A nice example of mencia. I expect a wine made by Telmo Rodriguez to be pure and this one does not disappoint. Highly recommended!
Telmo Rodriguez Gaba Mencia 2020
Nouveau time: Vylyan Bogyólé 2024
Hungary’s most well-known nouveau red wine is back on form. This 2024 vintage of Bogyólé is one the best releases ever.Shiraz icon: Wendouree 2021 from Clare Valley, Australia
Being able to taste a Wendouree in Central Europe feels special When my Aussie connection, Attila Halász came to Budapest in the summer, he brought two bottles with him actually – what a treat it was. Especially as one was the shiraz, the most admired wine of this cult producer.
Exemplary entry level kékfrankos (a.k.a. blaufrankisch): Béla és Bandi 2023
Hungary’s most planted red grape variety is kékfrankos (a.k.a. blaufrankisch, lemberger, frankovka etc.) but it’s really unfashionable among local consumers and it’s just the minority of the producers who take it seriously. No wonder then that generally quality isn’t good. But this example from Béla és Bandi is a true exception, it sets the benchmark for affordable kékfrankos – both stylistically and qualitatively.
Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny 2021
This cabernet franc can be very good in some vintages – like the 2017. But the 2021 is just not good. I had four bottles, all were disappointing. It’s not a good vintage and the wine reflects that.
Affordable Burgundy: Domaine Des Chambris Hauts Cotes de Nuits 2022
The Burgundies I can afford to buy have an amazing common feature: despite climate change and hot vintages, they still weigh in at a mere 12,5-13,5% ABV. That’s the perfect alcohol content for most wines yet it’s anything but common in other regions these days. And it’s part of the appeal here.Saladini Pilastri Rosso Piceno DOC 2022
Real purity here. It was aged in barrels but that does not show – I like it a lot.My favourite wines: Tyrrell’s Semillon 2023
Hunter Valley semillon is a unique white wine style (although Australian riesling is similarly built one could argue) and while not widely available in Europe, it’s really worth seeking out. Start with this one from Tyrrell’s – it’s one of my favourite whites consumed in the last few months. Continue reading
Supermarket wines: Les Truffiers Ventoux 2023 from Lidl
Simple (and cheap) wines can be totally delicious. 4,5 € means cheap in the wine world (in Europe for sure), you only get entry level quaffers for that price but when well-made they can be more enjoyable than some more expensive ones lacking balance. And this is pretty solid.
Bernard Baudry Chinon Le Domaine 2020
Is it low intervention kind of funk or just the regular brett thing of this producer? Not a bad wine at all, although I prefer cleaner styles of Loire Valley cabernet franc and there are plenty of good examples out there including Couly-Dutheil and Bertrand & Vincent Marchesseau, just to name a few…