Gordias Kalecik Karası 2012
Tuesday morning I was sitting in the local tax office when the power wet out. I hoped it was just a flicker but we soon learned that it was all of our neighborhood. Then we heard that it was all of Istanbul…then 50 cities across Turkey. Dude. What could we do but drink wine?
Earlier I’d stopped in Solera, the wine house just up the street from my apartment, where they offer 25% discount on bottles that you buy for take away, and picked up a couple new reds, including the Gordias Kalecik Karası. Country-wide power outage, candle light, and Turkish homework seemed a great excuse to break out one.
I was thrilled to discover a new Kalecik Karası. An award winning (Decanter Bronze) one no less. The 2012 Gordias Kalecik Karası is 
actually not a 100% varietal but a blend of 85% Kalecik Karası, 10% Syrah, and 5% Cabernet Franc.
Against the romantic glow from my Carrefour tea lights, the Gordias Kalecik Karası was the pretty red of sweet cherries just before they’re fully ripe. One the nose it was lovely: all red berries with strong cherries, undertones of strawberry, and for the first time ever I actually smelled the cotton candy.
Is someone working on alcoholic cotton candy? Shouldn’t someone be?
The flavor followed the nose nicely with cherries being the strongest and most obvious flavor. Soft with very low tannins, medium high acid, and a long finish rounded out the delightful flavor.
The Gordias Kalecik Karasi 2012 is for me a real winner and I think it’ll become a regular in my cellar (i.e. the half-case wine box I keep all my reds in. classy, I know). And at 45TL with the Solera to-go discount won’t break my bank. Which is great since I kind of owe the Feds some money.