I found previous vintages of this wine (2019, 2018) a bit more concentrated, although this 2022 is still a pleasant everyday quaffer.
Standout Cotes du Rhone: Saint Cosme 2024
Saint Cosme’s entry level Rhone red blew me away almost two years ago – and I think I even underrated it. It was clear that I would try the next vintage, so here it is, the 2024. To be more precise, the 2025 is already on the market, but let’s focus on its predecessor. It’s great.
Two examples of királyleányka, a Transylvanian white grape variety
Királyleányka (a.k.a. fetească regală) is a hardly known variety found mainly in Romania, but it’s considered as a native one here in Hungary as well. It’s slightly aromatic and the grapes are so tannic that you don’t want to eat them – hence the resulting wine almost always has a bit of a tannic grip, even with careful processing. Continue reading
A different dry tokaji furmint: Péter Mester-völgy 2023
Unusual for a dry Tokaji furmint. At a mere 11,5% ABV it has some a bit of resemblance to Aussie riesling or perhaps Hunter Valley semillon, and I love that – so much so that I would be happy to see similar furmints in the future. Continue reading
Domaine Pansiot Bourgogne Côte d’Or 2022
Reliability and value are not things Burgundy is famous for (as opposed to the Southern Rhone, for example). I wouldn’t say this is a bad wine, but I wasn’t happy with it. Continue reading
Domaine du Peyra Cent pour Cent Grenache 2024
My thirst for grenache (be it varietal or blended) returned. I’m just more careful when ordering, I check the alcohol level even before the price… I look for an ABV of 14% or preferably less. That Cochon Volant was a nice discovery last time, and here is another lovely Languedoc red that fits the bill, Cent pour Cent by Domaine du Peyra. Continue reading
Mark Haisma Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2022
I wanted to taste a wine from Mark Haisma since I read about him in Jamie Goode’s Wine Science book (in the chapter about using whole bunches in the ferment), but his wines are not easy to find. After a lot of search I found merchant Wijn op Dronk in the Netherlands, who delivers to Luxembourg where a friend of mine lives – it’s complicated, but at the end I received the bottle when he visited Budapest.
A great yet affordable Crozes-Hermitage: Emmanuel Darnaud “Mise en Bouche” 2022
I don’t think it’s easy to find value in the Northern Rhone, but I actually found some amazing wines in the last few months for fair prices. One of them was this beauty, which is a textbook example of syrah from the region, weighing in at a perfect 12,5% ABV. Highly recommended!
Supersmooth Languedoc red: Chateau de Caraguilhes “Cochon Volant” 2024
Never had a wine from this producer before, and what a nice surprise. So refined, skillfully crafted – these are things I love about French wines.
Still a great kadarka: the current vintage of Heimann & Fiai Kadarka
The Heimann family just announced that their “Heimann & Fiai” label (which represented a new lineup of contemporary styles) is now integrated into the main brand “Heimann”, as the new generation takes over the winery. And I just realised that I have not yet posted about the current release of their kadarka, even though it is one my favourite Hungarian red wines – just like previous vintages were, like the 2021 and the 2022. Continue reading