Saranta’s Chateau Murou Semillon
Last winter Istanbites and I visited Thracian winery Saranta. In addition to getting a tour of the winery, it’s impressive cellars, and beautiful tasting room, of course we had a nice tasting. While I love all of Saranta’s wines, particularly the Chateau Murou line, the 
highlight of our visit wasn’t the tasting. Or at least not the official tasting. I most enjoyed the sip from the tank we had of the winery’s new Chateau Murou Semillon.
A new grape to Saranta, but not to Turkey. Semillon first appeared in the country over fifty years ago. Brought in by the then patriarch of the family behind the Doluca and Kutman wineries, Semillon has been around Turkey’s Thrace for a while. The grape performs well in the southern half of Turkey’s European continent where Thrace begins to give way to the Gallipoli Peninsula. Many of the winemakers in that area like to compare their climate to that of Bordeaux. If they’re correct in their comparison (rather than merely wishful) then of course Semillon would do well.
However, Saranta is located in the northern area of Turkey’s Thrace; less than an hour drive from the Turkey-Bulgaria border. Here in the shadows of the Strandja Mountains climates are cooler, winters harsher, and limestone and volcanic soils add an edge to many of the wines made here.
Chateau Murou Semillon 2017 Tasting Notes
The Chateau Murou Semillon was months away from bottling when we tried it with Saranta’s viticulturist/winemaker Gülçin. And yet it was already obvious how special this wine would be. When Saranta released the wine in early 2018 I was one of the first in line to get my hands on it.
A clear, brilliant pale straw color in the glass aromas on the nose made my mouth water even before the first sip. Pear, mashed apple, tropical fruits, and caramelized lemon slices swirl around in a fruity and alluring perfume. Beautifully progressive on the palate with apples and stone fruit shifting to chamomile and a lengthy saline finish. Incredible balance here attesting to Gülçin’s skill as a winemaker. The wine is almost delicate despite the 14% abv.
Perfection and poetry.