A Classic Israeli Chardonnay

A Classic Israeli Chardonnay

Can we get a fine Israeli Chardonnay at this price? ...

Barkan Classic Chardonnay

The Barkan winery traces its history back to 1899. It is now Israel’s second largest winery and owns the country’s largest vineyard. They produce four lines of wine; today’s offering is next to the bottom. They are developing a sizable vineyard in the Negev Desert. And the wine business being like so many others, the main ownership is now in the hands of a soft drink company. The companion wine is an Italian Chardonnay coming in at half the price
OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
Barkan Classic Chardonnay 2006 (not a typo) 12.5 % alcohol about $15.

In the absence of marketing materials let’s start by quoting the back label “Barkan Classic Chardonnay is produced from grape’s grown at the winery’s vineyards in the center of Israel. The vines yield small crops and ripen early. Hand picked in small containers, the grapes are rushed to the winery to ensure maximum quality. The wine ferments slowly at cool temperatures and yields a wine with a rich nose of blueberries, guava and pears. It is well structured, balanced and lingers in the mouth. Ideal with poultry and hard cheese.” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine was smoky and almost chewy offering light acidity. The initial meal focused on a barbecued chicken breast with a paprika dusted skin on which I squeezed a generous amount of fresh lime. The Chardonnay responded with intensified smokiness and good acidity. It was round. Steamed quinoa gave me a tinge of citrus in the smoke. A barbecued chicken wing augmented Chardy’s acidity and sweetness while its smokiness remained. The side dish of steamed broccoli made the libation’s acidity dominant, and in fact threw it slightly out of whack.

This review of a Classic Israeli Chardonnay continues on my web site at

http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Near_weekly_15_dollar_wine_reviews/Y2013/classic_israeli_chardonnay.php