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The Fruit of the Vine

Evaluating Wine. See the criterion used to evaluate the wines.

New Reviews
By Micah Halpern

Beautiful set of wines from Barkan
Barkan Muscat Canneli 2000
A sweet dessert wine, fragrant and full of fruit...fun to drink especially with bittersweet chocolates.
Barkan Syrah, 2000
"This is a different type of wine for Israel and the kosher wine drinker. It is an experiment with tremendous success."
Barkan Pinot Noir 2000
Everything about this wine is striking - from its taste to its aroma to its packaging. In a class of its own.
Two wines from the new winery Galil Mountain
Galil Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
Surprisingly soft and delicate for an Israeli cabernet.
Galil Mountain Merlot
A very good yet inexpensive wine. It is simple and perfect for any meal

You can purchase the wines reviewed in this column at fine wine stores throughout Israel.


Please direct questions on content to Micah Halpern: jcommmicah@aol.com and comments on this webste to admin@eLuna.com
Wine Reviews

Cabernet Sauvignon

 

 

 
Cabernet Sauvignon 1996, Barkan
"The wine has a lovely, smooth taste that is unparalleled in most Israelis reds today."
Cabernet Sauvignon 1997, Barkan "...a fine, smooth taste and is good value for the price."
Cabernet Sauvignon , 1998 Barkan Alfasi Reserve
"If a wine could be judged by its bottle and label alone, this would be a winner."
Cabernet Sauvignon, 1998, Gamla
"When I first opened the wine, the bouquet was outstanding. But when I tasted it, the wine was not as smooth as I would have liked."
Cabernet Sauvignon, 1996 Wente Segal
"... a deep Cabernet filled with body that leaves the palate with an excellent after taste."
Cabernet Sauvignon, Ramat Arad Series, Estate Wine 1997, Carmel Private Collection
"...Estate wines are pressed from a small number of grapes...the taste of the wine can often vary."
Cabernet Sauvingnon, Golan 1999
"...tasty and full of flavors. It has a future and can be stored for years or you can drink it right now."
Cabernet Sauvignon 1997, Herzog California
"a combination of grapes from the Napa and Alexander Valleys in California."
Cabernet Sauvignon 1994, Herzog California, Special Edition, Alexander Valley
"...truly the best kosher wine of the decade...smooth as silk...a deep, luscious red. Its bouquet is exotic."
Cabernet / Merlot (blend) 1999, Dalton
"...The taste is smooth, and leaves a very distinct, but pleasant, aftertaste when swallowed "
Vecchio Podere Cabernet Del Veneto, 2000
"The aroma is light and fruity with a strong sense of berry. The taste lingers as would a far superior wine."
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1998, Dalton
"...the best wine of the season...the best Israeli wine I have tasted in quite a few years."
Baron Herzog Special Edition Cabernet Sauvignon, 1997
"Words cannot do justice to this absolutely excellent wine... Without a doubt this is the best kosher wine since Herzog came out with their wine selection in 1994."
Chardonnay  
Chardonnay 1998, Organic, Gush Etzion
"...very light and very clear, with not the least tinge of yellow."
Chardonnay, 1997 Yarden
"... the best buy of the year...This wine will only improve over time."
Chardonnay, 1995 Yarden
"The few years on the shelf have ... allowed for the full bouquet of flavors to fully open."
Chardonnay 1997, Dalton
"...not a sweet wine but those who enjoy sweet wines will not be disappointed here because of the fruity tones."
Chardonnay 1998, Dalton
"..just the right blend of oakey and smooth tastes."
Chardonnay 1999 , Gamla
"an excellent and inexpensive wine...perfect for the summer...recommended for a BBQ or a cold dinner ."
Merlot  
Barkan Superior, Merlot, 1998
"...
presented exquisitely...This might be an excellent investment."
Merlot 1997, Barkan
"This merlot is light and not very complicated with only minimal depth...An excellent wine but it is not the '98 "
Merlot 1998, Barkan
"A superior Merlot...beautiful clarity, a shimmering red color and is so smooth to the taste."
Merlot, 1998,Barkan Alfasi Reserve
"...light and pleasant, it is fun and fresh and leaves no aftertaste or dry palate..."
Merlot, 1997, Dalton
"...the subtle taste of summer fruits with a hint of vanilla...often reserved for far more expensive wines."
Dalton Merlot, 1999
"...light and mellow with a very soft aroma and very light, tender, taste."
Merlot, 1995, Gush Etzion
"...aged in oak caskets for 24 months - a year longer than your average kosher Merlot..."
Merlot, 1999, J.P. Chenet
"...a perfect dinner wine, or can even be served for after dinner with cheese and crackers or with chocolates.."
Merlot 2000, Gamla
"...a brand new wine, never before produced by this vineyard..an admirable experiment."

Merlot 2000, Tishbi
"Not just is the label attractive, but he color of this Tishbi, Merlot 2000 is perfect."

Dessert Wines  
Muscat Dessert Wine, Barkan
"...this Barkan Muscat has a beautiful bouquet and is truly a pleasure to sip"
Carmel Muscat Private Collection, Carmel
"...a wine that will be savored and enjoyed by those who enjoy both good wine and good brandy."
Carmel Semillion Late Harvest 1998 Carmel
"The best of the sweet white wines to hit the kosher wine market."
Muscat , 1999, Dalton
"The lightness of this wine, in taste and in bouquet, is what makes it most appealing."
Muscat , 1997, Yarden
"Sweet enough to be used for kiddush it is mellow enough to accompany other parts of the meal."

White Wines

 

 

 
Herzog Late Harvest White Riesling, 2000
".. an excellent sweet white wine... worthwhile trying even by those who only enjoy deep reds."
Emerald Riesling, 1999, Binyamina
"...a light and fruity wine that bubbles when poured...an excellent "get acquainted" wine..."
Moscato 2000, Golan
"...a bubbly, light, fun drink that goes very well as an opener or as a delightful party-time wine."
Savignon Blanc , 1997, Gush Etzion
"...produced without any pesticides, chemicals or insecticides...and by Shomer Shabbat vintners."

Red Wines

 

 

 
Barons Rothschild, 1999 Haut Medoc
"...the absolute rage of the moment...a varietal wine... a combination of several locally grown grapes"
Herzog Lodi Zinfandel, 1999
"...the perfect starter wine for new tasters. the best buy on the Kosher wine market in the States."
Cabernet / Merlot (blend) 1999, Dalton
"...The taste is smooth, and leaves a very distinct, but pleasant, aftertaste when swallowed "
Vecchio Podere Cabernet Del Veneto, 2000
"The aroma is light and fruity with a strong sense of berry. The taste lingers as would a far superior wine."
Cabernet Reserve 1997, Dalton
"...the best full bodied Israeli red they I have tasted this year. "
Chianti 1998, Bartenura
"...chiantis go down very smoothly and lightly and then surprise, a kick just as you swallow."
Vecchio Podere Merlot Del Veneto, 2000
"...light and fragrant with a little kick after it goes down."
Mount Hermon 2000, Yarden
A perfect and lovely red table wine. One of Yarden's good yet less expensive wines.
Barkan Syrah, 2000
"This is a different type of wine for Israel and the kosher wine drinker. It is an experiment with tremendous success."
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