Clos de Gat Har'el Merlot 2017

Cellar for up to 5 years. No need to decant before serving.

Set in Israel’s ancient Ayalon Valley where the biblical figure Joshua defeated the Five Kings, wine has been made on the Clos de Gat for at least three thousand years when the historic winepress or “gat” on the property was built. The modern winery was founded by winemaker Eyal Rotem in 1998 in collaboration with Maison Sichel, a negociant based in Bordeaux.

Rotem carefully studied the land on the property before starting to plant his first vineyards here, taking care to match the varieties to the soil and geological conditions. The region is widely regarded as one of Israel’s top areas for producing wine thanks to the exceptional microclimate and limestone bedrock. To preserve the natural character of the terroir and the grape variety Rotem insists on using wild yeasts for fermentation and does not fine or filter his wines.

Rotem heavily prunes his Merlot vines which are used to make this wine to ensure low yields and excellent quality fruit. The young wine is fermented in specially imported French oak barrels for 14 months, creating a rich, full-flavoured red wine with smooth tannins and intense cassis, dark berry and chocolate notes.