The more we get into trying obscure grape varietals, the more we are brought back to Turkish wines. First, because the country is home to many indigenous species. But second, they're also quite delicious!
So when we found Pasaeli's 6N Karasakiz in a local store, we knew we had to give this one a go.
While brighter and more vibrant than other Turkish reds we've had, this one hit on some light and fresh red fruit notes that we can always enjoy!
Hybrid grapes are often quite interesting, as they typically are crosses between a European vinifera grape and an indigenous North American varietal.
Baco Noir is one such grape which is considered to be a cross of Folle Blanche (French) and an unknown species from the Americas. It is growing across many US states and Canada, and is one you may see pop up from time to time in the Finger LAkes region of upstate New York.
We found a delightful bottle of Heron Hill's Reserve Baco Noir during one trip to the region and promptly forgot about it in our cellar for six years. Thankfully, a bit of age on this one ended up being a great thing!
During our exploration of wineries near Seattle, we stumbled upon Latta and immediately fell in love.
First it started with a bottle we picked up at a wine shop to take to dinner. Then we visited the winery the very next day. And now, of course, we are converts and try to enjoy their wines whenever possible.
The Dana Dibble Syrah was one such bottle that made our way into our collection (courtesy of our friends in Seattle who brought it for us as gift knowing how much we like them), and this one hits some great notes for a Rhone-forward style Syrah from Washington!
Georgia is often considered to be the birthplace of wine, with known production dating back roughly 8,000 years.
But what is the oldest grape?
Well, that is hard to say. But Dzelshavi is considered to be one of the oldest grape varieties documented in Georgia, and has history dating back 1,500 years. Today, it is still grown in Georgia, and Vartsikhe Maran's Dzelshavi certainly is an interesting one!
Retsina is an interesting style of wine made in Greece that is made in memory of the historic winemaking practice from millennia ago.
Winemaking in early Greece involved sealing amphorae with resin in order to minimize contact with the air. Some of that resin made its way into the wine, and tastes started to like the pine-y flavor that the resin added.
After moving to more traditional winemaking methods, some producers opted to add resin to wine to keep this flavor despite not needing it for production purposes, and modern day Retsina is the result!
I had always wanted to get my hands on a bottle of Retsina to see what it is like, and when I found Papagiannakos Retsina, I knew I had to try it. While not my preferred style, I have to admit, it isn't bad!
We've been fortunate enough to try most of Champagne Dumenil's bottles due to them being available by a local distributor, and have tried many gems (including their Prestige Vieilles Vignes which has been one of our favorites we have tried to date).
Their Amour de Cuvee is a Blanc de Noir style made with Meunier and Pinot Noir which hit us with classic Champagne notes as well as modest lees and a bit of age to go along with it!
We always love a flavorful Gruner Veltliner from Austria, especially when it has a nice textural component from phenolics as well.
Pichler-Krutzler's Ried Klostersatz Gruner Veltliner from Wachau was one such bottle, and for quality like this, we just can't get enough.
Touriga Nacional is one of those Portuguese grapes that needs a bit of time. In fact, we're so used to seeing this one in aged port over a still wine that the age often comes naturally.
So when we got lucky enough to find two bottles of UDACA Dao Touriga Nacional 2014 on clearance at a local wine shop, we grabbed both with one to enjoy now and one to age.
This is an important distinction, because at 10 years old this one was only starting to show its potential!
Madeira is one of my favorite fortified wines, and when it comes to a style that goes with just about everything, we almost always reach for a Boal.
This particular bottle from Cossart Gordon was an interesting one because it was perhaps the most aged Boal we've had yet. At 15 years it hit all the right notes of fruit, nuts, and more!
As lovers of all things Syrah, we have to admit that our access to good bottles from Australia often feels limited. So when we had a chance to pick up a bottle of Penfolds Bin 28 Shiraz, with grapes sourced from all over the country (with a Barossa Valley dominance), we had to give it a try.
A hot climate Shiraz with characteristic flavors of the region? We're in for that.
