The 2011 Suvla Sır
The problem with back log reviews is that they get really back logged! This has apparently been neglected as a draft for a rather embarrassing amount of months. And while a few wines may deserve that, the 2011 Suvla Sır is not one of them.
There was a period a few months back during which I’d banned myself from drinking for a few weeks…and this Suvla Sır was the culprit. Once again I lost a bet that I could drink an entire bottle of red wine in one sitting and not regret it the next morning. Sadly I did regret it the next morning…but it was a bittersweet regret.
The 2011 Suvla Sır is a complex wine that was interesting right out of the bottle with a deep, dark red/burgundy color that did not let me down in the nose. Dark fruits, lots of berries, and depth. But what else would you expect from a complicated blend of Syrah, Merlot, 
Karasakiz, Grenache Noir, and Cabernet Franc?
And then the tannins! Oh they were beautiful. Right away on the attack the Suvla Sır acts like it lives for a good tannin the same way I do. Once I was finished swooning over them I was able to pay attention to other things. Like the way the flavors burst on my tongue like a rain drop and then lingered for a nice medium finish.
And how I picked up hints of what I think was tobacco which, combined with the fruit flavors, gives the Suvla Sır a nice balance making a truly elegant wine.
The notes I took while drinking this tell me to be poetic; that I drank the entire bottle while listening to Yo-Yo Ma, and to stop making bets with myself that I can drink entire bottles of red wine and wake up hangover free. I’ve lost that bet a few too many times so drunk me is obviously wiser than sober me. Although it’s easier to say no once temptation is gone (or more precisely after you’ve drunk it all).
At 88 TL per bottle (at the Suvla Shop-there’s a horrifying markup everywhere else) this isn’t an everyday bottle for me but I so wish it could be. Maybe I just need to set lower goals for myself so I can justify having the Sir as a reward more often. Hurrah! I learned and used a new Turkish grammatical construction! Hurrah! I did yoga everyday for a whole week! Hurrah! I got out of bed this morning!
Seriously, can I marry into the family? I grew up on a farm, I could be semi useful in viticulture. Maybe more on the drinking the end product side but still…someone’s got to do that!