2012 Büyülübağ Shah, Turkey, Avşa Island, Wine Review

The name of the winery means Magical Winery. This is a blend of 60% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Merlot from Turkey. Garnet in color, purple at the core, mostly opaque and bright. The nose is nice with boysenberries, slight black olives and char. Very tasty. Complex. On the palate, slight black raspberries, cassis, black cherries, black pepper. Slight acidity. Long finish. This is a delicious fruit forward wine that seems to be at or close to peak. Drink over the next seven to ten years. This would work well with Iskender Kebap or other meaty dishes.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2012

Current Price:

$40.00USD

2012 Büyülübağ Öküzgözü Boğazkere, Turkey, Avşa Island, Wine Review

Vintage:

2012

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$15.00USD

This is a blend Öküzgözü (60%), and Boğazkere (40%), indigenous grapes of Turkey. The name of the winery means Magical Winery. Garnet in color, ruby at the edges, mostly opaque and bright. The nose is nice with black cherry fruit. Also some raisins and black pepper. Full bodied. A nice complexity. Slightly ripe/sweet on the palate. The black cherries and raisins carry thru. Light tannins. Moderate acidity. Long finish. This seems to be about at peak. Drink over the next five to seven years. It would work well with Manti (Turkish Ravioli).

2008 Corvus Vineyards Blend No 5, Turkey, Bozcaada Island, Wine Review

Vintage:

2008

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$35.00USD

This is a blend of 47% Merlot, 33% Syrah, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Cabernet Franc from Turkey. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has black cherries, pine and salinity. Nice texture. Medium tannins. On the palate, this has tight layering. Notes of black cherries, milk chocolate, black pepper and slight bell pepper. Reasonably good balance although a bit more acidity would be nice. Seems to be at peak or slightly past. Drink now. This would work better with food. Eggplant such as Imam Bayildi might be a nice choice.

2012 Çamlıbağ Karalahna, Turkey, Bozcaada Island, Wine Review

Vintage:

2012

Score:

Grade:

B+

Current Price:

$20.00USD

Made from the Karalahna grape which is found almost exclusively on Bozcaada Island. Light ruby in color with a bit of browning, clear and bright. Very light in color. The nose has cherry cough syrup, some raisins, cloves and a bit of sweaty horse. Medium bodied. On the palate, cherries, raspberries with some underlying earthiness. Kind of funky. Fascinating. Moderate acidity. Hard to describe this in terms of western grapes, but enjoyable and it grows on you. Seems to be getting on in years, so it probably should be consumed sooner than later. It probably will work better with fo

2013 Kayra Öküzgözü Vintage Collectible Series #5, Turkey, Elazig, Wine Review

Vintage:

2013

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$30.00USD

This is a seriously good wine and stood out at a tasting of recent Turkish wines. It is made from the Öküzgözü grape. The name means eye of the Bull. Some claim this is one of the original species of Vitis Vinifera grapes from the fertile crescent with a 7,000 year history. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has plums, boysenberries, slight coffee and spice. Full bodied. On the palate, this comes across as a Bordeaux-ish wine with cassis, black raspberries and plums with slight underlying earthiness. This is complex. It appears this is about at peak, but perhaps it improves

2016 Doluca Kalecik Karası DLC, Turkey, Central Anatolia, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

B+

Current Price:

$16.00USD

This is made from the Kalecik Karasi grape which grows in the Kizilirmak region around Ankara, Turkey. It reminds me very much of Gamay from a Cru Beujolais. Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose has plums, black cherries and is slightly dusty. Medium bodied. On the palate, cherries, and sour cherries, with light tannins. Long finish. Overall, an easy drinking wine, but with some complexity. This should drink well for five to seven more years. It is nice on its own and should work with most foods. Turkish Cabbage Rolls in a creamy tomato sauce flavored with cinnamon an

2012 Büyülübağ Shah, Turkey, Avşa Island, Wine Review

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