Kalecik Karasi 2018

100% Kalecik Karasi. From ungrafted 200+ year-old vines on volcanic soils around the base of Mt Hasan. All grapes are never pressed, only slightly crushed, separated from their stems, and transferred to fermenting küps for 7-9 months. From here, they spend up to an additional 9 months aging in an open space in the winery exposed to the elements. Comparable to the reds of the Auvergne, it resembles Pinot d’Auvergne, with its intense salinity and candied cherry fruit. Refined and in place, but still showing a rustic charm that feels unique to this old variety. Medium in body, closer to Pinot, it still has generous and concentrated fruit, with high drinkability. Smokiness on the nose, with perplexing character, and an impossibly long finish.