Arcadia Finesse Sauvignon Blanc Narince
While Narince appears most commonly as a varietal wine, blending it is not uncommon. Sometimes we see Narince Emir, Chardonnay Narince seemed popular for a while and a few other blends pop up from time to time. Sauvignon Blanc Narince is less common. Ayda Bağları started making one a couple years ago, the VinAida 2. But the original, I think, is the Arcadia Finesse Sauvignon Blanc Narince.
I’ve started drinking this wine a lot lately and I realized that I hadn’t ever written about it before! I’ve had it a few times over the years, loved it every time, every vintage. However, sadly for drinkers, finding it isn’t easy. Sometimes Mensis Mahzen has a bottle or two (if you make it there before I do!) but really the only way is to get it directly from Arcadia.
Arcadia Finesse Sauvignon Blanc Narince, 2019
Medium gold swirling in the glass reveals slightly toasty aromas, a splash of orange, and a sprinkle of brown spices wrapped around a core of quince and golden apple. Crisp but with an elegant roundness, the first sip is like biting into a fresh Golden Delicious apple while standing in an orchard in full bloom.
As it lives in the glass, it evolves into a more voluptuous and tropical experience. Juicy pineapple, loquat, and rich citrus curd slide into a long finish. Medium-bodied with prickly acidity and moderate alcohol at 13% abv.
Those heavy orchard fruits and tropical notes pair very well with peaches as I discovered when pairing it with my favorite, peach-heavy summer salad! And bonus, the acidity cuts through creamy burrata like a dream.
I asked about the blend and was so surprised to learn that the blend here is 90% Sauvignon Blanc and only 10% Narince. While I assumed the blend would favor Sauvignon Blanc, I didn’t think it would be by so much. That 10% might seem like a nominal number but it has a huge affect on the wine adding a richness that I rarely see from Sauvignon Blanc here.