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 (88)
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Gold Medal
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Stern Winery
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Rotem Red 2006 (88)
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Gold Medal
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Tanya Winery
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Tanya Blend Reserve 2005 (86)
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Gold Medal
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Teperberg 1870 Winery
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Teperberg 1870 Meritage 2007 (NT)
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Gold Medal
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Tulip Winery
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Mosly Shiraz 2006 (88)
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Gold Medal
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Tulip Winery
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Mosly Cabernet Franc 2006 (89)
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Gold Medal
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Tulip Winery
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Tulip Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2006 (88)
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Gold Medal
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Tura Winery
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Tura Blend 2005 (NT) (1)
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Gold Medal
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Tura Winery
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Tura Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (NT) (1)
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Gold Medal
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Vitkin Winery
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Vitkin White Israeli Journey 2007 (87)
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Gold Medal
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Yaffo Winery
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Rouge Yaffo 2006 (85)
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Gold Medal
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Zion Winery
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Erez Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2006 (85)
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Gold Medal
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3 Vins
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3 Vins Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 (84)
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Silver Medal
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3 Vins
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3 Vins Merlot 2005 (85
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Silver Medal
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3 Vins
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3 Vins Merlot 2003 (84)
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Silver Medal
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Adir Winery
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Kerem Ben Zimra 2006 (NT) (1)
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Silver Medal
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Alexander Winery
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Alexander The Great Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 (89)
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Silver Medal
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Alexander Winery
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Alexander Gaston Garnache - Merlot- Syrah 2005 (88)
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Silver Medal
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Aligote Winery
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Aligote Sangiovse 2006 (85)
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Silver Medal
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Barkan Wine Cellars Ltd.
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Segal's Rehasim Dovev Merlot 2004 (90)
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Silver Medal
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Barkan Wine Cellars Ltd.
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Barkan Tempranillo Reserva 2005 (88)
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Silver Medal
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Benhaim Winery
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Benhaim Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2005 (87)
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Silver Medal
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Binyamina Winery
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Hochen Sapir 2006 (88)
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Silver Medal
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Binyamina Winery
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Hochen Auqumarine 2007 (87)
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Silver Medal
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Carmel Winery
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Carmel 100 Brandy (Brandy-Not Wine)
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Silver Medal
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Carmel Winery
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Carmel Private Collection Shiraz 2007 (86)
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Silver Medal
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Carmel Winery
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Appellation Gewurztraminer 2007 (88)
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Silver Medal
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Chillag Winery
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Primo Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2003 (90)
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Silver Medal
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Ella Valley Vineyards
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Ella Valley Chardonnay 2006 (91)
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Silver Medal
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Ella Valley Vineyards
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Syrah 2006 (92)
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Silver Medal
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Esprit
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Dessert Cherry Wine (Fruit Wine- NT)
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Silver Medal
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Gush Etzion Winery
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Gush Etzion Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2006 (85)
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Silver Medal
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Gush Etzion Winery
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Emek Bracha 2006 (86)
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Silver Medal
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Hacarem - Ramin Winery
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Ramim Cabernet Franc ART 2005 (78)
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Silver Medal
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Jerusalem Winery
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Nikanor Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (NT) (1)
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Silver Medal
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Kahanov Vineyards
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Kahanov Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (78)
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Silver Medal
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levav Enosh Ltd
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levav Enosh White Blend 2007 (NT) (5)
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Silver Medal
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Lewinsohn Winery
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Lewinsohn Chardonnay 2007 (NT) (1)
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Silver Medal
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Mond Winery
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Mond Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (87)
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Silver Medal
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Na'aman Winery
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King Crimson 2005 (84)
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Silver Medal
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Odem Mountain Winery
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Odem Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (88)
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Silver Medal
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Psagot Winery
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Psagot Viognier 2007 (86)
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Silver Medal
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Recanati Winery
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Recanati Secial Reserve 2005 (92)
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Silver Medal
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Recanati Winery
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Recanati Chardonnay 2007 (88)
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Silver Medal
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Recanati Winery
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Recanati Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2007 (88)
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Silver Medal
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Ruth -Vineyard Ltd.
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Ruth Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2006 (86)
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Silver Medal
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Shiloh Winery
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Shiloh Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Shore 2006 (84)
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Silver Medal
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Shiloh Winery
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Shiloh Cabernet Sauvignon Shore 2006 (87)
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Silver Medal
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Snir Winery
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Nimrod Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (84)
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Srigim Winery
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Srigim Barrique Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (87)
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Silver Medal
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Tanya Winery
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Tanya Halel Cabernet Franc Reserve 2006 (90)
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Silver Medal
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Teperberg 1870 Winery
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Teperberg 1870 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2006 (89)
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Silver Medal
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Teperberg 1870 Winery
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Teperberg White Riesling Late Harvest 2006 (89)
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Silver Medal
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Teperberg 1870 Winery
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Teperberg Cabernet Sauvignon Tel Tzuba 2006 (90)
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Silver Medal
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Tzuba Winery
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Tzuba Metsuda 2005 (88)
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Silver Medal
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Tzuba Winery
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Tzuba Chardonnay Tel Tzuba 2007 (86)
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Silver Medal
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Villa Wilhelma
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Villa Wilhelma MedoCabaernet 20M 2005 (85)
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Silver Medal
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Villa Wilhelma
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MedoCabernet 30M 2005 (84)
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Silver Medal
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Villa Wilhelma
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Osta Eliak (NT)
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Silver Medal
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(1) A winery with which I am not yet familiar
(2) A private label wine by Assaf Winery.
(3) Known to me as "Three Vines Winery"
(4) Note that this wine comes from Bustan HaMeshusheem winery and not Bustan winery
(5) I believe this wine is from the Tanya Winery