Suvla SUR 2020
Why I’m Giving Suvla Wines a Second Look – A Fresh Take on Suvla Sur 2020
For years, Suvla Winery has been a well-known name in Turkey’s wine scene. I’ve tasted many of their wines over time, and my impression was that they started with a strong focus on quality but then expanded rapidly. When they launched a series of upscale retail stores across Turkey, I felt that the balance between price and quality wasn’t quite there anymore.
However, a recent tasting experience in Antalya has made me rethink my stance—particularly because of Suvla’s Sur 2020 red wine.
A New Perspective on Suvla
I’ll admit, I was skeptical about the wine. Suvla has built a sizable reputation, but in my experience, rapid expansion sometimes leads to inconsistent quality. Yet, my experience with Sur 2020 challenged those assumptions.
Sur 2020 is a well structured red wine that indicates a renewed commitment to quality at Suvla. The blend—Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot—offers a rich yet balanced profile, showcasing dark fruit, spice, and well-integrated tannins. Given how smoothly the wine was balanced, I suspect Merlot leads the way, as I don’t typically find this level of roundness in Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blends.
What Makes Sur 2020 Stand Out?
One of the most striking aspects of Sur 2020 is its depth. The wine spent 18 months in oak barrels and has an alcohol content of 14%. It presents a dark ruby color with a nose full of oak, plum, and black pepper. On the palate, it delivers a harmonious mix of plummy and cherry fruit, acidity, and tannin, with very slight leather notes and a hint of black pepper. The tannins are noticeable but well-integrated, and the wine carries a medium-plus finish. Overall, I’d rate this wine as good to very good.
This recent tasting experience with my wine group in Antalya reminded me why I initially appreciated Suvla. It seems like they are focusing on quality once again, which is refreshing to see in a market where consistency can sometimes be elusive.
Final Thoughts: Suvla’ Winery's Evolution
Tasting Sur 2020 made me reconsider my perception of Suvla Winery. I last had a Suvla wine on a Turkish Airlines flight and found it too young, harsh, and acidic—needing far more decanting than I could allow while in the air. I also recall that their reserve wines can be quite heavily oaked with big tannins. However, this wine felt restrained and appropriate to drink now, though it could easily age for a few more years.
While I once saw Suvla’s rapid expansion as a potential dilution of quality, Sur 2020 suggests a return to form. If you, like me, had reservations about Suvla in the past, it might be time to take a second look.
Sur 2020 has proven that Suvla's story continues, and I’m curious to see what else they have in store. If this bottle is any indication, I look forward to otherr Suvla Wines—one that wine lovers should definitely keep an eye on.
⭐️3.9
🍷Color: Dark ruby a hint of orange on the rim.
🍒Fruit: Black and red fruits balanced, Plum, dark cherry, currant.
🍃Spice: some black pepper,.
👅Body: Medium plus and balanced
🌳Oak: 18 months (french I believe)
🍁Tannin: Medium tannins that are noticeable and refined
\🧬Acidity: Med acidity
%⚗️Alcohol: 14% and well balanced by sweetness, fruit, and acidity.
🎬Summary: A Merlot leading Bordeaux blend (think youthful Saint Emillion or Pomerol) with good balance and ready to drink now with little to no decanting. Not a big wine, but dark and rich.
