DWWA 2014 Regional Trophy: Red Middle, Far East & Asia over £15

This year's Decanter World Wine Awards Regional Trophy for Red Middle, Far East & Asia over £15 went to Trio, Special Cuvée, Jerusalem Hills, Judean Hills, Israel 2012 (14.5%)

Tasted against:

• No other Golds in this category

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Trio is owned by brothers Tal and Oran Shaked, along with their cousin Kobi Shaked. The family is behind one of Israel’s top wine importers, in addition to a chain of wine shops throughout Tel Aviv.

The trio in question decided to experiment and make their own wine in 2006, ‘just to see how it feels’, doing so from the basement of the brothers’ parent’s house. Production has since moved to a more conventional facility in upper Galilee, where they produce about 70,000 bottles a year.

Yotam Sharon is consultant winemaker at Trio, overseeing significant improvements in the winery’s infrastructure in 2013, including new fermentation tanks, a cooling system, grape press and a larger barrel cellar.

This Trophy-winner is blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Syrah, the former being sourced from Judaen Hills and the latter from upper Galilee. Sharon says of this winning wine: ‘The Special Cuvée is about crafting the best expression from a given vintage, selecting the best lots and ageing them to create a wine that is rich and profound, yet supple and approachable when released.’

Written by Decanter