Pamukkale Meridies Boğazkere Cabernet Franc
While 2010 is not really that old as far as aged wines go, it’s old for the Turkish market. Finding wine commercially (frankly sometimes even at the winery) that’s more than a handful of vintages old is unusual. A lot of wine enthusiasts in Turkey have started to wonder if Turkish wine ages well or not. I cannot speak for all the wines, but this one sure did.
Pamukkale Meridies Boğazkere Cabernet Franc 2010
For the Meridies Boğazkere Cabernet Franc, Pamukkale blended Boğazkere from Diyarbakır with Cab Franc from the Güney Plateau in Denizli. The Boğazkere underwent carbonic maceration to help bring out more of the grape’s fruit characteristics and lighten its usually full tannins. The Cabernet Franc, on the other hand, spent 12 months in new French barrique prior to the final blend.
Medium intense garnet bordering brick in the glass, the wine was a little shy at first. Eventually it opened to aromas of dried bay leaf, lilac, leather, and black pepper over red fruits. Sipping revealed silky tannin with bracing acidity and 14% abv. Despite the presence of one of Turkey’s most tannic grapes, the wine felt rather thin. Happily, it did not taste so. Meaty, leather and bay leaf up front, followed by nutmeg and raspberry on the finish.
I found this to be really rather excellent.
November 12, 2020
Orien Wallace
Wow, even the critic itself is mouth-watering, thank you! I would not expect Turkish Cab Francs to perform that illustrious. Maybe the land needs a better alternative, one as archaic as its spirit, to pair with a variety of grilled meat (I presume this coupage can do that). Malbec could not come here without a big PR visa, so old good Cab Franc can do the job.
November 15, 2020
admin
I think we have quite a few nice Cabernet Francs here and I’ll be posting about some soon! I have to say I was pretty surprised myself though by how nice this particular wine was!