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Underdog Grape · Turkey

Öküzgözü

Pronounced ur-KEWZ-gur-zew

Turkey's classic red grapes are obscure for an unusual reason: almost nobody there is allowed to talk about them. Öküzgözü is the juicy one, Boğazkere the one that grips, and here's how to say both and find a bottle.

Tasting profile
From the literature, not my glass: Öküzgözü makes juicy, fruity reds with fresh acidity and soft tannin. Blended with Boğazkere, the fruit darkens and the finish grips.
What the name means
Ox eye. Named for its big, dark berries.
Where it grows
Eastern Anatolia, Turkey
Where to buy
For specific bottles and where to buy them, read the deep dive.

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The region

Eastern Anatolia, Turkey

Wines like Öküzgözü

CesaneseMtsvaneSankt LaurentTrepat
Read the deep diveÖküzgözü and Boğazkere: The Turkish Reds Almost Nobody Is Allowed to Talk About

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