Noah Tevel Cabernet Merlot

Noah Tevel Cabernet Merlot is a kosher red blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot from Israel's Judean Hills, available in a standard 750ml bottle. Produced by Hevron Heights Winery — a project founded by French Jewish immigrants — the wine is barrel aged for 12 months in new French oak, lending structure and complexity to fruit harvested from one of Israel's most promising winemaking regions.

Quick Facts: Blend: 60/40 Cabernet Sauvignon–Merlot  |  Origin: Judean Hills, Israel  |  Aging: 12 months in new French oak  |  Winery: Hevron Heights (Noah)

Production & Heritage

Hevron Heights Winery, also known as Noah Winery, was established near Beth Shemesh in the foothills of the Judean Mountains, south and east of Jerusalem. The winery was founded by a group of dedicated French Jewish immigrants whose mission centered on reviving kosher winemaking at one of the original sites of Jewish habitation in the Land of Israel. The Tevel bottling spends a full year in new French oak barrels, integrating the ripe fruit character of the Judean Hills with toasty, structured oak influence. Vineyards in this area benefit from significant diurnal temperature variation — warm, sunny days and cool desert nights — which helps the grapes retain acidity while developing concentrated flavors.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark berry fruit leads the nose, with layers of blackberry and raspberry followed by a chocolatey undercurrent. Subtle oak-derived vanilla emerges as the wine opens up in the glass.

Taste: The entry is fruit-forward, with ripe blackberry and jammy raspberry notes arriving immediately on the palate. At mid-palate, the Merlot's softness rounds out the Cabernet's firmer tannins, while chocolate and vanilla tones from French oak aging add depth. The blend strikes a balance between juicy fruit sweetness and structured grip.

Finish: Medium in length with silky, smooth tannins that taper into lingering dark fruit and a trace of bittersweet chocolate. The oak influence remains integrated rather than dominant, letting the fruit have the final say.

How to Drink Noah Tevel

Serve at cool room temperature, around 60–65°F (16–18°C), in a standard Bordeaux glass to let the aromatics develop fully. Decanting for 20–30 minutes can help soften the tannins and open the bouquet. This blend also works as a base for a Kalimotxo, where the fruit-forward profile pairs naturally with cola's caramel sweetness. A classic red wine Sangria benefits from the Tevel's berry intensity and chocolate undertones. For a simple warm-weather serve, try it in a Tinto de Verano with sparkling lemon soda, which highlights the wine's bright raspberry character.

Best For

• Shabbat and Jewish holiday dinners where a reliable kosher red is essential
• Introducing Israeli wines to friends who primarily drink Bordeaux-style blends
• Weeknight dinners featuring grilled lamb, stews, or hearty pasta dishes
• Building a kosher wine collection with representation from the Judean Hills

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Noah Tevel taste like? Noah Tevel delivers ripe blackberry and raspberry fruit with chocolate and vanilla undertones from 12 months of French oak aging. The mouthfeel is silky and medium-bodied, with soft tannins from the 40% Merlot component rounding out the Cabernet Sauvignon's structure.

How does Noah Tevel compare to Barkan Classic Cabernet Sauvignon–Merlot? Both are kosher Israeli Cabernet-Merlot blends, but Noah Tevel is aged in new French oak for 12 months, which tends to give it more pronounced vanilla and chocolate notes. Barkan Classic is generally positioned as a lighter, more everyday-drinking style, while the Tevel aims for a slightly more structured profile.

Is Noah Tevel good for sipping neat? Yes — its fruit-forward character and integrated oak make it approachable on its own, especially with 20–30 minutes of decanting to let the tannins soften and the aromatics fully develop.

Where is Noah Tevel made? Noah Tevel is produced by Hevron Heights Winery (also called Noah Winery), located near Beth Shemesh in the foothills of the Judean Mountains, southeast of Jerusalem in Israel. The vineyards sit at elevation in the Judean Hills, a region known for warm days and cool desert nights that promote slow, even grape ripening.

What foods pair well with Noah Tevel? Grilled lamb chops complement the wine's dark berry fruit and oak spice. Braised beef short ribs mirror its chocolatey depth. Hard aged cheeses like Manchego or kosher Gouda echo the smooth tannin structure. Mushroom risotto highlights the wine's earthy undertones, and dark chocolate desserts reinforce the cocoa notes from French oak aging.

What sizes does Noah Tevel come in? Noah Tevel Cabernet Merlot is available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Noah Tevel worth the price? Noah Tevel positions as an entry-to-mid-level kosher red from a boutique Israeli winery, offering 12 months of new French oak aging — a production step often reserved for more expensive bottlings. For consumers seeking a kosher Bordeaux-style blend with genuine oak influence at an accessible tier, it represents solid value within the category.

Why Noah Tevel?

What separates Noah Tevel from the crowded field of kosher red blends is its combination of terroir-driven fruit and deliberate winemaking. Twelve months in new French oak is a meaningful commitment for a wine at this price tier, and the result — integrated vanilla and chocolate layered over concentrated Judean Hills fruit — reflects that investment. The winery's French heritage shows in the Bordeaux-inspired 60/40 Cabernet-Merlot blend, a ratio that balances structure with approachability. For anyone exploring Israeli wine beyond the well-known Galilee producers, this Judean Hills bottling from Hevron Heights is a distinctive entry point.