Dark ruby to the eye, this wine has aromas of black cherry, violet and gunpowder. The palate offers slightly drying tannins and flavors of ripe summer cherry, black currant, salted toffee, fennel pollen and a soft brambly note. The lingering finish is remarkably bright.

The 2018 Special Reserve red is a blend of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Syrah, 10% Petite Sirah, 10% Carignan and 5% Marselan all aged for 18 months in 50% new French oak. It comes in at 13.7% alcohol. This is really the only place in the lineup where the tannic edge might make you want to cellar this for a year or two. Though even here the tannins are not too hard—just give it some air. Still, this is where the winery pulls out the stops. As time has gone on, this bottling has become very elegant, always demonstrating finesse and focus. So, too, this year. The precision is impressive. It is tightly wound, and there is a promise that both complexity and more harmony will come if you cellar it for a few years. It will become far more expressive. Also bright and fresh, this should be a pleasure to drink with food. At the same time, it is much more intriguing than the rest of the lineup. It has the best structure and the longest finish. Overall, this looks super. Let's start here in evaluation, and we'll see where it goes in time.

A generous and sinewy red with a firm structure enveloping the black currant, dark olive and bay leaf flavors that are decked out with anise, graphite and black tea details. Smoke and savory spice notes linger on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Carignan and Marselan. Kosher. Drink now through 2025.

Well-crafted, with a smoky undertone detailing the currant and blackberry flavors, matched to cedar, herb and black tea accents. Full, integrated tannins offer support through the olive and bay leaf elements on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Carignan and Marselan. Drink now through 2024. 825 cases made, 50 cases imported. - G.S.

Deep ruby in color, this wine has a bouquet of cherry and sage. A network of strong tannins and equally weighted acidity provides structure for flavors of blackberry, cassis, toffee and lemon sorbet. The rich, satisfying finish is punctuated by a surprisingly bright finale.

A gorgeous Special Reserve, this shows off its superb mid-palate finesse, beautiful structure and a long finish. It is tightly wound and precise. The grape blend gives this some aromatic earthiness—maybe the Syrah most of all—but that is a nuance and an advantage. 

Full-bodied, featuring refined layers of dried cherry, currant and graphite, laced with sandalwood and mineral details. Well-structured, with full, supple tannins framing the hints of herb, milk chocolate and anise on the finish. 

The 2015 Special Reserve red is a blend of 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah, 17% Petite Sirah, 13% Carignan and 10% Marselan, aged for 17 months in 60% new French oak. This wasn't the greatest vintage in Israel, but Recanati picked early, avoiding problems that arose, said winemaker Gil Shatsberg. They created a rather refined Special Reserve. It's not the biggest and richest this year, but it has a sophisticated feel to it. This has that old-school mid-palate finesse, silky texture and impeccable balance. The finish is long and complex, filled with hints of beef, herbs and cherries, all mingled together. It ends dry and serious. This is an understated food wine this year. Some will like it even more for that graceful demeanor.

This dark garnet colored wine has aromas of black cherry and a faint touch of green bell pepper. Sleek tannins coat the palate as flavors of black cherry, raspberry, smoke, black pepper and eucalyptus cavort towards a lasting, smoky finish.

The 2014 Special Reserve red, set for release in September, is a blend of 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah, 17% Petite Sirah, 13% Carignan and 10% Marselan, aged for 18 months in new French oak. It comes in at 14% alcohol. Of all of Recanati's wines, this is the one I expect to demonstrate, usually, the most upside potential. I'm not completely positive about this year, though. If anything, it is a bit too straightforward for the level, although the tannins are there. It has the most depth and power of the group, but not by a whole lot, while it generally lacks the brightness and personality of the Marselan and Carignan. Overall, this is still pretty good—so don't misunderstand—but it does need to show me a bit more in the cellar, acquiring some complexity and harmony as it goes along, to justify an uptick. At the moment, I'd probably pick the Carignan among the current releases as my favorite.

This deeply-colored wine has a bouquet of cherry, pomegranate and white chocolate. It has flavors of black cherry jam, anise, mocha and a touch of orange peel. Mouth-coating tannins provide a matrix for an interesting touch of spiciness that gives way to a final taste of pomegranate. Kosher. 

Juicy and rich, with lots of red plum and raspberry flavors that feature fresh acidity. Licorice notes show midpalate, presenting a finish that has accents of milk chocolate and paprika. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Marselan and Carignan. Kosher. Drink now through 2019. 1,900 cases made.  –KM

The 2013 Special Reserve red is a blend of 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah, 21% Carignan, 19% Marselan and 5% Petite Sirah; aged for 18 months in new French barriques. It comes in at 14.3% alcohol. This might not be as attention-getting as in some years, but it shows beautifully, crisp and often seductive. It grew on me steadily while it was open. The initial softness is cut by the underlying freshness, and some earthiness in the background (the Syrah asserting itself?) cuts the initial, straightforward presentation. Restrained, just a bit understated and beautifully balanced, this drinks moderately well now, but it can still improve with cellaring. It should make a great food wine, easy to drink, possessed of a rather fresh feel and not a hair out of place. It may yet be entitled to an uptick.

The 2005 Special Reserve is revisited this issue as part of our retrospective. Still beautiful and having acquired some complexity along the way, this intense Special Reserve has a serious backbone, but more concentration and lushness than the regular Reserves (the 2006s were also reviewed this issue). Still a bit tight, this is acquiring some complexity now. It is very impressive on opening, even exciting. It is a wine that will certainly make some think it is a Bordeaux in a blind tasting. That said, it did develop a bit of funk that constrained my enthusiasm just a bit. It has still held well. Approachable now, it may not quite be at peak and it has plenty of life left, easily deserving an extension of the drinking window.

A nose of black cherry, violet and vanilla paves the way for a grown up melange of fruit and savory flavors that include raspberry, cassis, brambles and smoked meat. Long-lasting tannins coat the palate through a finish marked by notes of berries and smoke.

Deep red-violet to the eye, this wine has a well-defined nose of blueberry pie and flint. There is a good mix of tart fruit and spice, with flavors of blueberry, cranberry, black pepper, anise and smoked meat cavorting amidst very soft tannins. The smooth finish is characterized by flavors of smoke and orange zest.