Diren Vadi Narince
Narince is made into fresh stainless steel aged wines, rich oak-raised wines, and traditional method sparkling wines. They are always dry. Narince is never sweet. No sooner were the words out of my mouth at a semi-recent wine tasting focusing on this grape than what did I see at the grocery? A semi-sweet Narince wine.
Narince is the Black Sea grape. While many wineries work with independent growers in the region or have their own vineyards there, only Diren winery actually makes wine on site. Despite that, the winery has done remarkably little with the grape. I like the Diren Collection Narince quite a lot. I think it stands as a great example of the grape’s pure expression. Aside from that (and a few cheap table wines) Diren hasn’t played with the grape the way wineries in other regions have done. Until now apparently when it not only made a liar out of me but did so with brilliant timing.
This is some crow I will eat happily.
Diren Vadi Narince, 2019
Honestly I bought the wine out of curiosity. Clearly after stating that Narince doesn’t make sweet wines I had to try this. But I was also really curious because I wasn’t sure it could successfully do so. What I delightfully surprised to discover that the wine was totally quaffable and very food-friendly!
Medium intense lemon in the glass with a great deal of fruit on the nose. Tree fruit with underlying tropical aromas of melon and banana. Round on the tongue with noticeable residual sugar but enough mouthwatering acidity to support it. Again very fruit with pear and tropical fruits and a floral backbreath.
Medium-bodied with 12.5% abv the weight, acidity, and touch of sweetness made this a fun wine to pair with food. I paired this with an Asian-inspired spicy salmon and green beans smothered in a gingery peanut sauce.