2013 Black Tulip

The 2013 Black Tulip is a blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon (from 26-year-old vines in Alma, Upper Galilee), 19% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot (all from Mata, Judean Hills), aged for 24 months in a 70/30 mixture of used and new French oak. It comes in at 14.7% alcohol. The winery's upper-level brand (and often its blockbuster stylistically), this is laced with oak and herbal nuances, seeming far chunkier than the Syrah Reserve (also reviewed). While it is notably less refined than the Syrah Reserve, it is arguably more complex. Certainly, this is packed with flavor, although it took some 90 minutes of air for the Cabernet character to shine through. This really needs another couple of years in the cellar to pull together and show some refinement (if it can). At the moment, even a bit disjointed, this still has many merits and the possibility of improvement. The last taste was the best, as it seemed simply delicious. Come back around 2020 and see where it is.