Asmadan Kor Reserve Öküzgözü Boğazkere
Asmadan winery, located in Eceabat on the Gallipoli Peninsula, has vineyards in several locations in Turkey. Some surround the winery, others sit in the Aegean region – Turkey’s most prolific grape growing area. The winery also works with growers in the east. From Elazığ and Diyarbakır (respectively), it sources Öküzgözü and Boğazkere. The topic of our tasting notes today.
The winery currently produces wine under five labels (listed below in descending order of quality). Kor Reserve holds a place at the top of Asmadan’s quality pyramid.
Kayalıtepe
Kor Reserve
Duman
Gönülden
CNKL
Asmadan Kor Reserve Öküzgözü Boğazkere, 2018
Öküzgözü and Boğazkere are considered common blending partners. They have a very Merlot-Cabernet relationship. The Asmadan Kor Reserve Öküzgözü Boğazkere gives both grape equal weight in the blend a straight 50/50 split. The wine was raised for 12 months in oak barrels.
Medium intense purple ruby in the glass with deeply rich aromas of fat, sun-drenched mulberries and blackberries bursting with juice and sugar. Sweet spices and vanilla added a berry pie filling character to the fruit on the nose. Medium in body and acidity with powdery tannins, the wine lacked the mouthfeel intensity I look for from these grapes. Fruit-forward flavors with vanilla and a touch of caramel on a rather short finish completed the picture.
My favorite Öküzgözü and Boğazkere blend ever, no. But not so bad.