Advent Challenge Day 5: Kuzubağ Öküzgözü
Today’s Advent wine was a new release this year from Kuzubağ as part of its sophomore wine collection.
Advent Day 5
Kuzubağ Öküzgözü, 2021
The winery’s first Öküzgözü with grapes sourced from its (the winery’s not the grape’s) home in Çal. Aged for 12 months in oak barrels.
Very purple in the glass. I’m not good at all at blind tasting, but if you’re looking at something you know is Turkish and it’s super purple, it’s probably Öküzgözü. Initially oak heavy on the nose with vanilla, sweet candied fruits, violets, and spice. Tannins were almost plush with figgy/date, caramel, and carob flavors that dropped off pretty fast.
For my two cents, not as successful as Kuzubağ’s Çal Karası or Kalecik Karası wines. But then, I don’t actually like Öküzgözü so, it’s a hard sell for me.