Happy Accidents Make the World More Interesting
I joke that my research into Turkish wine essentially involved drinking from the bottom of the shelf up. But honestly that’s actually what I did. After being more than a year in Turkey I still was not convinced that the wine here was especially good. At that time I was still pretty near the bottom of the shelf and was only doing my “research” halfheartedly. One night, I paired a semi-sweet Bornova Misketi with a spicy Chinese dry pepper chicken. Apparently I thought I knew better how to cook than the person who made the recipe. Spoiler alert, I didn’t.
The recipe called for me to saute Chinese peppercorns and red chilies for about 30 seconds, then remove them from the pan. Obviously 30 seconds wasn’t long enough to impart any flavor! So I thought. I left the spices sauteing for several minutes before removing them. The result was a dish so outrageously spicy that I practically poured the wine my throat to cool the burn. While I was busy getting drunk and trying to eat the chicken-scented fire I’d made I was also Skyping (haha, remember Skype?) with the friend who’d given me the recipe. She suggested, after I went on at tipsy length about the virtues of that evening’s wine, that I start blogging about Turkish wine to give people advice and steer them away from the bad ones.
Thanks to accidentally over seasoning my dinner, my love affair with and passion for Turkish wine was born. Without such a happy accident I don’t know where I’d be or what I’d be doing now. More than likely whatever it was wouldn’t have anything to do with wine though and my life would be sadder for it.
So many of us accidentally stumble into things that at first seem like a mistake but turn out to be the best thing that could have happened. That’s also what happened with the Chamlija Felix Culpa/Mutlu Hata Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. Chamlija makes several varietal Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines and I thought it would be fun to compare the wines that meant to be made with the happy accidents.
Chamlija Chardonnay, 2014
Fermented in stainless steel then aged for 10 months in French oak.
Alcohol: 13% abv
Color: pale lemon
Nose: Flinty smoke, stone fruits, and tropical fruits like mango
Palate: Sipping revealed a medium body with zesty acid, a creamy mouthfeel, and a vacation to the tropics. Initially Chamlija’s signature mineral came though followed by some mid palate mango and grilled pineapple, all finishing with a hint of creme fraiche mixed in with the fruit.
Chamlija Felix Culpa Chardonnay, 2014
Chamlija’s Felix Culpa (happy mistake) line includes this Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir (below). According to the bottle, the only mistake is to be afraid of mistakes. This Chardonnay was made similarly to the one above. However, prior to bottling Chamlija did not filter the wine.
Alcohol: 13% abv
Color: medium gold, clean despite the limited filtration
Nose: Citrus, lemon curd, ripe pineapple, and golden delicious apple.
Palate: Cream and butter developed as the wine opened. Creamy but muscled on the palate with flavors of lemon, juicy pineapple, and mineral edges. A really beautifully made wine.
Chamlija Pinot Noir, 2016
Chamlija produces several Pinot Noir wines. This is their mid-level Pinot; the entry being part of the Müteşekkir line and the top Pinot the below Felix Culpa. When I want Pinot though, this is one of my two go-two wines.
Alcohol: 15% abv
Color: medium intense ruby, slightly grainy
Nose: Intense strawberry jam, mushrooms, hints of black pepper and forest floor
Palate: The palate is dry with a medium plus body, and a big dose of mouthwatering acidity; both of which nicely balance the high alcohol. Low but lush tannins carried the flavors of strawberry, raspberry, and earth and slide into a solid medium, peppery finish. This is Pinot Noir.
Chamlija Felix Culpa Pinot Noir, 2014
As I mentioned above, Chamlija’s Felix Culpa line also includes a Pinot Noir. This was in fact the first Pinot I’d ever had that struck a chord. Like the Chardonnay, this was oak aged and left unfiltered prior to bottling.
Alcohol: 14% abv
Color: intense ruby
Nose: Fruit-forward with raspberry, blueberry, clove, potting soil, and mushroom
Palate: Rather than the low tannins I assume I’ll find in a Pinot Noir, the Felix Culpa’s tannins had a bit of heft to them adding to the medium plus body. A burst of acidity brought out the juicy berry flavors in the wine and elevated aromas sense in the nose with the addition of smooth milk chocolate.
As the back label label on the Felix Culpa Pinot Noir says: “The real mistake is to be afraid to make mistakes.”
Interested in the winery? Check my other reviews of Chamlija’s wines.