“Dreams are hard to follow, when you’re dreaming behind the window…”

A part of a song by Gims that inspired me to name my series of wine tastings, behind the window. Although I really like this song, I disagree with this part of the lyrics. It’s possible to follow the dreams behind the window, and here is the story how I made it.

How I started tasting wine

I started tasting wines professionally in 2009 with production tastings. These are completely different than finished wine tastings, because it’s necessary to judge the wine according to its current stage and it requires expertise to decide which actions are needed for ending up with a desired wine style. This is actually one of the most exciting parts of the winemaking, and I really enjoyed learning it. Going further, in 2013 I learned a French style of tasting and evaluating the wines during my MSc degree. Although these were not production tastings, the scheme was mostly for winemaking, rather than marketing. It was mainly focused on defining the production techniques and detecting any existing wine faults. We haven’t use a fancy language to describe the wines, the aim was to evaluate the wine in the most neutral way possible. I have used the same criteria during my experiences in other countries, and this allowed me to have a clear understanding on the varieties and styles of wines. In 2016, in Napa California, I attended my first sommelier group tasting. It was an eye opener experience for me. I was literally mesmerized to hear the sommeliers describing the wines in the most palatable way. It was a great way to transmit the wine description to the consumers, which was completely new to me. Training with this sommelier group, I learned a completely new style of describing the wines. But learning about wine never finishes. In 2019, I continued my learning with a WSET L3 course.

Everything comes together

Tasting more than 10 years, and traveler-winemaking in 5 counties, I ended up having tasting notes coming out of everywhere; notebooks, excel documents, papers… Although I can easily find my way around them, it’s not ideal to have them in separate places. That’s why for my WSET L3 course, I decided to have them in one single place, take the photos of the front label, and record the tasting notes on my phone. The best lighting in the house was the living room window, where I had my orchids thrive – they just loved this place, and generously gave me at least 3 flower sets a year. Long story short, I put every single bottle in front of the window to take a photo, soft and natural light came together with the lovely background of orchids. The results were spectacular.

#winesbehindthewindow

Here is the summary of this journey: 70 wines, 1 window, 2 orchids and happy me. I was happy to have tasted all these wines and evaluated with WSET L3 method, and shared them with you. There are wines from many different countries, and different styles, and price levels. Some capturing notes of the tastings, and most of the time the food pairings that I’ve created are all under the #winesbehindthewindow hashtag on Instagram. I am sharing a list of these 70 wines here as well:

1.           La Vie en Rose, IGP Pay d’Oc : Rosé of Cinsault, 2018, France

2.           Clos de l’Oratoire des Papes, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 2015, France

3.           Nautilus, Sauvignon Blanc, 2017, Marlborough, New Zealand

4.           Kim Crawford, Sauvignon Blanc, 2018, New Zealand

5.           San Fabiano Calcinaia, Chianti Classico, 2016, Italy

6.           Terroir Series, Lightfoot and Wolfville Riesling 2016, Nova Scotia, Canada

7.           Blue Slate Dr. Loosen, Riesling Kabinett, 2017, Mosel, Germany

8.           Willm, Pinot Gris, 2016, Alsace, France

9.           Domaine de Valmoissine, Louis Latour Pinot Noir, 2015, IGP Var, France

10.         Dogajolo Carpineto 2016, IGT Toscana, Italy

11.         Lenz Moser, Grüner Veltliner, Niederösterreich, Austria

12.         Vouvray, Famille Bougrier, Chenin Blanc, 2017, France

13.         Agiorgitiko, Ktima Driopi, PDO Nemea, 2013, Greece

14.         Beaujolais-Villages, George Duboeuf, 2017, France

15.         Kallfelz, Riesling, 2014, Germany

16.         Chateau Lafaurie-Peyragues, Sauternes, 2010, France

17.         Glup, Cinsault, 2017, Itata, Chile

18.         Campo Viejo, Reserva 2014, Rioja, Spain

19.         Abbotts et Delaunay, Minervois, 2016, France

20.         Marques de Riscal, 2017, Rueda, Spain

21.         Muros Antigos, Alvarinho, 2017, Monçao e Melgaço, Portugal

22.         Ruffino Il Ducale, Pinot Grigio, 2018, Fruili, Italy

23.         Torres Celeste Crianza, 2016, Ribera del Duero, Spain

24.         Château Latour-Martillac, 2013. Pessac-Leognan, France

25.         Laurus, Gabriel Meffre, AOP Saint-Julien, 2016

26.         Masi Campofiorin, Nectar Angelorum Hominibus, 2015, IGT Verona Italy

27.         Masianco of Masi, 2017, DOC Pinot Grigio delle Venezie, Italy

28.         Matua, Sauvignon Blanc, 2017, Marlborough, New Zealand

29.         Cuma, Michel Torino, Torrontes, 2018, Argentina

30.         Emiliana Organic Vineyards, Chardonnay, 2016, DO Casablanca Valley, Chile

31.         Barefoot Merlot NV California, USA

32.         Viña Arboleda, Carmenere, 2016, Aconcagua Valley, Chile

33.         Malbec! Malkina, 2018, Trapiche Winery, Argentina

34.         Ancient Vines, Zinfandel, 2016, Contra Costa County, USA

35.         Dom Perignon, 2003, Champagne, France

36.         Belle Époque Rosé, Perrier-Jouët, 2016, Champagne, France

37.         Krug Grande Cuvée, 163eme edition, Champagne, France

38.         Wolf Blass, Shiraz 2014, Barossa, Ausralia

39.         Amayna Syrah, 2015, Leyda Valley, Chile

40.         Clos de Fous, Cinsault, Pais, Carignan and Syrah, 2017, Itata, Chile

41.         Clarendelle, 2015, AOC Saint-Émilion, France

42.         Beaujolais Superieur, Bouchard Aine & Fils, 2017, France

43.         Domaine Bart, Fixin-Hervelets 1er cru, 2015, Bourgogne, France

44.         Château Kirwan, 2015, Bordeaux, France

45.         Chamlija, Kara Sevda, Papaskarasi, 2017, Kirklareli, Turkey

46.         Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo, Brunello di Montalcino, 2013, Italy

47.         Albis, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carménère, 2006, Maipo Valley, Chile

48.         Montes Limited Selection, Pinot Noir, 2017, Casablanca Valley, Chile

49.         Pierre André, Pinot Noir, 2015, Bourgogne, France

50.         Idisma Drios Assyrtiko, Wine Art Estates, 2017 Drama, Greece.

51.         Domaine Amélie & Charles Sparr, Riesling, 2017, Alsace Grand Cru, France

52.         Cloudy Bay, Sauvignon Blanc, 2019, New Zealand.

53.         Domaine de Grand Pre, Riesling, 2017 Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada

54.         Viognier, Vignobles Paul Mas, 2018, Pays d’Oc, France

55.         Assyrtiko, 2017, Vassaltis Vineyards, Santorini, Greece

56.         Gem, Cinsault rosé, IGP Pays d’Oc, France

57.         Georges Duboeuf, 2016, Brouilly AOC, France

58.         Folonari, Valpolicella DOC, 2017

59.         Berne, Romance, 2019, Mediterranée IGP, France

60.         Lia, Tempranillo rosé, 2018, DO Ribera del Duero, Spain

61.         11 Minutes Odi et Amo Rosé Vinum of Pasqua Wines, 2019, Verona, Italy

62.         Bottega Gold Prosecco, Italy

63.         Bottega Rosé Gold Prosecco, Italy

64.         Bailly Lapierre, Réserve Brut, Crémant de Bourgogne, France

65.         Louis Bouillot, Perle d’Aurore, Crémant de Bourgogne, France

66.         Moet et Chandon Imperial, Champagne, France

67.         Palmes d’Or, Nicolas Feuillatte, 2016, Champagne, France

68.         Bollinger Rosé, Champagne, France

69.         Charles Hiedsieck, Rosé Reserve, Champagne, France

70.         Ruinart, Champagne, France

Thank you all for experiencing this journey with me, and I hope to meet you in a new one!

Cheers,

Nesli

All images © 2020 by Neslihan IVIT. All rights reserved.