I can’t remember ever tasting a Moldovan wine, but here we go. It’s like what I would expect: an opulent, almost New World-like red. How to put it politely? Definitely not for the Burgundy lover…
Supermarket wines: Hacienda Uvanis Garnacha Old Vines Navarra 2022 from Lidl
Solid garnacha from Lidl. Old vine material for €4? It rather tastes like just cheap, €4 red wine, but a very good one.
Casa Castillo La Tendida 2020
Casa Castillo is a star producer of Jumilla, and their wines are different from most made in the region. Less oak and less sweetness, more purity – I’m gravitating towards the style, but I’m not fully convinced by this wine. And it’s not the first case when I expected more from a Casa Castillo red… Continue reading
Standout kadarka: Bock 2019
Kadarka is an indigenous red grape variety to Hungary, even though it most likely originates in the Balkans. It produces a light red wine which tends to be fairly simple, but it’s quite distinguished and has some pinot-noir-like qualities and appeal. Continue reading
Fun & delicious light red from Szekszárd: Sebestyén Indigó Zweigelt 2023
100% zweigelt from a well-known Szekszárd producer called Sebestyén, made in an easy drinking style. Spot on contemporary bistro red! Imagine a good beaujolais villages but with less tannins – you are now close!
Lajvér Kadarka 2021, Szekszárd, Hungary
I liked what I tasted from Lajvér in the past, but this current release of their kadarka is a bit different. It’s from 2021 and similarly to most Hungarian wines of that vintage (BTW it was a poor one in many parts of Europe), I find it challenging rather than agreeable.
Supermarket wines: Eszterbauer Sógor Kadarka 2023
The Sógor kadarka is back on form! The 2023 is as good as the best vintage I have tasted yet, the 2019. It’s good news, regarding that the 2022 was a disappointment. It’s a bit early but so far it seems that 2023 yielded the most charming and delicious Hungarian wines in recent years. Even though it was a disaster for most wine producers…Affordable red burgundy to buy: Domaine des Remparts Irancy Les Cailles 2022
At 18,38€ this is still a very affordable burgundy and I had no big expectations to be honest. But then I was blown away by the beauty of the wine… buy until stock last!
A low intervention red from Villány: Wassmann Mundia 2021
Just by looking at the label you can tell this is a low added SO2 wine (yes, I’m trying to avoid the term natural). Wassmann was started as a biodynamic winery (the first in Villány if I’m not mistaken) and I loved some of their early wines. Continue reading
Rhone reds from Lidl
I’m a big grenache fan and sadly there aren’t many available on the Hungarian market, so I was happy to see new Southern Rhone reds popping up in Lidl recently. I cannot say they impressed me, though.