2019 Murat Akyuva #1, Turkey, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

This is a project of a developing winery, not yet in commercial production.  It is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Alicante from Turkey.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, pine, and black cherries.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, tart cherries.  Nice acidity.  It is somewhat a trade off in getting the Cabernet ripe without losing the acidity, but in this case a touch more ripeness would have been better.  Still, it drinks easy for a first effort.  The Alicante does seem to add some plushness to the wine.  It will work better with food.  It is

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

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
91
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).

2012 Büyülübağ Shah, Turkey, Avşa Island, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

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.  

2019 Paşaeli Çalkarası Rosé, Turkey, Aegean, Ege Bölgesi

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$13.00USD

This is a a Rosé from the Çalkarası grape made in the western part of Turkey.  Very pale pink in color, clear and bright.  The nose has watermelons and strawberries.  On the palate, this is refreshing and tasty.  Strawberries and tart cherries with slight acidity.  Good finish.  Nothing really distinguishable about the grape varietal in this format, but a very good, solid rose.  Nice energy, it probably should be drunk in the next year or so to enjoy that aspect as well although it should drink longer.  This will match with a wide variety of foods.  It ould work well at brunch with Menemen.

2020 Paşaeli Yapıncak, Turkey, Tekirdag

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
78
Grade: 
C+
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

Yapıncak is a grape variety native to Şarköy – Tekirdağ on the European part of Turkey. Golden with a light pinkish hue, clear and bright.  The nose is different with scents of linden and slight citrus.  On the palate, this is a bit flabby with little acidity.  The linden comes thru.  clipped on the finish.  This is different.  Probably better with food.  Gözleme would be a nice choice.  Drink now.  

2018 Kavaklıdere Çankaya, Turkey, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$11.00USD

This is the largest selling white wine in Turkey.  It is a blend of 35% Narince, 35% Emir, 30% Sultaniye grapes.  Light gold in color with some green hues, clear and bright.  The nose is tight at first but eventually opens to show some lemons.  Slightly oily texture.  On the palate, this has nice honeydew notes with slight lime.  Moderate acidity.  This drinks very easy, dry, but with a perception of sweet.  This is an excellent value in inexpensive white wine and would be great for a party.  Drink over the next couple of years.  This would go well with sea food such as Balik Ekmek.

2019 Stolpman La Cuadrilla Red, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Ballard Canyon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is a blend of 70% Syrah, 15% Grenache, and 15% Sangiovese from Santa Barbara County.  It also a very good value.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, black cherries, spice and slight forest floor.  Full bodied.  Medium silky tannins.  On the palate, this is open and drinking well already.  Nice black raspberry fruit with some cherries and black cherries.  A bit of black tea underneath.

2016 Klein Constantia Vin de Constance, South Africa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$85.00USD

This is a classic dessert wine in an attractive 500ML bottle.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is drop dead gorgeous.  Apricots, marigolds, slight honey, floral notes, and a touch of dried fruits (oranges?).  Full bodied.  Viscous.  Sweet not cloying.  Clean.  On the palate, this is not quite the nose, but outstanding anyway.  Layers of candied apricots, quince (think tart oranges with more acidity), and just a touch of spice (nutmeg?).  Enough acidity to balance the sweetness.  Complex and also delicious.  Long finish.  This should last decades.  Great on its own, this should

2013 Theorem Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Voir Dire, USA, California, Napa, Diamond Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+

Another wine made by Thomas Rivers Brown, this was the first time trying this one, and it is awesome.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, slight blueberries, cedar, slight dark chocolate and baking spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is concentrated.  Medium tannins.  Flavors of cassis, black cherries, slight licorice with some oak and a bit of minerality.  Great balance.  Delicious.  Long finish.  This drinks well with some decanting now, but may yet improve over the next five to seven years.  Either way, this should drink well for th

2016 Abeja Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley, Washington, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

This is a Cabernet from Washington state.  It actually also has 4% Merlot.  Purple in color, a bit of ruby at the rim.  Opaque and bright.  The nose is very nice with black cherries, plums, some baking spice and a slight liqueur note.  Full bodied but not over blown.  On the palate, this has juicy black cherries, plums, slight blueberries with some underlying char and a bit of minerality.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well now but should go another seven to ten years.  It will work on its own but probably better with food.  It went well with pasta but would work well with r

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