Chamlija PaPiKa
Given my recent complain about the current trend for blanc de noir Papazkarası and the lack of good red wines made with it, I thought it was time to take a look at Chamlija’s newest blend, PaPiKa.
Chamlija is one of the few wineries really paying attention to this grape. The winery produces a handful of wines with Papazkarası (or Papaskarası as it’s sometimes spelled) including varietals like the Kara Sevda and blends. Chamlija also produces the grape in all colors possible. This new wine takes its name directly from the blend:
- PA for Papazkarası (35%)
- PI for Pinot Noir (35%)
- KA for Kalecik Karası (30%)
Chamlija PaPiKa, 2019
The blend aged an average 12 months in a combination of French and Hungarian oak barrels. On the pour, it glowed a medium intense purple-ruby. Broody aromas of spice-edged blackberry and eucalyptus drew me in and kept me swirling and sniffing to discover more. Discover more I did! Blackberry turned into raspberry with bold strokes of black pepper and roasted chestnut.
Sipping revealed slightly grainy tannins that soften as the wine lived in the glass and the road the wine took on the palate was long and winding. It began with jammy raspberry and spice. It then rounded a curve and brought me to earthy flavors of black tea and forest leaves. It’s final turn into the finish revealed milky chocolate that lingered with the initial fruits. The alcohol, at 14.2%, was on the high side but the wine drank far more elegant than bold.
I found this an interesting wine as an experience. I had the strange sensation that I was tasting each grape individually before they came together in the finish.