2006 Yarden Odem Merlot

[David Raccah]

Some thoughts on Yarden's fumble on this wine and its pricing in the US and the wine note:

http://kosherwinemusings.com/2012/03/22 ... e-vineyard

To make those happy - here is the note only - the rest is on the blog:

2006 Yarden Merlot, Odem Vineyard, Organic Vineyard – Score: A- (and a bit more)
This is the first single vineyard Merlot from the Odem Vineyard. This vineyard is tended to organically, but the word Organic is nowhere on the label as there are sulfites added. The first thing that hits you is the massive amount of heady spice and herb, what follows is crazy candied plum, nice chocolate, blackberry, eucalyptus/menthol aromas, and black cherry. The eucalyptus dies down over time and makes way for more rich spice and black fruit. The mouth is massive and inky with mouth coating tannin, layer upon layer of spice and herb, black fruit that is focused and concentrated, and sweet cedar that is integrating and rich in the mouth. The finish is super long and spicy with lovely tobacco, chocolate, blackcurrant, orange rind and loamy dirt. Over time the wine opens further and shows layers of butterscotch and creamy vanilla.

[Samuel A]

Hi David - thanks for the note. I do not think that the price of this wine has come back down across the board, certainly not as a result of a price reduction by Yarden. I think there was one month last year (I think around March, the first month the wine was in the US) when Yarden priced this wine the same as its Odem organic white wine. But after this month (when, yes, the wine flew out of the Yarden warehouse like hotcakes) the price normalized to the level of the other Yarden single varietals. So it would seem that any $28 or so price you are seeing are from merchants who had stocked up on the wine at the initial incorrect price. A google search indicates that the major online kosher wine retailers are currently selling this wine for $45-$50, even in the midst of the cutthroat Passover season.

[Gabriel Geller]

$ 28!!! I'd buy them all (seriously!)! It's like that sale you had last summer wit the Yiron '07 at $12, that's crazy!

[David Raccah]

Like I said in the article, the online sellers all bought the wine 6 or more months ago, when the price was higher. Now there are many local sellers here in the bay Area and in other locals that are selling it for around 25 or so dollars.

Just a heads up - look local, not internet for this deal. I drank the wine being sold local - it is fine and not a sell off because of tainted or poor storage.

David

[David Raccah]

Gabriel, the 2006 is still for sale in Israel? When it was, what was it going for?

David

[Gabriel Geller]

It is still selling in Israel (I've bought several bottles for myself a few months ago, before even planning to open my own shop) for 129 shekels on sale ($34) but the regular price is around 139.

[Adam M]

I purchased a bottle of this wine at AA Pyup in Jerusalem two years ago for about what Gabriel indicates.