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December 2014

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By 0Turkish Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  This week we’re talking about the 2013 Suvla Kabatepe white. Sadly, they’re not producing any more of this so what is in stock is what is left. Kabatepe is Suvla’s lowest-price wine range and the best wines you can get in Turkey for under 25TL. Like the red, the white is a super blend: Kınalı Yapıncak 47%, Chardonnay 17%, Sauvignon Blanc 15%, Semillon 10%, and a blend of Roussanne and Marsanne makes up the last 11%. Right out of the bottle it was interesting with its bright straw yellow color and green hues. The nose was dry and little floral. I was really surprised by the flavor which was sweeter

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  In addition to the its already overwhelming selection of excellent wine; Suvla also produces a series called Kabatepe-a table red, white, blush, and rose. If the Suvla Kabatepe red, which we’re reviewing today, is an indication of the complete series then Suvla has done the impossible…produced an under 20TL wine that is GOOD! Garnet in color with a fruity and slightly spicy nose, the 2012 is a busy blend: Cabernet Sauvignon 47%, Merlot 21%, Syrah 21%, Petit Verdot 8%, and Cabernet Franc 3%; with a flavor profile indicative of the three most dominant grapes. Juicy, slightly acidic with light tannins and hints of raspberry and pepper, this wine is consistent

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  This week we’re diverting from Suvla. Largely because I saw a bottle of wine at Carrefour last week that I don’t recall having seen before. The Kutman Ipsala Gamay – Cabernet from 2005. Gamay is about the only wine for which I will forgive the French. In fact I was fairly well set on making France a parking lot for Europe or giving it to Germany after I take over the world; but my friend L pleaded for it. She gets France and Ireland and my interference in her rule will be minimal. Ish. But I digress. At 38TL the Kutman Ipsala is right around the price point I have

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  Last week I went to the Suvla shop in Cihangir for a bottle of Sur, completely forgetting that there were two. When I was stumped by which one to try the shop suggested getting both Suvla Surs to do a side-by-side comparison. Never one to turn down a good opportunity to drink yet more wine I happily accepted the proposal and bought both. Suvla makes two Surs, one a 2011 and the other a 2010. Both are blends of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot (although in different percentages). Let’s begin, as I did, with the 2011. Suvla Sur 2011 Tasting Notes A dense garnet red the nose of

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  It’s December and yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent which means that it’s officially time to start playing Christmas movies and music and, more importantly, start drinking Gluehwein! Which for me means that it no longer matters that Turkish wine generally isn’t good. Also luckily, good wine is neither needed nor recommended for Gluehwein so for the first time I bought a bottle of the cheapest wine (10 TL / 5 USD) on offer here: Sava; specifically the Sava Çalkarası Merlot. And while I meant it from the beginning for Gluehwein I thought I’d make a proper tasting of it before adding tons of sugar. Everything has at least one

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  I was both excited and trepidatious going into this Suvla Merlot. On the one hand…Merlot; blech. It rhymes with ‘no’ for a reason. One the other hand…Suvla hasn’t really disappointed me so far and the Suvla Merlot blends have been fantastic.  So here we go. The 2013 Suvla Merlot had a nice dense ruby color. Plum and cranberry on the nose; the bottle label said I should also be getting pepper in the nose but for me at least not so much (Sherlock had no comment). It was a bit tight when I first tried it. This one wants air so be prepared for that. In the mouth the

By 0Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  Suvla has two Kirtes. A while back I reviewed the other Kirte (a Cabernet Sauvingnon, Syrah, Petit Verdot blend) and last week I picked up the 2011 Suvla Kirte at the shop in Cihangir. This is a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc blend. And wow. I did not think I would like this one as much because, you know, Merlot. Ick. But if the Merlot had anything to do with the flavor of this Kirte I may even be moved to try Suvla’s Merlot varietal. Although frankly, the flavor of anything is going to be massively enhanced if you’re simultaneously enjoying the sunset and view out my window! The 2011 Suvla Kirte

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  This week’s wine has a madly long name. I’m not entirely sure it quite lives up to its name though. The Terra remains my favorite Boğazkere still but I feel there’s room in my heart for the  Buzbağ Bölge Serisi Diyarbakır Boğazkere. I feel like I’m predisposed to like a wine that has a beautiful color; and this seemed to be pretty on target. I really don’t understand why people use colored wine glasses. Sure they’re pretty; but many wines, red and white, are lovely in and of themselves. So it is with the Buzbağ Diyarbakır Boğazkere; it had a beautiful, deep, ruby red color that glowed but lost no

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  Holy tannins, Batman! Is it possible to be in love with a wine? Well if it is then between Suvla’s Sur and this 2011 Petit Verdot Karasakız I’m cheating on someone. We’ve talked about Petit Verdot and how it’s usually a minuscule 2% added to wines for color effect and how very few wine makers fully utilize the grape. Suvla is one of the wise wine makers that does and its Reserve 2011 Petit Verdot Karasakız is worth the price tag. It’s really a shame that more wine makers don’t use Petit Verdot in a bigger way because it has a really fantastic flavor. Plus the tannins and we know

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  I finally found the Suvla store in Cihangir which is both good and bad. Good because the store carries all of Suvla’s wines; bad because I don’t have a steady income and Suvla wines are not inexpensive; but that’s not going to stop me from buying them! So let’s start with the description on the bottle: “Suvla Grenache Noir 2013 has the color of bright ruby red with purple nuances. The nose is an explosion of fruity and spicy aromas. The vibrating hints of ripe black cherry, mulberry, fig and blackberry are woven into a background of notes of black pepper, olive, thyme, and oregano. The well-balance body has