Nif Bağları Private Collection Wines
About an hour’s drive outside Izmir, arriving at Nif Bağları gives you the feeling of having found a desert oasis. Located off an unmarked, dirt road turnoff from the main highway, visitors navigate the narrow, dirt road, sometimes pulling off to the shoulder to allow large trucks and tractors to pass. Just when you think you’ve made the wrong turn, the winery appears. From the front parking area it looks not especially remarkable. But follow the signs around the back to entrance to find one of Turkey’s sleekest wineries. A giant wall of gleaming glass separates the vineyards from the production area letting you see everything at once. Chic decor and a machinery arrangement that feels very fung shui guide you through the production and cellar areas.
With the hand of Gaye Özcan, one of the country’s youngest, female winemakers, on the rudder, Nif Bağları has emerged as a leading producer of quality small-production wines. Last year, the winery opened an onsite restaurant and wine tasting space that features the talents of young chefs. Here visitors can taste wines and pair them excellent food.
The winery makes several series of wine including the Private Collection series. Available only at the winery and a few select retailers, the Private Collection series includes two white wines: Viognier and Chardonnay and one red: Montepulciano.
Nif Bağları Private Collection Viognier 2016
If I recall, I did in fact purchase the Nif Bağları Private Collection Viognier during my visit to the winery. I love Viognier and Turkey offers some very nice examples. It offers some not so awesome examples as well… Happily though, this one fell into the former category!
Alcohol: 13.5%
Color: pretty and glowing light golden straw
Nose: Medium intense perfumed honeysuckle, jasmine, ripe peach, and citrus peel
Palate: Pronounced flavor profile that incorporated aromas sensed on the nose, elevating the juicy peach and florals. Clean, citrusy acidity balanced the rich mouthfeel keeping that typical Viognier texture from becoming too overwhelming. Medium-bodied, the wine showed excellent balance and flavor consistency through a medium-long finish. Very nice.
Nif Bağları Private Collection Chardonnay 2017
How many times have I yammered on about how I have a contentious relationship with Chardonnay? A couple few methinks. I have no problem with the grape itself; but the oak. Frankly I don’t care for oak-aged white wines in general. So when I hear Chardonnay and oak in the same sentence I get a touch nervous. So it was during our visit to Nif 
Bağları when Gaye brought out their new Private Collection Chardonnay. Not just aged, but fermented in French oak with six months sur lie aging for a total of 10 months in barrel.
To my shock and delight Gaye’s wine had that perfect balance between the tension steely Chardonnay shows and the roundness sur lie and oak aging adds. Unfortunately for me, they hadn’t yet bottled the wine at the time of our visit so I couldn’t buy any. So, I was thrilled to get a bottle in one of my Oenotrian Wine Club shipments some months later.
Alcohol: 14%
Color: vibrant medium gold straw
Nose: Medium – intense aromas of baked yellow apples, flaky pastry, pineapple, and vanilla blossoms
Palate: Sipping revealed a lot of the same flavors hinted at in the nose but with elevated intensity: juicy golden pineapple, apple, vanilla, and toasted nuts edged with bright citrus. Medium plus body with medium acidity and some fatness mid palate led to a medium plus finish. If there are any others out there who, like me, don’t care for oak on their Chardonnay; give this wine a chance!
Nif Bağları Private Collection Montepulciano, 2016
Only a handful of wineries in Turkey with with Montepulciano. Honestly, it’s not my favorite grape regardless of which country grows it. As far as the local production goes though, I do believe Nif’s is the nicest. Made with grapes grown in their Aegean vineyard then aged 12 months in French oak and bottled with minimal filtration.
Alcohol: 14%
Color: medium opaque ruby with a light rim
Nose: Intense and rich red fruits, cigar box, sweet spices, and pepper
Palate: On the palate, the fruit aromas were intensified but also quite tart. Think Fruit Roll-Ups. Silky tannins carried flavors of tobacco and earth with a sprinkle of dried herbs through to a medium length chocolate finish. Medium plus body and acidity balanced out the higher alcohol.
Interested in their other wines? Check out all my reviews of Nif Bağları wines!