I attended the official unveiling of the 2005 wines in Barkan's Altitude Series. I had tasted all of these except the Altitude +412 earlier. Also had a chance to re-taste two of Barkan's reserve series whites.

My tasting notes follow.

Best
Rogov

Barkan, Chardonnay, Reserve, 2006: Light gold in color, , one third of this medium-bodied white was aged in oak. Shows appealing peach, melon and citrus fruits, those complemented by gentle hints of wood. Crisp, fruity and mouth-filling. Drink now. Score 87. K (Re-tasted 30 Jul 2007)

Barkan, Sauvignon Blanc, Reserve, 2006: With 20% of the wine aged sur lie in new wood for three months and the remainder developed in stainless steel, this light golden-straw, medium-bodied white shows deeply with good balancing acidity. On the nose and palate tropical fruits, citrus peel and hints of Mediterranean herbs. Drink now. Score 88. K (Re-tasted 30 Jul 2007)

Barkan, Cabernet Sauignon, Altitude +412, 2005: Medium-dark garnet in color, medium- to full-bodied, with soft tannins and reflecting its 14 months in oak with spicy wood. On the nose and palate berries, currants and blueberries, those with nice hints of chocolate and tobacco on the finish. Drink now. Score 88. K (Tasted 30 Jul 2007)

Barkan,, Cabernet Sauvignon, Altitude +624, 2005: Made from grapes from the vineyards at Moshav Alma in the Upper Galilee and aged in oak for 14 months, this medium to full-bodied wine is intensely deep royal-purpleroyal-purple in color and is showing appealing but not overpowering spicy cedar wood and generous blackberry, currant and wild berry fruits on a background of spices, minerals, and a hint of Mediterranean herbs that comes in on the long finish. Best 2009–2012. Score 90. K (Re-tasted 30 Jul 2007)

Barkan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Altitude +720, 2005: Deep royal-purple, ripe, and spicy. Shows fine balance between soft tannins, wood and generous plum, blackberry and currant fruits, those with appealing hints of allspice, cloves and anise. A tantalizing hint of earthy bitterness comes in on the long finish. Best 2009–2013. Score 90. K (Re-tasted 30 Jul 2007)