One of
the joys of working in the luxury wine business is getting the opportunity to
bear witness to the up and comers, the wines catching everyone’s eye. That’s
why this week we want to introduce you to the Mythos 2005: Israel’s wine
secret.
Unfortunately
we don’t currently feature any Israeli wines on our luxury Ideal Wine Company
product list; despite its rich cultural history and the role wine has played in
shaping that history, the cradle of modern Christianity isn’t particularly
known for its modern viticulture. That could be set to change.
Welcome
to the Mythos 2005. This is the wine that was made by Benhaim winery and it was
judged the best submission from 24 countries this month at the international
Terravino Wine festival.
A deep
hearty red that proves perfect for a cold night by the fireside, most critics
hadn’t even heard of the winery, never mind the wine itself, at the start of
Terravino. Benhaim is a small, family owned winery and considering it was up
against some real giants of the industry, quite frankly no one expected it to
win.
But win
it did and it certainly deserved to. A wine that’s sold for 295 shekels (the
Israeli currency) a bottle, it brings something new to a market that, quite
frankly, has a tendency to be dominated by the more well-known French, Italian,
Spanish, Argentinian and Californian labels.
Here we
are seeing the power of the locally made wine. Benhaim has a varied range of
products and each holds the quality of the Mythos. These labels include Benhaim
Chardonnay 2012, Benhaim Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2008 and Benhaim Cabernet
Franc Reserve 2010. The Benhaim label is clearly diversifying all the time and
adding a new dimension to the domestic Israeli wine market; something that is
sorely needed.
Benhaim
is the essence of the family owned winery. Owned and operated by the Benhaim
family, it’s actually pretty new on the scene. It’s only been in operation
since 1997 and in that time it has built up a stellar reputation for the
quality of the product that leaves its premises.
The
Mythos 20005 has done more than boost the international perception of the
Israeli wine trade. Here at Ideal Wine Company, it has reminded us that the
best wines often come from the smallest places. Commercialism only goes so far
in viticulture.
