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December 2023

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By 0European Wines, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  Today's Advent wine takes us on a journey to Greece! I don't think I've done a Greek wine yet, how unusual of me. Most definitely time to rectify that. And, because I love an unusual grape, I'm getting two for the price of one post today! Advent day 13 Gonidakis Potamisios, 2021 Gonidakis Family Vineyards is one of Greece's many island wineries. Not from the famous Santorini, but one of the often overlooked Cycladic islands, Kynthos. Owner Kostas Gonidakis focuses on Cycladic grape varieties, several of which seem to be exclusive to his vineyards. Almost certainly I got this from Greece and Grapes, my favorite wine shopping website in Greece. Since I've

By 1Turkish Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  To begin, I must admit that I'm cheating a little on this one. I actually opened this wine ages ago but never got around to posting about it. Kastro Tireli's first, and for a long time only white wine was a Viognier-Narince blend. In the spring of 2022, the winery released a two new wines, a Narince Reserve  and this Viognier Reserve as varietal wines. [caption id="attachment_19742" align="alignright" width="333"] Even Dr Watson was curious![/caption] Advent day 12 Kastro Tireli Viognier Reserve, 2018 Warm lemon color on the pour. Aromas of pear compote sprinkled with brown spice and a dash of vanilla cream floated out from the glass. Pure silk texture glided over the

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  My love of Ma'Adra's Pinot Noir and Carbonic Maceration Öküzgözü (one of the only Öküzgözü wines I like), I have document well and thoroughly. Most of their other wines I explored in my early Turkish wine days and haven't revisited. Until now. Advent day 11 Ma'Adra Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 2018 Sigh. Ma'Adra went with the heavy format bottle for this one. Heavy bottles does not mean quality wine, people. I don't harp on about the environment but, come on. This one is easy. The wine filling the unnecessarily heavy bottle, a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 24 months in French Bordeaux barrels.  Deep, opaque ruby color that was initially very tight in

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

  How have I been doing this for over a week and I'm only just now getting to a bottle of bubbles?! This was well worth the wait though. A bizarrely well-travelled wine that went from New York state to Seattle then finally to me in Istanbul. I've had a still Dr. Konstantine Frank in the past, but never bubbles before now.  Advent day 10 Dr. Konstantine Frank Brut, 2013 A traditional method sparkling wine blending traditional Champagne grapes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. The wine was disgorged in October 2018, meaning it spent an impressive (more or less) five years on the lees then another close to five bottle ageing.  Pale

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  Week one of Advent challenge has been met and I'm still going strong! I bounced around the globe during the first week so decided to open week two back at home. Although "home" is a little bit of a stretch when the wine comes from the opposite end of the country to Istanbul. Advent day 9 Midin Miras (red), 2021 Midin's Miras red wine blends together mostly Öküzgözü and Boğazkere with small additions of the regional grapes Gavdoni and Raşegurnık aged for 10 months in oak.  Opaque purple-ruby in the glass with bramble fruit compote, cedar, forest spices, and vanilla aromas. Medium tannins and high alcohol (14.5%) gave the palate a fulsome

By 0European Wines, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  I've had this wine for about a year and finally pulled it out. A gift from Austria from a friend who knows of my love for all the Muscats of the world. With no indication on the label to give me any idea as to its sweetness level, I really had no idea what to expect.  But, sweet or dry, I thought something as aromatic as Gelber Muskateller (more well-known as Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains) would do well with Indian food. I made a feast using recipes from my friend Kay's Punjab cookbook and crossed my fingers. Advent Day 8 Winzerhof Kridlo Sierndorfer Schatz Gelber Muskateller, 2019 When I opened the

By 0American Wines, Rose Wine, Sparkling Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  For December, Culinary Cam has invited the #WinePW group to talk about American Sparklers (or writer's choice). You can see her invitation here. Many people probably hear American sparkler and their mind goes to one of the big four: California, Oregon, Washington, New York. But I decided to show my home state a little love this month!  [caption id="attachment_19657" align="alignleft" width="401"] Star = Leelanau Pen.Heart = my hometown![/caption] I left Michigan shortly after coming of legal wine drinking age and my visits back there have always been so brief, I haven't really had a good chance to dive into the wine. Mostly I rely on recommendations from my most favorite

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  Today's Advent wine was a new release this year from Kuzubağ as part of its sophomore wine collection. Advent Day 5 Kuzubağ Öküzgözü, 2021 The winery's first Öküzgözü with grapes sourced from its (the winery's not the grape's) home in Çal. Aged for 12 months in oak barrels.  Very purple in the glass. I'm not good at all at blind tasting, but if you're looking at something you know is Turkish and it's super purple, it's probably Öküzgözü. Initially oak heavy on the nose with vanilla, sweet candied fruits, violets, and spice. Tannins were almost plush with figgy/date, caramel, and carob flavors that dropped off pretty fast. For my two cents, not as

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  Created by Göknur Gündoğan and Işık Gülçubuk, the Wine Experience Project was launched at the end of 2020. Per the group's mandate, The Wine Experience Project respects vine, wine, and are “winebassadors” who include a mix of winemakers, wine writers, retailers, and select foreigners. Select indeed, with some omissions. Ahem. Advent Day 4 Wine Experience Project Kalecik Karası, 2021 The project's freshman (and so far only) wine was a Kalecik Karası made with grapes sourced from the Kalecik-based winery Tafali's. The grapes fermented in stainless steel tanks before aging on the lees for eight months. Bottled with no oak aging.  The wine poured the medium-opaque brickish red one associates with Kalecik Karası. Lovely aromas