Selendi Moralı 2015
As part of a wine tasting with Şarap Atölyesi I had the opportunity to taste the Selendi Moralı 2015 which came on the market only this summer (2016).
Selendi, one of Turkey’s Aegean wineries, is based in Akhisar province of Manisa (near Izmir). It has vineyards in various locations and often names its wines for the village where the vineyards are. The grapes for the Moralı were grown in the villages of Sarnıç and Moralı.
After six months in French oak barrels, this Grenache, Mourvèdre, Merlot, and Cinsault blend is a very European-influenced wine; but the earth (toprak) and sun (güneş) are all Turkey.
Selendi Moralı 2015 Tasting Notes
So how excited was I to arrive in Vegas where my bff, also a Michigangster, had a bottle of St Julian for us to drink?! And not just any bottle. The wine geek in me exploded in delight when she showed me a bottle of St Julian Copper Vine. Amber wine from Michigan of all places! It seems almost fated that the very first Michigan amber wine I drink come from St Julian.
The Copper Vine is a 100% Pinot Gris fermented on the skins to create an intense amber orange. A color that looks very much like Baltic amber stones in fact. Flowers and herbs mingled with a hint of cigar smoke rose from the glass. Sipping revealed lemon rind, lemony thyme, and savory. Medium-bodied with 12% abv, the Copper Vine has the slight rasp of shy tannins and a medium, dry finish.
A very round about homecoming by way of Las Vegas. But a bottle of St Julian will always feel like home to me!