The colour is medium garnet. On the nose notes of plum and kirsch. On the palate the wine feels flat, with no real finish or aftertaste.
This fortified wine is produced in Bhutan, supposedly from international grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The fact that it is made in such a secluded Himalayan country is probably the only real reason adventurous wine enthusiasts and curious travellers might wish to try Takin Red Wine. Certainly not for the pleasure of drinking it.
The wine is blended and bottled by Samtse Distillery, an industrial facility run by the Bhutanese military (Army Welfare Project) that mostly makes high-volume spirits like whisky and rum. Since Bhutan has no established commercial vineyards, production is likely based on imported grape must or bulk wine (probably sourced from India), which is then processed in a large-scale facility and subsequently fermented (or further fermented) and fortified before bottling.
Takin Red Wine retails at around 3 EUR for a 0.375l bottle. A friend brought one back from a recent holiday in Bhutan to share at the end of a dinner.
Country: Bhutan
Region: Himalaya
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Type: Fortified wine
Vintage: N/A
Producer: Samtse Distillery
Price range: Economic (<15 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 1/5