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March 2017

Home2017 (Page 8)

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  My friend AJ introduced me to Barel Vineyards with this Barel Cabernet Merlot blend from 2013. At 30-something a bottle this was a really pretty decent every day kind of wine. It’s not special but neither will it melt your insides the way some Turkish köpek gülderen (dog killer) wine will. Okay, so that really isn’t the most ringing endorsement I could provide. Located in the Trakya region of Thrace, Barel is vineyard owned by the Akin family. The name comes from a combination of the Akin children’s names: Elif and Barkin. Founded in 1997, Barel cultivates Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, and Sauvignon Blanc. With these grapes Barel produces a full range of wines:

By 0European Wines, Red Wine, Rest of the World, Wine Reviews

  It’s been years and years since I’ve been to the Balkans but in that time the quality of the wine there has improved by leaps and bounds. E&M were in Montenegro this summer and brought back several bottles including this 2012 Plantaže Vranac which was a lot nicer than I remember Montenegrin wine being. Vranac is the red wine grape in Montenegro and the Plantaže Vranac is a lovely example of it. It is medium bodied with a bright garnet color and a strong backbone of 14% abv. The acid was quite high though and I think this 2012 would be better in a few more years after it has had a chance

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  I have not yet explored Kutman wines much but when I saw this Kutman Gamay Cabernet Sauvignon at Carrefour I couldn’t resist trying buying it. It’s the first Gamay I’ve seen in Turkey and I was curious both as to what Turkey would turn out in a Gamay as well as how it would blend with a Cabernet Sauvignon. It blends really well as it turns out. This Trakya-based winery has produced a really pretty nice blend with these two grapes. Fairly low alcohol for a red, at only 12.5% abv, this Kutman Gamay Cabernet Sauvignon was a medium-bodied wine that has spent eight to twelve months in oak

By 0Articles, Red Wine, Rest of the World, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  February 25 and 26 Istanbul hosted the 2017 Sommeliers’ Selection Turkey at the St. Regis hotel. Organized by Gustobar, the event brought together 179 wines from 34 Turkish wineries and about eight international wineries. It was, as one might expect, rather a mad house. That’s not down to the organizers of course. Big tasting affairs like the Sommeliers’ Selection are always a little bit of a mad house as one jostles for position at the tables to get a sample. And what samples! Wines from across Turkey, Italy, France, and Chile were available. I was impressed with the selection of Turkish wines although I was sorry to not see wine from

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  After the rousing success that was the Ma’Adra Cabernet Sauvignon and the disappointment of the Syrah, I decided I might as well go for the hat trick and try the 2014 Ma’Adra Cuvee Special-a 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. For 60 TL at La Cave it wasn’t as dear as either of the others so it didn’t hurt to try. A dark purple, full body in the glass with nice legs, the nose of this was really quite promising: raspberries, cedar, a hint of tobacco, baking spices, and milk chocolate. On the palate the Ma’Adra Cuvee Special was initially rather sweet with jam, tobacco, and vanilla. The acid was

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  I found this post buried in my drafts folder. I think it’s from last winter so color me embarrassed! Regardless of my embarrassment the 2010 Paşaeli 6N is too good to not post. This Karasakız, Merlot, Petit Verdot blend is a gorgeous example of how right a blend of native Turkish and Old World grapes can go. Before we get into the notes lets talk about the name. What’s in a name? A political statement in this case! I’ve wondered about the name of this wine since the very first time I tried it and it was only recently that I learned the story behind it. So I guess

By 0Amphora, European Wines, Red Wine, Rest of the World, Wine Reviews

  Last September I returned to Georgia for a trip full of wine and adventure. While I was in Tbilisi I got the chance to meet the founders and writers of Exotic Wine Travel, one of my favorite wine blogs. I met Dr. Matthew Horkey and Charine Tan at Vino Underground, a great wine bar in the heart of Tbilisi that is owned by several of Georgia’s premier wine makers. It was there they introduced me to the Jakeli Saperavi. Slowly coming 'round Saperavi is a native Georgian grape that has been cultivated in the Kakheti region since 6000-5000 B.C. Over 7,000 years this grape has been grown and used to make wine-Georgia’s claim to

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  7Bilgeler (Yedi Bilgeler) is one of my new favorite Turkish wine producers in the Aegean. The 2012 Reserve Bias Priene is a beautiful example of the magic that can happen with European grapes grown on the Aegean. Located bare minutes from the archaeological city of Ephesus, 7Bilgeler is a beautiful complex that includes a boutique hotel. A perfect place to spend the evening relaxing after a day exploring the Greco-Roman ruins of Ephesus! While there you can take the opportunity to try and buy as many of their wines as you can since the Istanbul-based wine merchants are so hit-or-miss on stocking these gems. Now that I’ll be staying in Turkey

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  I had such hopes for the Ma’Adra Syrah after the way E and I fell in love with their Cabernet Sauvignon. Alas our hopes and expectations were dashed when we opened this one. At 90TL from La Cave that was a pricey heartbreak. Syrah wines are supposed to be domineering bad asses with at least a solid medium body to back up powerful fruit and oak flavors. I think Ma’Adra missed the memo with this one. It started out well. In the nose of the Ma’Adra Syrah I got a lot of blackberry, black pepper, hazelnut, and vanilla which was really pretty nice. Then we tasted it which is where

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  It’s been ages since I’ve had an Öküzgözü Boğazkere blend. As much as I enjoy trying the native grape wines in Turkey drinking the same three reds (Öküzgözü, Boğazkere, and Kalecik Karası) and blends of the same does get old. I was, however, only too happy to take up a friend on her offer of a glass of the Turasan Öküzgözü Boğazkere that she brought to a Thirsty Thursday event. In the glass the Turasan Öküzgözü Boğazkere was a ruby red bordering on purple, bright and clear. The nose was dark/black fruits. On the palate it was very tart, no tannin, and little bit of a cliffhanger; something of a surprise for