Winemaker Notes
The 2014 Yarden Merlot exhibits attractive berry and cherry fruit notes, layered with characters of black tea, orange blossom and Mediterranean herbs, as well as hints of Marmite and earth. This elegant full-bodied Merlot displays great varietal flavor. While pleasurable upon release, the 2014 Yarden Merlot will develop in the bottle over the coming years, and remain in great drinking condition for up to a decade from vintage.
Try this food-friendly wine with a festive rack of lamb, grilled skirt steak with garlic and herbs, or a chunk of Gorgonzola cheese.
This wine is Kosher for Passover
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Dark red-violet in the glass, this wine has cherry and orange rind aromas. It fills the palate with flavors of black cherry, pomegranate, orange and aniseed, offering velvety tannins and a smooth finish.
With generous fruit and supple tannins, Merlot is made in a range of styles from everyday-drinking to world-renowned and age-worthy. Merlot is the dominant variety in the wines from Bordeaux’s Right Bank regions of St. Emilion and Pomerol, where it is often blended with Cabernet Franc to spectacular result. Merlot also frequently shines on its own, particularly in California’s Napa Valley. Somm Secret—As much as Miles derided the variety in the 2004 film, Sideways, his prized 1961 Château Cheval Blanc is actually a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
With a rich history of wine production dating back to biblical times, Israel is a part of the cradle of wine civilization. Here, wine was commonly used for religious ceremonies as well as for general consumption. During Roman times, it was a popular export, but during Islamic rule around 1300, production was virtually extinguished. The modern era of Israeli winemaking began in the late 19th century with help from Bordeaux’s Rothschild family. Accordingly, most grapes grown in Israel today are made from native French varieties. Indigenous varieties are all but extinct, though oenologists have made recent attempts to rediscover ancient varieties such as Marawi for commercial wine production.
In Israel’s Mediterranean climate, humidity and drought can be problematic, concentrating much of the country’s grape growing in the north near Galilee, Samaria near the coast and at higher elevations in the east. The most successful red varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, while the best whites are made from Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Many, though by no means all, Israeli wines are certified Kosher.