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Wine Reviews

HomeWine Reviews (Page 74)

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  I found this post buried in my drafts folder. I think it’s from last winter so color me embarrassed! Regardless of my embarrassment the 2010 Paşaeli 6N is too good to not post. This Karasakız, Merlot, Petit Verdot blend is a gorgeous example of how right a blend of native Turkish and Old World grapes can go. Before we get into the notes lets talk about the name. What’s in a name? A political statement in this case! I’ve wondered about the name of this wine since the very first time I tried it and it was only recently that I learned the story behind it. So I guess

By 0Amphora, European Wines, Red Wine, Rest of the World, Wine Reviews

  Last September I returned to Georgia for a trip full of wine and adventure. While I was in Tbilisi I got the chance to meet the founders and writers of Exotic Wine Travel, one of my favorite wine blogs. I met Dr. Matthew Horkey and Charine Tan at Vino Underground, a great wine bar in the heart of Tbilisi that is owned by several of Georgia’s premier wine makers. It was there they introduced me to the Jakeli Saperavi. Slowly coming 'round Saperavi is a native Georgian grape that has been cultivated in the Kakheti region since 6000-5000 B.C. Over 7,000 years this grape has been grown and used to make wine-Georgia’s claim to

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  7Bilgeler (Yedi Bilgeler) is one of my new favorite Turkish wine producers in the Aegean. The 2012 Reserve Bias Priene is a beautiful example of the magic that can happen with European grapes grown on the Aegean. Located bare minutes from the archaeological city of Ephesus, 7Bilgeler is a beautiful complex that includes a boutique hotel. A perfect place to spend the evening relaxing after a day exploring the Greco-Roman ruins of Ephesus! While there you can take the opportunity to try and buy as many of their wines as you can since the Istanbul-based wine merchants are so hit-or-miss on stocking these gems. Now that I’ll be staying in Turkey

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  I had such hopes for the Ma’Adra Syrah after the way E and I fell in love with their Cabernet Sauvignon. Alas our hopes and expectations were dashed when we opened this one. At 90TL from La Cave that was a pricey heartbreak. Syrah wines are supposed to be domineering bad asses with at least a solid medium body to back up powerful fruit and oak flavors. I think Ma’Adra missed the memo with this one. It started out well. In the nose of the Ma’Adra Syrah I got a lot of blackberry, black pepper, hazelnut, and vanilla which was really pretty nice. Then we tasted it which is where

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  It’s been ages since I’ve had an Öküzgözü Boğazkere blend. As much as I enjoy trying the native grape wines in Turkey drinking the same three reds (Öküzgözü, Boğazkere, and Kalecik Karası) and blends of the same does get old. I was, however, only too happy to take up a friend on her offer of a glass of the Turasan Öküzgözü Boğazkere that she brought to a Thirsty Thursday event. In the glass the Turasan Öküzgözü Boğazkere was a ruby red bordering on purple, bright and clear. The nose was dark/black fruits. On the palate it was very tart, no tannin, and little bit of a cliffhanger; something of a surprise for

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  I was so excited when I found this Kayra Vintage Zinfandel at La Cave (66 TL)! It’s been ages since I’ve had a Zinfandel-not only my favorite American wine but the only reason I think the California wine industry should exist. I was really looking forward to seeing what Turkey could do with a Zinfandel. And then I had and my hopes were dashed. I haven’t had a Zinfandel since moving here. Not because they aren’t available. In fact one of my favorite California Zinfandels is available right at La Cave. I just cannot stomach paying a 300% mark up for a wine I know shouldn’t cost more than

By 0Turkish Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  I know-a Chardonnay? What is the world coming to?! I really did have a reason though. I recently lead an all-Likya tasting and wanted at least one white. So when I spotted this unoaked Likya 2015 Arykanda Chardonnay at La Cave (for only 45TL) I thought why not? Also they only had one bottle of the Sauvignon Blanc. I was actually fairly intrigued by the Arykanda Chardonnay. I have not hated unoaked Chardonnay wines I’ve had in the past and so thought that this could be interesting. Oddly enough I-loud Chardonnay hater that I am-was one of only THREE people out of 13 at the tasting who liked it! Well-“like” might be

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  The 2013 Chamlija Thracian … where has this been all my life? This, for me, is hands down one of the top wines being produced in Turkey right now and is one of my two absolute favorites here. I’m so overwhelmed by this one that I’m a little at loss for even where to start with this. Over the summer I visited Chamlija’s tasting restaurant where we had the privilege to do a tasting with founder and owner Mustafa Çamlıca. While we didn’t taste this there, we did discover that Chamlija makes many more wines than I’ve ever found in Istanbul. The best news? They ship! Which is particularly relevant to this

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  For a very brief time I tried OK Cupid in Turkey. It was a largely uneventful experience but I mention it because it was while on a date that I found this week’s wine. He knew I was a wine lover and asked me to recommend a bottle so we wandered into a shop over in Karaköy (I know! I went to Asia for this guy but he was pretty cute, and tall, and a doctor). I was expounding on the merits of different wines when I saw the Prodom label. I started to tell him that if he wanted to invest the money then Prodom was a

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  Christmas is almost here! You know what that means? It’s mulled wine season.  My former roommate and I used to make mulled wine together regularly in the run up to Christmas and I continue that tradition even here in Istanbul where Christmas is sadly not so much a thing. There are so many recipes and traditions out there for mulled wine but we’ve always preferred the German Glühwein. On our shared blog, ParMieux Adventures she explains the tradition of Glühwein and what the name means.I’m going to let you wander over there and check it out while I stay here and drink it. There’s something about a pomander that I just love. They’re kind of