Prodom Tellus Öküzgözü Syrah
Prodom winery based in Aydın (eastern Aegean) produces several wine series. The Tellus line represents the winery’s mid-range wines. They are widely available and usually cost around 70 TL (less than $10). Not only do these wines come with a reasonable price tag, but the value for money is outstanding. The wines unfailingly boast a high quality level and are some of my go-to red wines!
Prodom’s Tellus series includes several red blends. The Syrah Petit Verdot first turned me onto this series and the Öküzgözü Syrah continued my love affair with this label.
Prodom Tellus Öküzgözü Syrah 2015
The wines spent an average of 10 months in a combination of 300 and 225 liter French oak barrels before blending. The wine poured a vivid garnet as aromas of red fruits, dried herbs, smoked meat, and barnyard exploded out of the glass. Vigorous swirling encouraged some of the barnyard aromas to dissipate leaving behind a savory bouquet of venison jerky* and dried herbs over fruit.
Sipping revealed big, round tannins (thank you Syrah!) and a racy acidity (thank you Öküzgözü!). Medium-bodied with moderate alcohol (13.5% abv). Palate flavors initially reflected the savory meatiness of the nose but with more time softened to reveal ripe black fruit (plum, blackberry), cola, and a lingering flavor of chocolate on the finish.
*Yes I know that “venison jerky” is pretty esoteric. But my dad was (still is) a hunter and whether or not I liked it, I grew up on venison! Venison everything no less as he also made his own sausages and, yes, jerky.