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December 2023

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By 1Amber Wine, Amphora, Articles, Orange Wine, Red Wine, Rose Wine, Sparkling Wine, Turkish Wine, White Wine

  Every year - well every year that I remember - I like to do a quick review of the wines I posted about during the year that I most enjoyed, that most surprised me, etc. So with no further ado, let's jump into my favorite Turkish wines of 2023! My Favorite Sparkling Wines There weren't many new sparkling wines released this year. And frankly, with the skyrocketing price of most Turkish bubbles, I didn't really drink much. And while the Paşaeli Karasakız Pét-Nat may not be a fair wine to include, as it was a super limited bottling, it nonetheless gets a spot.  My Favorite White Wines Over the last few years,

By 0European Wines, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  Over the last two years, I've really enjoyed exploring some of the wines of Cephalonia (or Kefalonia, as you like). I've yet to make it there though although it's one of two Greek islands I'd really love to get to sometime soon. The other being Paros, if you were wondering. Until then, I shall just have to content myself with the Robola and other interesting wines from the islands that I can source in Athens. And while Robola may be the most prominent grape from Cephalonia, that's not what today's wine is.  Advent day 22 Sclavos Tsaousi, 2019 Sclavos Wines is one of the island's more prominent wineries. With possibly the

By 0Turkish Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  Another day closer to Christmas! I kind of cannot believe that I managed to keep this going all through Advent. Well, almost all the way through, a few more days to go! Today's wine comes from one of my favorite winemakers, Akın Gürbüz. Advent day 20 Gürbüz Chardonnay, 2020 This was the first vintage with a varietal Chardonnay from Gürbüz. While I'm still only a tentative member of Team Chardonnay (I approach each new bottle with trepidation), I always want to at least try whatever he has made.  Grapes for this wine came from Tekirdağ and aged eight months oak. The wine poured a light lemon with green highlights and was

By 0Rose Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  It came as a great surprise to me that I never seem to have posted about the Suvla Blush Karasakız. This is one of the few Suvla wines and rosé wines that recommend. So how have I not posted it? Well, no time like the present! Advent day 19 Suvla Blush Karasakız, 2022 Ballet slipper pink with aromas of thyme, lemon, grapefruit, cranberry, and currant. Nice bright acidity is the first thing to greet the palate. Medium-bodied with 13% abv and a mid and back palate weight. Flavors start out with lemony-grapefruit citrus before transitioning to red fruits with a connecting thread of white pepper. Decent linger. 

By 0European Wines, Red Wine, Wine Reviews

  Today's wine is one I've had a fair few times. Two of my best friends live in Athens but her family is from Kalavryta in the Peloponnese. Tetramythos is one of the few wineries there and they've taken to buying a half case every time they drive to the village. The winery produces quite a few wines, but they tend to buy mostly the Mavro Kalavrytino, the local black grape. Eva laughs at me every time I have to talk about it because, while I can say 'Kalavryta' no problem, for some reason, putting the 'mavro' before it completely trips up my tongue. Advent day 18 Tetramythos Mavro Kalavrytino, 2020 Deep and

By 0Rose Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  Halfway through Advent and time for a rosé! We couldn't do just any rosé for this though. Clearly, we needed something different, special, new.  Advent day 17 Doluca Signium Rosé, 2022 Doluca's Signium line represents the pinnacle of the winery's selection. Until this last year, the wines have been red and white blends. But then came the rosé, a 100% Pinot Noir.  Beautiful peony pink with shades of onion skin in the glass, the wine practically glowed! Not in that awful, radioactive fake rosé way. But in a pure, promises of good things way. But, intense nose here full of cranberry, pink grapefruit, red currants, black currant leaf, and laurel. Nice acidity

By 0European Wines, Sparkling Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  Time for more bubbles! This one post a day challenge I set myself is going swimmingly. Or maybe all the wine just makes it seem like it is!  Riesling is possibly my favorite grape. Riesling bubbles?! Forget about it.  Advent day 16 Von Winning Riesling Extra Brut Sekt From the Deidesheim area of the Pfalz, the organic grapes for this non-vintage wine came from chalky, loess-clay soils and red sandstone. The wine, a traditional method, rested for some 24-28 months on the lees before disgorging. Lightly golden with excited bubbles bursting with aromas of warm citrus, golden apple, brioche, and crushed gravel. Bone dry with a creamy mousse and searing acidity. Gotta love

By 1Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  This particular wine is another review long in coming. I opened it last winter for Open That Bottle night. I bought this when I visited Barbare to interview the owner for my book. That must have been six years ago now? Barbare wines are generally fairly easy to access, but these premiere varietal wines less so which is why I'd been holding onto it.  Worth. The. Wait! Advent day 15 Barbare Premiere Mourvedre, 2012 This 100% Mourvedre aged for 36 months in French oak. Knowing that it would be tight out of the bottle, I opened it, decanted it, then went to Saturday evening Mass before coming home to make dinner and