Barel Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
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 officially founded. Barkın, who always had a dream to open a restaurant in his home town, studied gastronomy before settling on his family’s land in Trakya. As a wine lover he believes that you should be able to put a bottle (or two!) of wine on the table every night without breaking the bank.
With Barel Bağ Evi he killed two birds with one stone. His winery-restaurant is a center of social life in his town. With a garden to sit in
during the summer and fireplace inside to keep things cozy in the winter, the restaurant is set up in such a way as to keep the comfort of home in the middle of the vineyards. I’ve visited twice, two different times of the year, and both times it was hopping. This is the place to be if you’re in the area.
Barel Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Tasting Notes
The Barel Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 15 months in French oak before bottling and the oak integration shows in the wine’s balance. A balance the wine manages to keep even while supporting a 15% ABV.
Beautiful nose on this wine. It is very warm; full of chocolate, vanilla, clove, tobacco, and black fruits and berries. Round tannins and bursting fruit flavors greet you on the attack while the long, earthy finish adds depth and interest.