Ratings

Yarden Merlot Ortal Vineyard

Winery: Golan Heights Winery

Year: 2001

Type: Red

Country: Israel (Upper Galilee)

Grape Variety: Merlot

Note: Aged for 14 months in French oak barrels. This 2001 is shmita sanctified.

Alcohol: 14.5%

Mevushal: No

Date Reviewed: 9/20/06

Color: 2.5 (of 3)

Note: It's a luscious dark garnet color that is aging very well with strong legs (from the high alcohol content) and an orange hint at the rim.

Aroma: 6 (of 7)

Note: A wonderful blend, with the fruitiness of blackberry and plum combined with oak, licorice and tobacco. A very nice balance between fruits and spices.

Taste: 9.5 (of 10)

Note: This is a great example of why some people don't like merlot. It is very dry and filled with very intense tannins throughout the taste, which some find overpowering. I, on the other hand, think it's fabulous! It has everything you could ever want from a Merlot: very dry, rich tannins, deep blackberry and plum fruit flavors, solid tastes of oak, licorice and tobacco (all the things you smelled in it originally) along with black pepper, spices and a slight earthy mushroom taste. If you like Merlot, you'll love this Ortal Vineyard Merlot from Golan Heights Winery. Wow!

Total: 18 (of 20)

Food: I enjoyed it with a simple meatloaf and baked potato. The meatloaf is made with a little onion, garlic and hot sauce to give it a little zest and it pairs with the spicyness in this Merlot beautifully.

Compare to :

Binyamina Special Reserve Merlot

Barkan Reserve Merlot

Segal's Galilee Heights Merlot Special Reserve

What do you think of this wine? :

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