For years I'd wanted to visit Santorini. All the beautiful pictures you see, the wine
Read More
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
Read More
Champagne and Fries Day?! Yes, it's a real wine holiday! January 10 also happens to be the birthday of the creator, Anna Maria of Unraveling Wine who created the day to memorialize the celebration of her two favorite things. Schramsberg Vineyards While not Champagne, California's Schramsberg Vineyards makes traditional method sparkling wines in the same style and with the same love and dedication as any Champagne house. Dating back to the 19th century, when German immigrant Jacob Schram first opened his winery, Schramsberg moved into the hands of Jack and Jamie Davies since 1965 when they bought and began to lovingly restore the old property. "They set out to produce sparkling
Read MoreOver the last two years, I've really enjoyed exploring some of the wines of Cephalonia (or Kefalonia, as you like). I've yet to make it there though although it's one of two Greek islands I'd really love to get to sometime soon. The other being Paros, if you were wondering. Until then, I shall just have to content myself with the Robola and other interesting wines from the islands that I can source in Athens. And while Robola may be the most prominent grape from Cephalonia, that's not what today's wine is. Advent day 22 Sclavos Tsaousi, 2019 Sclavos Wines is one of the island's more prominent wineries. With possibly the
Read More
Normally I quite like the wines from Büyülübağ. Other than his Adakarası wines, I don't tend to drink them often because I don't really need or want more Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah
Read More
Another day closer to Christmas! I kind of cannot believe that I managed to keep this going all through Advent. Well, almost all the way through, a few more days to go! Today's wine comes from one of my favorite winemakers, Akın Gürbüz. Advent day 20 Gürbüz Chardonnay, 2020 This was the first vintage with a varietal Chardonnay from Gürbüz. While I'm still only a tentative member of Team Chardonnay (I approach each new bottle with trepidation), I always want to at least try whatever he has made. Grapes for this wine came from Tekirdağ and aged eight months oak. The wine poured a light lemon with green highlights and was
Read More
It came as a great surprise to me that I never seem to have posted about the Suvla Blush Karasakız. This is one of the few Suvla wines and rosé wines that recommend. So how have I not posted it? Well, no time like the present! Advent day 19 Suvla Blush Karasakız, 2022 Ballet slipper pink with aromas of thyme, lemon, grapefruit, cranberry, and currant. Nice bright acidity is the first thing to greet the palate. Medium-bodied with 13% abv and a mid and back palate weight. Flavors start out with lemony-grapefruit citrus before transitioning to red fruits with a connecting thread of white pepper. Decent linger.
Read MoreToday's wine is one I've had a fair few times. Two of my best friends live in Athens but her family is from Kalavryta in the Peloponnese. Tetramythos is one of the few wineries there and they've taken to buying a half case every time they drive to the village. The winery produces quite a few wines, but they tend to buy mostly the Mavro Kalavrytino, the local black grape. Eva laughs at me every time I have to talk about it because, while I can say 'Kalavryta' no problem, for some reason, putting the 'mavro' before it completely trips up my tongue. Advent day 18 Tetramythos Mavro Kalavrytino, 2020 Deep and
Read More
Halfway through Advent and time for a rosé! We couldn't do just any rosé for this though. Clearly, we needed something different, special, new. Advent day 17 Doluca Signium Rosé, 2022 Doluca's Signium line represents the pinnacle of the winery's selection. Until this last year, the wines have been red and white blends. But then came the rosé, a 100% Pinot Noir. Beautiful peony pink with shades of onion skin in the glass, the wine practically glowed! Not in that awful, radioactive fake rosé way. But in a pure, promises of good things way. But, intense nose here full of cranberry, pink grapefruit, red currants, black currant leaf, and laurel. Nice acidity
Read More
Time for more bubbles! This one post a day challenge I set myself is going swimmingly. Or maybe all the wine just makes it seem like it is! Riesling is possibly my favorite grape. Riesling bubbles?! Forget about it. Advent day 16 Von Winning Riesling Extra Brut Sekt From the Deidesheim area of the Pfalz, the organic grapes for this non-vintage wine came from chalky, loess-clay soils and red sandstone. The wine, a traditional method, rested for some 24-28 months on the lees before disgorging. Lightly golden with excited bubbles bursting with aromas of warm citrus, golden apple, brioche, and crushed gravel. Bone dry with a creamy mousse and searing acidity. Gotta love
Read More
