Points : 8,25/10

Price : 115 TL at Mensis Mahzen.

This new blend of Akın Gürbüz is made of 39% Shiraz, 35% Cinsault and 31% Grenache. The former two were aged for 12 months in oak.

Each grape comes from a different vineyard – the Shiraz grows in Gallipoli, the Cinsault in Gaziköy and the Grenache in Kumbağ.

I like the label of this wine. Akın Gürbüz’s labels have evolved a lot since the beginning. They became more dynamic, young, fun. That’s really the message Akın Bey is trying to promote. Good wines, not too heavy, not too expansive (most of them), products of their time like the millennials.

Now let’s taste this blend :

On the nose, it’s very fresh and perfumed with peppery, spicy and ripe red fruit notes (strawberry and cherry).

It’s a medium bodied wine very well structured with fine but definite tannins.

It has very concentrated berry flavours.

It’s very smooth on the palate at first but with enough grip and freshness to finish dry and refreshing.

It’s a very lively and elegant wine.

As additional flavours, I noticed notes of liquorice, sweet spices, caramel and lavender.

This wine is a full experience of fine tannins, bright acidity and full berry fruitiness.

You may have some crystal deposit at the end.

Recommended Food Pairing: Cured meats and sausages; roast chicken & pork; aglio olio pasta; savoury salads.