Gürbüz Sauvignon Blanc, a Flavor Explosion
Akın Gürbüz has made several Sauvignon Blanc wines over the last few years. Sometimes single vineyard, sometimes blends. I have enjoyed all of them. And then. The 2020 vintage arrived. And my mind exploded.
Sauvignon Blanc is pretty ubiquitous in Turkey. Even in Tekirdağ whence came the grapes for Gürbüz’s newest vintage. We have ripe Sauvignon Blancs full of stone fruit, lean Sauvignon Blancs that showcase minerality and acidity, oaked fumé blancs (some well done some clumsy)…the wines here run the full gamut of styles of which this grape is capable.
Now we also have the full spectrum of flavor too.
Gürbüz Sauvignon Blanc, 2020
Pale hay colored with golden highlights in the glass. The nose was an instant explosion of lime leaf, gooseberry, and pink grapefruit with a light scattering of white petals. All sorts of lime flavors, everything from zest to juice. Aside from the lime, the flavors presented less fruity than the nose and leaned all the way green from the lime to grass to green pepper.
The palate was that dry raciness that I often associate with Riesling. Medium-bodied with 12.5% abv…dangerously drinkable this. Thankfully, I’d prepared a nice dinner to pair with this that worked out pretty well. I made a dish of chicken with chickpeas, carrots, and preserved lemons. A take on North African flavors, the dish was spiced with cumin, fennel, coriander, chili, saffron, and mint.