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7Bilgeler Vindemia Toprak Öküzgözü

Over the last several years, 7Bilgeler has slowly released a series of wines, the Vindemia series, made with native grapes. Some have been more successful than others. I’m very excited to try the Karasakız, which I really really hope they haven’t managed to mess up. But in the meantime, the Öküzgözü.

7Bilgeler Vindemia Toprak Öküzgözü, 2021 

Like many (if not all) of the native grape wines 7Bilgeler has released, the grapes for the Vindemia Toprak don’t come from the winery’s Aegean vineyards. Owner Bilge Yamen sources them from the home of Öküzgözü, Eastern Anatolian district Elazığ, specifically Karaçavuş Köyü. The vineyard sits at 1540 meters in clay and limestone soils, and apparently, the vines are own-rooted.

In the glass, the wine was the deep purple I expect to see from Öküzgözü. Initially spicy and floral with notes of brown spices, purple flowers, and clove blossoms gently entwined with plum, mulberry, and blackberry. On the palate it was dry and silky with medium plus acidity and enough big fruit flavor to balance the 14% ABV. Spicy and slightly savory notes followed from the nose and married well with the fruit throughout the solidly medium finish. 

No mention of oak on the label, my guess is little (neutral) to none. 

I’m not generally a big Öküzgözü fan, but even I rather enjoyed this. Although it definitely tasted better on day two than it did when I first opened it.