Corvus Blend Bianco
Bozcaada based winery Corvus is one of the most recognized names in wine in Turkey. When Reşit Söley decided to give up architecture for winemaking, he did it with a meticulousness and considerable energy. Söley threw himself into regenerating old island vineyards and planting new plots.
Now, nearly 20 years after founding Corvus, Söley makes a wide range of wines with both local and international grapes. Of his wines, my favorites are the ones that blend the local and international grapes; like the Blend Bianco. Normally I’d have stayed away from this one (Chardonnay + oak and all) but it came highly recommended by my friend Başak of Empathia Creative.
Corvus Blend Bianco 2014 Tasting Notes:
According to the back of the bottle, the Blend Bianco includes Chardonnay, Vasilaki, and “other local grapes.” I’m assuming there’s at least a little Çavuş in here. What else there might be I can guess but can’t say for certain.
Long oak aging of 18 months gave the wine a deep straw color. Exuberant aromas of fruit nearly leapt from the glass. Yellow apples, mango, and pineapple which mingled with lemon curd and bouquets of exotic flowers.
Full-bodied and round in the mouth with a hint of oiliness and moderately high alcohol (13.9% abv); I was pleasantly surprised by this one. Usually I hear Chardonnay and oak and run for the hills. Here, between the blending and a subtle hand with the oak, the wine achieved a lush elegance I wasn’t expecting. After all the fruit on the nose I had not expected such a spicy palate. But spicy it was with allspice, hints of candied ginger, and orange rind with a long finish of caramelized creme brulée.