A Wine Lover" s Near Weekly Review Of $15 Wines - An Efrat, Israel Merlot
Not long ago the Israeli Efrat winery changed its name to Teperberg 1870, to honor of the founder's of Israel's oldest private winery. We have previously reviewed some of their other offerings. Their web site is presently under construction. They are now sell about 4 million bottles a year but according to their expansion plans they intend to raise this number to 7 million. I don't know if these fairly impressive statistics include grape juice as well. Our companion wine is a French Merlot that comes in at about two-thirds the cost.
OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.
Wine Reviewed Efrat Israeli Samson Merlot Kosher for Passover Merlot 2010 13% alcohol about $15.
There were no marketing materials so let's start with the back label. "Our Merlot is round and fruity grown in our vineyards in Dir Rafat. It offers aromas of ripe blueberries and raspberries. Medium bodied with smooth texture, it is complemented by hints of spices and oak." And now for my review.
At the first sips this wine was mouth filling and upbeat with lots of plums. In the presence of Japanese rice crackers the drink presented round tannins and balanced acidity. My first meal centered on barbecued chicken with a paprika-dusted skin. This libation presented some chocolate and acidity that really cut the leg's grease. In the presence of the breast its acidity and chocolate intensified. The accompanying roasted eggplant salad (mayo, mayo, mayo) made our French friend's acidity drop but its tannins were round.
My next meal's focus was slow-cooked minute steak. Red was powerful, mouth filling, and multilayered. The accompanying potatoes rendered the drink's acidity dominant, but the sweet potatoes marked the return of the wine. When I liberally spiced the meat with Louisiana hot sauce the liquid was shortened but did remain mouth filling.
The closing meal started off with a delicious home-made appetizer of fried onions and Portabello mushrooms. The drink was long and subtle. Then came a boxed Baked Ziti Siciliano that I doused with grated Parmesan cheese. The libation offered lots of chocolate but was definitely thinner. Dessert was fresh honeydew and in response my glass's contents presented dark fruit and good acidity.
Final verdict. I intend to buy this wine again. I plan to take it one of these days to my wine tasting group.
OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.
Wine Reviewed Efrat Israeli Samson Merlot Kosher for Passover Merlot 2010 13% alcohol about $15.
There were no marketing materials so let's start with the back label. "Our Merlot is round and fruity grown in our vineyards in Dir Rafat. It offers aromas of ripe blueberries and raspberries. Medium bodied with smooth texture, it is complemented by hints of spices and oak." And now for my review.
At the first sips this wine was mouth filling and upbeat with lots of plums. In the presence of Japanese rice crackers the drink presented round tannins and balanced acidity. My first meal centered on barbecued chicken with a paprika-dusted skin. This libation presented some chocolate and acidity that really cut the leg's grease. In the presence of the breast its acidity and chocolate intensified. The accompanying roasted eggplant salad (mayo, mayo, mayo) made our French friend's acidity drop but its tannins were round.
My next meal's focus was slow-cooked minute steak. Red was powerful, mouth filling, and multilayered. The accompanying potatoes rendered the drink's acidity dominant, but the sweet potatoes marked the return of the wine. When I liberally spiced the meat with Louisiana hot sauce the liquid was shortened but did remain mouth filling.
The closing meal started off with a delicious home-made appetizer of fried onions and Portabello mushrooms. The drink was long and subtle. Then came a boxed Baked Ziti Siciliano that I doused with grated Parmesan cheese. The libation offered lots of chocolate but was definitely thinner. Dessert was fresh honeydew and in response my glass's contents presented dark fruit and good acidity.
Final verdict. I intend to buy this wine again. I plan to take it one of these days to my wine tasting group.
