Wine critic Robert Parker calls the 2008 'C' Chardonnay Blac du Castel from the Domaine du Castel boutique winery 'a very fine Chardonnay.'
Parker writes that this boutique wine is 'bright and mouth-gripping, well-marked with oak... combines elegance and a grip on the bright, lovely finish.'
Israeli critic Daniel Rogov has also praised the C series. In his <I>Guide to Israeli Wines 2010</I>, Rogov calls the winery's C Chardonnays 'one of the most exciting Chardonnay wines produced in Israel.' Indeed, Rogov ranks Domaine du Castel a five-star winery: 'A world class winery, consistently producing excellent wines.'
Domaine du Castel is a family estate founded as a micro-winery in 1988 by Eli Ben-Zaken. The first wine was released in 1992 inonly 600 bottles. Since then, the winery's production has grown to 100,000 bottles annually.
The vineyards and winery – with a barrel room that holds 500 barriques - are located in Ramat Raziel, about 17 km (10 miles) west of Jerusalem.
Situated in the Judean Hills, the fields lie at an altitude of 700 m(2300 feet) in one of Israel’s biblical - and best - wine regions. Varieties used include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Chardonnay.
The winery put out a kosher version of its Grand Vin in 2002, and since 2003 all wines made by Domaine du Castel have been kosher.
