2023 Yi Yook-sa Wine

Last year (sounds so long ago!) our friend came back from Korea with a gift of wine. He is interested in growing grapes and making wine in Korea.
This wine came from a winery near where our friend intends to put in a vineyard. The winery is called Yi Yook-sa and also goes by the number 264. The two names are to celebrate the famous poet, Yi Yook-sa and the 264 is the poet's prison number.
The wine is made from the Cheongsoo grape, which was developed in Korea. The Cheongsoo grape is a cross between the 'Siebel 9110' and 'Himrod' varieties. The 'Siebel 9110' is a French-American hybrid grape variety and the 'Himrod' is an American grape variety, known for being seedless.
The wine was beautifully floral on the nose and it reminded me of the aroma of Gewurztraminer. The flavor was very tropical with a good balance between the fruit and acidity.
We hope our friend does realize his dream of planting a vineyard in Korea. We'll be rooting for him and hoping to taste some of his Cheongsoo wine!