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May 2018

Home2018 (Page 6)

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  Some time ago a friend of mine threw a dinner party. In addition to her amazing food she also had wines from one of my favorite Turkish producers, Suvla, on hand. Including the Suvla Cabernet Sauvignon 2015. Quality at every level Suvla is a family owned wine producer established by Pınar Ellialtı and Selim Zafer Ellialtı in 2003. The vineyards are nestled in the historical Peninsula of Gallipoli, between the North Aegean coast and the Sea of Marmara where they cultivate a wide variety of grapes. The whites include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Roussanne, and Marsanne. The reds include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Grenache Noir, Petit Verdot, and Pinot Noir.

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

  Schloss Johannisberg in Germany’s Rheingau is more than just home to some brilliant Riesling wines. It is also the home to some of the Riesling grape’s most important history. Wine culture here has survived for over a thousand years despite political upheaval and wars that waged around it. 817 AD: The first documented mention of the vineyards by Louis the Pious 1720 AD: Benedictine monks plant the entire domain with Riesling consequently making it the first vineyard in the world planted exclusively with Riesling 1775 AD: The benefits of a Spätlese (late harvest) are first recognized at Schloss Johannisberg 1858 AD: Schloss Johannisberg presses the first Eiswein 1971 AD:  Under

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  The story of USCA Winery began some 15 years ago when a group of friends, fascinated by the world of wine, decided to open their own winery.  Leaving behind their “city” lives and careers they moved to the Izmir district of Urla and in 2003 established their vineyards. Turkish bureaucracy is much like a vineyard…tangled, a bit dirty, and requiring a lot of patience. It was not until 2007 that USCA Winery was incorporated but the ensuing years gave the vineyards time to mature. If this wine is any indication though, that patience has paid off in spades. USCA Sonnet 76 2013 Sonnet 76 (the wine, not the verse from the Bard)

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  Nif Vineyards has quickly joined the ranks of my favorite Turkish wineries. With an impressive range of styles, prices, and grapes, Nif makes creating quality wines look easy. Bottled Happiness Owned an operated by the Özcan family, this 500-decare vineyard sits in Bağyurdu, Kemalpaşa in the heart of İzmir. The Özcan family chose to build a gravity-fed winery to provide a more gentle production of their chateau-style wines.  They focus primarily on foreign grapes, as many others do. However, while so many produce French, Nif also prides itself on Italian grape varieties and wine styles. Not to say that they ignore native grapes because that is not at all the case. They also produce wines using

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  I tasted this 2012 Selendi Sarnıç Merlot at a wine tasting with Şarap Atölyesi. Of course I’m not going to buy a Merlot on purpose. I have to say though that for a Merlot this wasn’t all that bad. We tasted several wines from Selendi’s Sarnıç line during this wine tasting. Sarnıç being the village where this Akhisar-based winery grows its Merlot grapes at 850 meters. This is also one of Selendi’s organic wines. Like many other wine-making countries making organic wine is still a burgeoning concept but one pursued passionately by winemakers like Barbare and Chateau Nuzun who are dedicated to making all organic wines. Selendi Sarnıç Merlot 2012 Tasting Notes This is

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  In 2010 Lucian Arkas purchased Idol Wines, renaming it LA Wines. Subsequently he went on to plant one of Turkey’s largest organic vineyards. Located on 288,62 acres in Torbali, Izmir LA Wines focuses on cultivating international varieties.  Among those are Tempranillo, Chenin Blanc, Viognier, Marselan, Ugni Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Misket; some of which are exclusive to their vineyards. Since his purchase of Idol Lucian Arkas has turned his Domaine Lucian Arkas into a booming, organic wine industry. He produces more than 20 wines under five labels including the original Idol: Consensus, Mon Rêve, Antre, Smyrna, and Idol. LA Wines Consensus Sangiovese 2012 Tasting Notes The Consensus Sangiovese is a limited bottling

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  There is a fantastic, growing trend in Turkey to focus on being local. This affects many sectors in the country but most especially food and wine. One of the wineries leading the charge is the boutique Barel Vineyards. Putting Wine on Every Table Barel Vineyards was founded in 1997 with the aim of adding a little bit more taste to the life by the Akın family. While Barel’s name comes from the names of two siblings Elif and Barkın Akın brothers; the winery is in the hands of youngest of the Akıns, Barkın. The Akın family was making wine on their land for family and friends years before the winery was

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  The name Urla evokes not only images of the Izmir district of that name, but also of Urla Winery whose Nero d’Avola Urla Karası I’m reviewing today. Established by Can Ortabaş some 15 years ago, Urla Winery sits smack in the middle of the Urla Bağ Yolu. The Urla Wine Route Situated between Izmir and the famous resort town of Çeşme; Urla is the heart of Izmir-based vineyards. Long before the vineyards currently located in this area people were making wine. Including, to name a few, the Ionians, the Persians, and the Romans. When the subject is viticulture for wine production, Urla is one of the premier spots in Turkey. In the fertile soils

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  Boutique wineries seem to pop up apace with the Turkish Government’s attempts to repress the wine industry. Some are boutique due to their size. Some earn the name by not only being small but also by being truly family run operations with the family having a hand in every aspect of the vineyard and winery. Doseluna is just such a winery. Where Modernity Meets Tradition Located in Korubasi, a small village six kilometers from the antique site of Assos, Doseluna blends the modern technology and winemaking techniques of California with a deep connection to Turkey’s rich history. Turkey hosts a never ending parade of ancient sites important in the development of philosophy, religion,

By 0European Wines, Red Wine, Wine Reviews

  Piemontese wines are among my favorites. I’m currently reading Barolo and Barbaresco: The King and Queen of Italian Wine by Kerin O’Keefe. It’s really fascinating look at the history and current state of wine making in the Langhe’s famous Barolo and Barbaresco DOCGs. She also includes tasting notes for many wines which simultaneously makes me salivate and envious. Of course I couldn’t resist opening the one Barbaresco I have; the Marchesi di Barolo Barbaresco della Tradizione 2013. While I would love to get my hands on some of the wines she described I suspect that the limitations of my pocketbook would make it prohibitive even more than Turkey’s limited importing.