Vinolus Chardonnay 2015
Central Anatolia is famous for being the home of Cappadocia. Even if you’ve never been to Turkey you’ve probably seen pictures of the 
“fairy chimneys”, cave churches, and sunrise hot air balloons. But have you heard of the wine? Vinolus is a boutique producer in Kayseri, near Cappadocia, making unique wines from organically grown grapes.
Oluş Molu, Vinolus’s charming proprietor, and her brother Aziz took over the family farm in the early aughts to create the first ecological farm in Turkey. Included in this project are the 50 acres (20 ha) planted to the native Kalecik Karası and Narince grapes as well as international varieties: Chardonnay, Roussanne, Shiraz, and Tempranillo that make up the Vinolus vineyards. Here grapes are not only farmed organically but planted on native rootstock.
Oluş keeps production small, a mere 10,000 bottles annually, in order to not compromise the ideals of the ecological project or harm her ECOCERT organic certification standing.
Vinolus 2015 Chardonnay Tasting Notes:
Space in the Vinolus winery is limited so use of oak barrels for ageing is sparing. Wines spend just enough time to give them the complimentary balance that oak can bring. This Chardonnay spent six months in French barriques prior to bottling.
Aromas of warm citrus are accompanied by baked apples, white flowers, and burnt sugar.
Lemony, round, and slightly fat, the palate expresses a lot of fruit and florals with a hint of mineral on the finish.
Medium light in body with 12% abv and a flavor profile that is at once textbook and uniquely Kayseri terroir, Vinolus has created a truly special Chardonnay.