Saranta Introduces Chateau Murou Öküzgözü
Like the Likya Öküzgözü I was crushing on last week, Saranta winery also grows this grape outside its traditional home of Elazığ. Unlike Likya, Saranta is not based in the Mediterranean region, but in Turkey’s Thrace. Specifically, the northern area of Kırklareli. Despite being on opposite sides of the country, the two regions do share a few features, namely elevation, and cool(er) growing climates. Although Kırklareli definitely has the Mediterranean beat there! Spread along the foot of the Istranca Massif, this is a place with cold, snowy winters. Thanks to those mountains though, it’s also a place of highly diverse and often quartz and mineral-rich soils.
Saranta has grown Öküzgözü here for several years now. This is not the winery’s first foray into working with the grape. Previously it released a varietal wine under its eponymous Saranta label. You can read my review of that wine here if you’re curious! The winery has gone the next step now and released an Öküzgözü under its premium label, Chateau Murou. And wow.
Saranta Chateau Murou Öküzgözü, 2016
For Saranta’s red wines, the main difference between the Saranta versus Chateau Murou labels is oak. The Saranta Öküzgözü spent no time in oak whereas the Chateau Murou Öküzgözü aged for nine months in French barrels. The resulting wine poured a semi opaque, jewel-toned ruby similar to its unoaked brother, but this one had fire in its heart!
Sour cherry hit my nose first then red berries joined the fun. Spicy and savory notes of black pepper, bay and thyme edged the bouquet before the fruit and spice peeled back to reveal a deep and dark hint of leather in the core. The first thing I noticed on the palate were the soft tannins-like deer horn fur. Moderate alcohol (13% abv) and high acidity combined with the tannins for a silky, almost viscous mouthfeel.
Some of those fruity notes are still dancing around on the palate, but as back up dancers to the savory notes. In this wine, herbs and spice take the main stage with thyme and oregano being the stars. Unlike the nose which indicated black pepper, the palate shows a subtler pepper character with white and pink peppercorn. All this dusted with biter cocoa bitter that only serves to further highlight the savory goodness.
Wonderfully food-friendly, I paired this with a cheddar-leek grilled cheese topped with truffled mayo. Yum all around.
Excuse me while I go order more of this!