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December 2023

Home2023 (Page 3)

By 0European Wines, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  Today's Advent wine comes from Bazaltkő Pincészet in Hungary and features a favorite grape of mine: Kéknyelű. Found primarily in Badacsony, it's an old grape that fell out of popularity but has been making a comeback in the region. Kéknyelű is late-ripening, low-yielding, plagued with poor fruit set, and requires a lot of work in the vineyard. Especially since it needs another variety to pollinate as it has only female flowers. This would be part of the reason it fell out of favor. It's also why it's known locally as the gentleman’s grape’ (on the assumption only someone of affluence could afford to bother with it). Advent Day 3 Bazaltkő Pincészet Kéknyelű,

By 0European Wines, Red Wine, Wine Reviews

  Yes, I've set myself with this wine a day for Advent challenge (which I already regret) but today is also #CabFranc Day! So, I thought it would be a perfect day to talk about this Romanian Cabernet Franc that I received as a gift. Advent Day 2 Crama Ferdi Cuvee Francisc, 2021 As the name indicates, this Crama Ferdi wine is a cuvee, not a 100% Cabernet Franc. In this case, the blend includes Cabernet Franc and Merlot aged for 14 months in oak.  Initially, the wine showed vanilla and stewed fruit aromas then slowly unfolded to reveal spice and cola notes. Very smooth on the palace with almost no discernable tannin

By 0Turkish Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  Several years ago, I tried to blind taste wine every day during Advent. That was a challenge. Partially logistically. I only thought about it a few weeks before Advent began and, even though I disguised all the bottles, I remembered what at least several of them were. Plus drinking and posting in a day was hard! This year, I'm taking an easier route. Simply posting about one wine every day. These mostly won't be long posts with lots of background information about wineries and grapes. More like quick and dirty reviews! So, let's get to it! Advent, Day 1 Kavaklidere Misket, 2022 I've seen this wine around for ages and ages, one

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  The lovely Lisa Morrow, author of several books about life as an expat in Turkey and Inside Out Istanbul asked me to write a guest post for her site. I am very happy to share that she posted it yesterday and hope you all enjoy it! Where to have a drink in Istanbul this festive season When I first moved to Istanbul, I lived in an area of the city called Cevizlibağ. Generally foreigners don’t know it and most Turks’ reaction is along the lines of “uuufff, why?”. The why is a boring story and so is the area. It mainly consists of apartment blocks, a few small markets, a

By 6Articles, Red Wine, Rose Wine, Sparkling Wine, Turkish Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  Since November seems to have forgot how to be autumn, we'll see what kind of weather December has in store. The seasons here can be such a rollercoaster throwing ups and downs and twists and turns at us. Much like life itself does. And as we approach this final month of 2023, many are taking stock of what happened during the year and making plans and resolutions for the year ahead.  Me, I'm ignoring the future. It'll always be there tomorrow. December is all about Christmas and I cannot wait to put up the tree and dive into Christmas music and movies. So yeah, we all have a different approach

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  I get the feeling that people's minds mostly go to the Cabernets and Sauvingon Blanc when Akın Gürbüz's name comes up. To an extent that's fair. He began with French grapes and some of his higher-end wines come from those. However, that's doing him and his catalogue a disservice. He makes excellent wine with quite a few native grapes including: Kalecik Karası, Karalahna, Papazkarası, and Öküzgözü. If he weren't behind the grapes, would he label them under his Winemaker's Selection series? Gürbüz Öküzgözü, 2018 Gürbüz's winery sits firmly in Thrace with most of his vineyards in southern Thrace running down to the northern Marmara. However, some of his grapes come

By 0Rose Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  Some months ago, I had the chance to re-taste a number of Arcadia wines with winery owner Zeynep Arca Şallıel and US importer, Sharap Imports. Among the wines was one I'd not ever tried before, the Arcadia Roze. Why hadn't I tried it? Well, we know I don't love rosé. Additionally, for better or worse, my focus remains firmly on the native grapes of Turkey. It takes something pretty extraordinary to get me to drink anything Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot (especially the latter).  Folks, I am a convert! Not to all Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or rosé. But to this wine? Yes! [caption id="attachment_19421" align="alignright" width="350"] shameless self promotion![/caption] Arcadia Roze, 2021 For

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  Did you know that I love Karasakız? Do you know the Karasakız grape at all?? Even if you live in Turkey and don't know, I forgive you (assuming you care!). It's an entirely underrated and underutilized grape.  My first introduction to Karasakız came from Suvla. My early days of Turkish wine discovery were largely thanks to Suvla. They made quality wines with decent price points. Sadly, over the years, they seem to have begun focusing more on the price points than the quality. Despite which, Suvla remains one of the champions of Karasakız. Along with Corvus, Paşaeli, and also recently Yaban Kolektif, Karasakız doesn't get a lot of attention. Now

By 0Red Wine, Sweet Wine, Turkish Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  This month, I am hosting the #WinePW group's exploration of heritage and traditional grapes. I will attempt to host a chat on Threads tomorrow, Saturday, November 11 at 8am PST / 11 am EST / 7 pm Istanbul. Well, I mean, I will be hosting one. How successfully I shall do so remains to be seen! Heritage grapes in Turkey Heritage, or traditional grape varieties are those that have been grown not in their native land for a long time. Think Zinfandel in America (or really any vitis vinifera in America!), Shiraz in Australia, Pinot Noir in Germany, etc. How long is a long time? Well

By 0Turkish Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  This month, I am hosting the #WinePW group's exploration of heritage and traditional grapes. I will attempt to host a chat on Threads on Saturday, November 11 at 8am PST / 11 am EST / 7 pm Istanbul. Well, I mean, I will be hosting one. How successfully I shall do so remains to be seen! Here's what the group will be talking about: Culinary Cam shares: A Geography Lesson + a Taste of Bulgaria: Bob Chorba and a Blend of Mavrud and Rubin from Thrace Gwendolyn of Wine Predator is contributing: Ancestor: Heritage Halter Ranch with Heritage Hamburgers #WinePW  Terri from Our Good Life is talking about: Don't Let