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
Superb Cotes du Rhone: Perrin Reserve 2023
I looked back and found the tasting note of the 2010 vintage of this wine in my notes, but I think I had tasted even earlier vintages. As far as I can tell, both quality and style are similar these days, making this an absolutely reliable red wine. The current release is as good as the ones back then.
Great value garnacha: Herència Altés Garnatxa Negra 2025
A new producer to me, and the first experience could not be more positive. This garnacha blew me away, I did not expected such a vibrant wine – I definitely need to try other bottlings in their range.
Supermarket wines: Séguret Les Aumoniers 2024 from Lidl
A named villages Cotes du Rhone from Lidl, and it is great value as usual. It’s even a bit cheaper than previous vintages – at least in Hungary -, I don’t even know how is that even possible. And as I have experience with the wine (see the 2018 here) I can confidently say it can be aged for up to 7 years, and it may improve a bit with time.
A kadarka that sets the benchmark for ageability – Bock Selection 2012
I’m a fan of kadarka, this unique indigenous red grape variety of Hungary, even though it’s not in the same league as pinot noir or nebbiolo, for example. It can be pretty but it’s not something for the cellar. In my experience, not even the top examples can age for more than 7-8 years, but I recently tasted one that tells a different story.