In April 2025, we tried more than 60 wines thanks to our trip to Geneva and several tastings we had in Izmir, including Turkish Bordeaux Blends and Georgian Wine Tastings with our wine tasting group Tadında Dünya and Cabernet Franc Tasting with Bir Yudum Şarap Association. While we have many wines between 88-90 points, which is still good, we lacked distinctive wines this month over 91 points compared to the number of wines we tasted.
Here are our top picks from April 2025:
Local Wines of Türkiye
2012 Chamlıja Nevi Şahsına Münhasır Istranca Bağları – Türkiye, Thrace (4/4/2025)
This wine was tasted on April 4, 2025, during the Tadında Dünya team’s comparative tasting of Turkish Bordeaux-style wines.
The color is very vibrant, purple. On the nose, there are beautiful, intensely aromatic fruits—mouthwatering just from smelling. On the palate: red pepper, black pepper, clove. A well-balanced wine with a softened structure, yet still intense, with a long finish. Tannins are high but well-integrated. Medium+ body. As it aerated, tertiary aromas started to emerge—coffee, espresso. The wine is well balanced with an intense aroma profile, a long finish, and a complex structure. (93 points)
2014 Château Kalpak Cabernet Franc – Türkiye, Thrace (4/8/2025)
Tasted blind on 9.4.2025, during a Cabernet Franc horizontal tasting organized by Bir Yudum Şarap Association.
On the nose, this wine shows high intensity with pronounced aromas of green bell pepper, black fruits, and cassis, evoking the character of a refined Carménère. The bouquet is vibrant and mouthwatering.
On the palate, the tannins are beautifully softened and well-integrated, complementing the wine’s generous aromatic depth. Flavors of green pepper, fresh salad greens, and wild blueberry create a layered and expressive profile.
The acidity sits at a vibrant medium+, with high yet polished tannins. A wine of elegance and complexity, showing great potential for further development.
The wine has a long and satisfying finish, it is full-bodied. A truly enjoyable wine. (92 points)
2012 Château Kalpak – Türkiye, Thrace (4/4/2025)
This wine was tasted on April 4, 2025, during the Tadında Dünya team’s comparative tasting of Turkish Bordeaux-style wines.
The nose was quite low in intensity, with a faint hint of cherry in the background. But after some aeration, it opened up beautifully. Gren pepper, red pepper, licorice, and eucalyptus are additional aromas.
On the palate, the intensity got better with aeration. As it opened up, barrel and coffee aromas started to emerge. Dark black fruits dominate the aroma profile. Thanks to its high acidity, it is still vibrant on the palate. The tertiary notes, like mushroom and leather, have also emerged. The wine has aged well. It is a balanced and complex wine with a medium finish and intensity. (91 points)
2021 Kuzubağ Shiraz Çal – Türkiye, Western Anatolia, Denizli (4/10/2025)
The bottle was quite cloudy with sediment. The color leans toward purple. On the nose, black pepper, sour cherry are the primary aromas with some reductive notes that have eased after some air. It has a medium aromatic intensity.
On the palate, the tannins are strong but beginning to soften, yet still have room to evolve. The aromatic intensity is high, dominated by black fruits: sour cherry, blueberry, clove, with a subtle smoky edge. It has a nice oak integration. It is satisfying to drink now, though it has an obvious aging potential.
The wine is well-balanced, with a high intensity and medium+ finish, moderate complexity. I really enjoyed it. (91 points)
Wines from Abroad
NV Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut – France, Champagne (4/19/2025)
On the nose, notes of bread, yeast, a hint of gas, pear, and citrus—quite a beautiful and layered bouquet. On the palate, the mousse is rich, with intense aromas, a long finish. It is a full-bodied and very flavorful wine. A champagne you could drink every day. (93 points)
2021 Juso Rkatsiteli – Georgia, Kakheti (4/27/2025)
Tasted during the Tadında Dünya tasting group’s Georgian wine session on 27.04.2025.
On the nose, the aroma profile is dominated by strong earthy notes, accompanied by herbal aromas such as thyme, rosemary, tea, as well as orange, grapefruit, and Cajun spice. Intensity is medium+ of flavors.
On the palate, dried apricot, herbal notes, eggplant skin, and orange peel.
This is the most balanced wine in the tasting. Fruit expression is at a high level, tannins are well-integrated, body is medium, and the finish is medium+.
I really liked it — a highly complex and multi-layered wine. A perfect choice to enjoy as a “red wine alternative” on hot summer days.
(92 points)
2020 Zorzal Eggo Franco – Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco, Tupungato (4/10/2025)
Tasted blind on 9.4.2025, during a Cabernet Franc horizontal tasting organized by Bir Yudum Şarap Association.
High aromatic intensity on the nose with beautiful black fruit aromas, subtle animal notes (a hint of barnyard), and some charred oak.
On the palate, the concentration is high with pronounced fruitiness—almost a sense of natural sweetness from the fruit itself. Long finish, full-bodied, complex, and a real pleasure to drink. Leans more toward a New World style. (92 points)
2022 Antoine Bovard Chasselas Grand Cru Dezaley – Switzerland, Vaud, Lavaux, Dézaley (4/20/2025)
On the nose, medium intensity of flavors, gas, minerality, and the feeling coming from cold Alpine winds.
On the palate, acidity is medium+, intensity is higher compared to its nose; prominent aromas are lemon, grapefruit, pear, gas, minerality. The body is medium+, and the finish is long.
A wine that really reflects its terroir. A more full-bodied and complex wine. As you drink, more layered aromas start to show. The finish is slightly sweet because of the intense fruit aromas. Peach and ripe nectarine notes are pronounced on the finish. (91 points)
For more tasting notes:
Cellar Tracker Profile – Özgür: Link
Cellar Tracker Profile – Gülfiye: Link
