Looking at How Narince Ages with Likya Narince
We don’t talk a great deal about the ageability (or not) of white wine in Turkey. Frankly we don’t talk a great deal about the ageability of any wine. Difficult to do really since it’s largely all speculation. Most wineries with serious history behind them have not kept wine libraries. In fact, the largest collection of aged wine (wine in general, I think) is in private hands. Wineries, now realizing the importance of keeping old vintages of their wine, are buying wine back from him.
Likya’s vineyards in the Taurus Mountains
And yet, I’m relatively sure there are any number of grapes, if not necessarily yet wines, that will age well. To that end, what I will often do is buy a bottle of something I think has potential, and put it in the “forget that it’s there” section of my wine room. One of the grapes that I think will age well is Narince. I’ve put aside a few of the especially well-made wines I’ve had to see how they might do after a few years. A few years, like maybe five. I don’t have 10 years patience, or storage space for that matter. 
Recently, my impatience got the better of me and I pulled out one such wine, the Likya Narince from 2017. It has been several years since I last tasted this wine, and I was excited to see how it might be doing now.
Likya Narince, 2017 – revisited!
Likya’s vineyards enjoy a very special climate. I find that, almost across the board, their wines are tauter and have more finesse and elegance than many others and I think the climate has a lot to do with it. The vineyards sit at very high elevations (average of 1100 meters) in the Taurus Mountains above Elmalı, part of the Antalya province. In addition to the moderating influences of such elevation, the vineyards also benefit from their proximity to the Mediterranean Sea.
Limequat, grapefruit zest, fresh herbs, jasmine, white pepper, hints of honey framed by zesty acidity. A suggestion of vanilla cream along with key lime sherbet and lemongrass on the finish. Medium-bodied with a whopping 14% alcohol (not that you’d notice it was so well done). Really, really lovely.
If this was a mere five years, what would ten look like?! I’m off to buy more Likya Narince specifically to put it aside to age and find out!
Please Help Turkey and Syria!
Turkey and Syria are still in desperate need of help after the horrific earthquakes that have decimated large areas of Turkey’s south east and northern Syria, please consider donating to one of the relief efforts if you are able:
- Animal rights organization Haytap is helping animals affected by the earthquake, and displaced people who need a place to stay with their pets. Other animal-focused groups such as Dört Ayaklı Şehir (Four-Legged City) and Work Animals Rescue Foundation, are also helping farm animals, street animals, and pets.
- Donate to civil society groups working on the ground to provide immediate relief and medium- to long-term recovery to survivors via UK-based Turkey Mozaik Foundation or US-based Turkish Philanthropy Funds.
- Donate to the volunteer response being carried out in Turkey by the trusted, independent NGOs İhtiyaç Haritası (Needs Map) or Ahbap.
- Hayata Destek (Support to Life), is a Turkish NGO experienced in providing humanitarian relief and working with underserved communities.
- World Central Kitchen provides funds and food to those still living in tents in the affected areas.
- To support rescue efforts in Syria, donate to White Helmets and SAMS.
- Field Ready Türkiye (Sahaya Hazır İnovasyon Derneği) is a team of engineers working in Gaziantep, Turkey, and northwest Syria who make cheap, low-tech airbags for search and rescue from buildings which have collapsed. “If we move fast they can make more,” a good friend who previously worked with the team writes. “The workshops in Syria also have vast experience of fixing essential medical equipment, and making insulated shelters – both greatly needed right now”