Suvla Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Some time ago a friend of mine threw a dinner party. In addition to her amazing food she also had wines from one of my favorite Turkish producers, Suvla, on hand. Including the Suvla Cabernet Sauvignon 2015.
Quality at every level
Suvla is a family owned wine producer established by Pınar Ellialtı and Selim Zafer Ellialtı in 2003. The vineyards are nestled in the 
historical Peninsula of Gallipoli, between the North Aegean coast and the Sea of Marmara where they cultivate a wide variety of grapes. The whites include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Roussanne, and Marsanne. The reds include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Grenache Noir, Petit Verdot, and Pinot Noir. In addition Suvla produces several indigenous grape varieties, including Kınalı Yapıncak and Karasakız. In 2013 Suvla switched to organic viticulture. As a result they received a certification of ‘Good Agriculture Practice – GAP’.
Suvla has 11 wine labels and varietal Cabernet Sauvignon turns up in three of those categories: Suvla, Suvla Reserve, and Suvla Grand Reserve. Like many countries Turkey does not actually control what “reserve” means and when you can use the term on your label. So there are some cases here in which the winemaker just slaps it on the label. But not with Suvla. Suvla is a quality, conscientious producer and you can trust what they put on the label. That said, let’s take a deeper look at what the terms mean to them:
Suvla: Young and crisp wines. Partially oak matured. No bottle aging. Suggested consumption is 1-3 years time after the bottling.
Suvla Reserve: Mature, strong, well balanced reserve serie of wines. Oak barrel maturing 3-12 months, bottle aging for 3-6 months. Suitable for storing 1-5 year.
Suvla Grand Reserve: Mature, well balanced special reserve line of Suvla. Winemaker’s special signature. Oak barrel maturing for 6-18 months, bottle aging for 6-24 months. Suitable for storing 1-10 years.
Suvla Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Tasting Notes
This Suvla Cabernet Sauvignon is from Suvla’s…well…Suvla label. These are upper entry level wines and in Turkey range from 30 to 45 TL. Quality wine at a good price in Turkey? Yes please. So let’s talk about this one.
In the glass this Cabernet reveals a bright, medium intense ruby. The nose is clean and full of blueberries and red fruits. black pepper, and a hint of mint. The palate is well-balanced with round tannins and fully integrated fruit and spice flavors. It has a very nice savory and tart character that pairs well with a wide range of foods.