Tasting - Barkan Vineyards Classic Merlot

Name: Barkan Vineyards Classic Merlot
Variety: Merlot
Region: Galilee, Israel
Vintage: 2020
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: 100% Merlot grapes picked from the vineyards of the Barkan Winery in the Galilee and Judean Plains. This wine has a superb fruity and velvet-like taste, with a long and smooth finish.

Wine Folly (pg. 131): I for sure smelled cherry and tasted plum, but I was unable to pick out any other flavors common to merlots. I think the tannins, alcohol, and sweetness are spot-on from the book, but the body and acidity didn't seem to fit as well.

My Review: This wine smelled incredibly rich, almost like maraschino cherries. I found that it had a bit less body than I would expect and a bit more acidity as well. Flavor-wise it reminded me of eating an under-ripe black plum and turned into a peppery-smoky flavor on the finish. I really enjoyed this wine, I think it is one of the better wines I've have at the price I paid. To be honest I loved the smell more than the taste, but I also drank it without food, which would have improved the overall experience. 

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