The Wine You Didn’t Know About: Gordias Oğan
Canan’s wines often fly under the radar, but the Gordias Oğan wasn’t even on mine. Until I happened to spot a bottle of it at Solera.
Located in Central Anatolia in Polatlı, a bit south-west of Ankara, Gordias winery works with a wide range of native and international grapes. Of course Kalecik Karası features heavily in the wines as do Narince, Fesleğen, Hasandede, Öküzgözü, and Boğazkere. On the international side, the winery produces Sauvingon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Merlot. Usually the wines involve one grape or sometimes blends of native and international grapes like the Cabernet Franc – Kalecik Karası and the Kalecik Karası – Boğazkere – Merlot. 
The Oğan comes as something entirely different; a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.
Gordias Oğan, 2016
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find out anything about the winemaking on this other than the three grapes involved and that it was bottled in 2018. From what I remember about my visit to the winery way back when, Canan is not herself a fan of oak and uses it sparingly. However, I suspect that at least a little of that two years between harvest and bottling were spent in barrel.
According to the wine label, oğan means “chief god”. Is the wine worthy of such a name? Eh…
Opaque ruby on the pour with aromas of bright mulberry, plum, and spice over a distinctive animal and forest mélange that often comes out in Gordias red wines. Black olive flavors join the fruit and earth sensed on the nose. A nice acidity here brought out tarter, fresher fruit flavors of red currant. Tannins felt silky but boy did they stick around!
Would I buy it again? No. Not that it wasn’t good, because it was. But we all know how I feel about Bordeaux-style blends here.
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