Recanati Reserve Petite Sirah Zinfandel

Recanati Reserve Petite Sirah Zinfandel is a bold Israeli red blend of 70% Petite Sirah and 30% Zinfandel, bottled at approximately 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Awarded 93 points by Wine Enthusiast, this reserve-level bottling delivers concentrated dark fruit intensity shaped by 12 months of French oak maturation—a distinctive expression from one of Israel's leading modern wineries.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~14.5%  |  Origin: Upper Galilee & Jezreel Valley, Israel  |  Style: Reserve Red Blend  |  Winery: Recanati Winery

Production & Heritage

Recanati Winery, founded in 2000 by the Italian-Israeli Recanati family, quickly established itself among Israel's quality-driven producers, sourcing fruit from prime vineyard sites across the Upper Galilee and Jezreel Valley. For this Reserve blend, grapes are handpicked from mature vines—Petite Sirah whose deep root systems tap into the heavy valley soils for concentrated flavor, paired with Zinfandel to add complexity. After destemming and fermentation, the wine matures for 12 months in French oak barrels, roughly half of which are new. It is then bottled without fining and with only coarse filtration, preserving the full spectrum of flavors and textural richness that define the cuvée.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: A deep garnet-to-purple core gives way to an expressive bouquet of black currant, cassis, and clove, layered with blueberry, black raspberry, and a subtle thread of leather. Vanilla undertones from the French oak weave through the darker fruit tones without overwhelming them.

Taste: The entry is plush and fruit-forward, leading with blackberry and black cherry before Mission fig, licorice, and milk chocolate emerge across the mid-palate. Dried Mediterranean herbs—sage and marjoram—add savory counterpoints, while opulent, well-structured tannins provide grip and shape. Hints of walnut and spice add dimension toward the peak.

Finish: Long and layered, with tobacco leaf, cassis, and dark plum lingering alongside fine-grained tannins. A dusting of cocoa and dried herb closes the finish with composure rather than heat.

How to Drink Recanati Reserve PS Zinfandel

This is a wine best served at 62–65°F (17–18°C), ideally decanted for 30–45 minutes to let the tannins soften and the aromatic complexity fully develop. It is at its most expressive when sipped on its own or alongside hearty dishes. For cocktail-adjacent applications, try it in a Kalimotxo—the blend's dark fruit and licorice notes stand up well to cola's sweetness. It also works beautifully in a red wine sangria with blackberries, orange peel, and a touch of brandy, where the fig and chocolate notes shine. A simple wine spritzer with sparkling water and a sprig of rosemary highlights the herbal character in warmer weather.

Best For

• Hosting a Middle Eastern or Mediterranean-themed dinner party
• Gifting to a wine enthusiast who appreciates off-the-beaten-path Israeli wines
• Pairing with slow-cooked or grilled red meats on a weekend evening
• Building a collection of critically acclaimed kosher wines

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Recanati Reserve Petite Sirah Zinfandel taste like? It delivers concentrated blackberry, cassis, and Mission fig flavors wrapped in opulent tannins, with supporting notes of licorice, milk chocolate, dried herbs, and tobacco leaf. The French oak aging adds vanilla and spice without masking the fruit.

How does Recanati Reserve compare to Yarden wines from Golan Heights Winery? Both are premium Israeli reds, but Recanati's Petite Sirah–Zinfandel blend leans toward richer, more opulent dark-fruit intensity, while Golan Heights Winery's Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon typically shows more structured, Bordeaux-leaning character. The Recanati Reserve also tends to be bottled with minimal filtration, contributing to a denser mouthfeel.

Is Recanati Reserve good for sipping neat? Yes—its 93-point rating from Wine Enthusiast and layered complexity make it well suited for contemplative drinking on its own, especially after 30 minutes of decanting to open the aromatics fully.

Where is Recanati Reserve made? It is produced by Recanati Winery in Israel, drawing fruit from vineyard sites in the Upper Galilee and Jezreel Valley—two of the country's most respected wine-growing regions known for their elevation, cooler microclimates, and mineral-rich soils.

What foods pair well with Recanati Reserve Petite Sirah Zinfandel? Slow-braised lamb shoulder benefits from the wine's tannin structure and herbal notes. Grilled beef kebabs with za'atar echo the Mediterranean herb character. Aged hard cheeses like aged Gouda or Manchego complement the chocolate and fig tones. Eggplant-based dishes such as moussaka mirror the wine's earthy depth. Dark chocolate desserts with a touch of sea salt highlight the cocoa finish.

What sizes does Recanati Reserve come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is Recanati Reserve worth the price? Positioned as a mid-premium reserve bottling from one of Israel's respected modern wineries, its 93-point Wine Enthusiast score and 90-point James Suckling rating suggest it punches above its weight relative to similarly scored New World Petite Sirahs and red blends at comparable price points.

Why Recanati Reserve?

A 93-point score from Wine Enthusiast puts this blend among the highest-rated Israeli reds in its class—a meaningful distinction in a category gaining serious international attention. The decision to bottle without fining and with only coarse filtration is a winemaking choice that preserves textural density and flavor nuance, something rarely seen in kosher wine production at this tier. The 70/30 Petite Sirah–Zinfandel split is itself unusual; few producers anywhere in the world pair these two varietals, giving the wine a profile that sits outside easy comparison. For anyone looking beyond the traditional Old and New World paradigms, this reserve bottling demonstrates what Israel's Upper Galilee and Jezreel Valley can deliver at a serious level.