This is the fifth of seven reviews of wines from the Turkish winery Vinkara. To learn more about the history of Turkish wine, what's going on with it today, and more on Vinkara, check out Tarhun Returns: The Resurgence of Turkish Wine.
Öküzgözü is pronounced oh-cooz-goe-zue. The name means "ox eye" because the grapes are big and fleshy just like an ox eye. It's an indigenous grape of eastern Anatolia but grown throughout Turkey. Due to its high acidity, it's a varietal that ages well. That's really all I can find on the grape so let's go right into tasting it!
It's a stunning violet in color, both vibrant and dark. I really don't know how many times I have to repeat myself that the color of the wines from this winery are awesome. I'm getting whiplash from throwing my head back in shock after pouring these things. Even coming from native varietals I've never seen before, it's gotta be the climate, right?
The nose starts off with a pop of red apple then transforms into raspberry green tea, pencil shavings and a little bit of bandaid. In the mouth it's medium to full bodied, high in acidity, but soft in mouthfeel. For flavor it's a fruitbomb of raspberry green tea and strawberry jam. Then it finishes with raspberry green tea and gripping tannin.
Man, I love raspberry green tea. The beverage, both cold and hot, is a great combo of comfort and explosive flavor. And I really liked this wine.
But because of the way I do things sometimes I have to give a wine that I really like a bad rating. I'm pretty sure you would like this wine too but, I'm sorry, it's just not worth the $23 price point. If it was, say, $16 then it would be getting some big praises because then it would be over-delivering. But it's not; it's $23 and that's just too much.
I suggest you spend a few extra bucks and get in on Vinkara's Kalecik Karasi Reserve instead.
The bottle used was supplied free of charge for the purpose of this unpaid review. To have your wine reviewed follow this link.
It's a stunning violet in color, both vibrant and dark. I really don't know how many times I have to repeat myself that the color of the wines from this winery are awesome. I'm getting whiplash from throwing my head back in shock after pouring these things. Even coming from native varietals I've never seen before, it's gotta be the climate, right?
The nose starts off with a pop of red apple then transforms into raspberry green tea, pencil shavings and a little bit of bandaid. In the mouth it's medium to full bodied, high in acidity, but soft in mouthfeel. For flavor it's a fruitbomb of raspberry green tea and strawberry jam. Then it finishes with raspberry green tea and gripping tannin.
Man, I love raspberry green tea. The beverage, both cold and hot, is a great combo of comfort and explosive flavor. And I really liked this wine.
But because of the way I do things sometimes I have to give a wine that I really like a bad rating. I'm pretty sure you would like this wine too but, I'm sorry, it's just not worth the $23 price point. If it was, say, $16 then it would be getting some big praises because then it would be over-delivering. But it's not; it's $23 and that's just too much.
I suggest you spend a few extra bucks and get in on Vinkara's Kalecik Karasi Reserve instead.
The bottle used was supplied free of charge for the purpose of this unpaid review. To have your wine reviewed follow this link.
I still can't pronounce it! LOL
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