Such a reliable wine. Although the 2019 is already released, this 2018 might still be around, and it’s well worth the asking price.
Supermarket wines: Lidl’s Corte Alle Mura Chianti Riserva 2018
World class South African syrah: Rall Ava 2018
A masterpiece. A syrah from South Africa that’s right up there with the first class of this variety from anywhere in the World.
Supermarket wines: Chateau Teleki Villányi Franc 2017
Such a classic Hungarian red. Widely distributed in the country, you can find it in many supermarkets, and I remember tasting it from the early 2000s. But I’m quite sure it was already made in 1997 – that would not be long history in France, but it is in Hungary.Supermarket wines: Pierre Chanau Cotes de Bourg 2020
Yet one another superb everyday Bordeaux from Auchan. Probably no surprise that it’s a Cotes de Bourg, that appellation offers so much for little money.Solid Loire red: Domaine Philippe Alliet Chinon 2020
Philippe Alliet is one of the big names of Chinon and this is their entry level wine (a cabernet franc, of course). I brought the bottle to a recent blind tasting and it showed very well, everyone loved it and thought that it was impressive. It’s a bit different compared to other Loire cabernet franc I adore, though. Continue reading
Supermarket wines – Günzer Syrah 2020, Villány
The first syrah plantings in Villány date back to the early 2000s if I’m not mistaken, and the variety is still not widespread in the region. Yet there are quite cheap and affordable bottlings around, like this one, available at 5 Euros in Auchan.
Plavac mali for nebbiolo lovers: Milos Plavac 2018
It’s not a long ago that I tasted my first plavac mali, and it’s still an early phase for me with this Croatian grape, but it was love at first sight. A true Mediterranean wine, dark, sunbaked, lower in acidity and heavily tannic, this is my cup of tea. Thanks to my friend Matthew Horkey for this bottle, and also for introducing this grape to me!
New wave Hungarian red: Vylyan Vörös Variáció 2021
Villány is probably still the most famous red wine region in Hungary. It’s not the most innovative, one could add, though. But here is a red which I would label as new wave, and it’s quite nice.
Magnificent Australian shiraz: Tyrrell’s 8 Acres 2018
Tasted at the same event as the Wendouree shiraz, this is another amazing wine from Down Under. I bet this would not look out of class when placed next to the very best syrah from France… Continue reading
The best wine I tasted in 2022: Wendouree Shiraz 2019
Wendouree is one of the hardest wines to get. Unless you live in Australia and you are one of the lucky few who are on the mailing list of this legendary producer. The only reason I tasted their wines during the last decade is that a friend of mine from Sydney brings one or two every year when he is visiting us here in Budapest. But this was the first time for me in 2022 July to taste the shiraz, probably Wendouree’s most highly regarded red. Continue reading