An expensive Carignan from Chile: De Matino Vigno 2015

Image ~ April 29, 2020April 29, 2020 ~ Zoltán Németi

New wave Chilean red. Definitely not one buried in new oak, but there is nothing unexpected here – it tastes Chilean first and foremost. I always wonder where that strong character comes from, I never find it in anywhere else, and it’s always there in the country’s reds. Winemaking? Terroir speaking loud?

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Delicious, crisp white wine for 5 euros – Nyakas Irsai Olivér 2019

Image ~ April 26, 2020 ~ Zoltán Németi ~ 1 Comment

Irsai Olivér is a local grape of Hungary, a cross made in 1930. It has a bad reputation amongst wine aficionados as a dull, cheap, mass produced wine. An equivalent of low priced Pinot Grigio perhaps – except that it’s a highly aromatic, Muscat-like variety. And when made well, it can be quite pretty, like the most well-known version, made near Budapest by Nyakas.

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Noelia Ricci Il Sangiovese 2018

Image ~ April 25, 2020 ~ Zoltán Németi

Almost good Sangiovese. Continue reading →

One of the best Hungarian rosé wines: Sauska 2019 from Villány

Image ~ April 23, 2020May 2, 2020 ~ Zoltán Németi

Hungary is not (yet) a serious rosé player, but there are some pretty good bottles out there. Sauska makes one of the most reliable pink wines, and it might be the most refined one too.

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Iconic red from Provance – Chateau Simone Rouge 2012, AOC Palette, Provance

Image ~ April 21, 2020April 21, 2020 ~ Zoltán Németi

A red that has been on my list for so long. It should be on yours, too. A truly iconic wine of Southern France with a long history and trackrecord (Cellartracker lists 1961 as first vintage).

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A modern, well made Egri Bikavér: Böjt 2016

Image ~ April 19, 2020April 19, 2020 ~ Zoltán Németi

I attended Borjour’s so called Bikavér Duel event in March, where the two wine regions eligible to use the name Bikavér showcased their wines. Eger impressed me a bit more than Szekszárd, especially the Böjt 2016. I bought a bottle the next week.

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Great Italian red: Vinosia Taurasi Santandrea 2014

Image ~ April 17, 2020 ~ Zoltán Németi

Another day, another Aglianico. An even better one. I put this into a lineup which featured names like Domaine de Trevallon, and it performed well, liked by all the tasters (they tasted it blind). This was sadly our last tasting before the coronavirus hit Hungary… I wonder when will we able to sit together again.

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Classic Southern Rhone red – M. Chapoutier La Ciboise Luberon 2017

Image ~ April 14, 2020April 14, 2020 ~ Zoltán Németi

More than two months without posting about a Southern Rhone red, it’s clearly too much. Sadly, I’m running out of them, only a few remained in my wine fridge and there is not that many available on the Hungarian market. Luckily some Chapoutier wines are listed by the big retailer called Veritas, and the entry level red I picked did not disappoint.

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Cru level Beaujolais Nouveau – Domaine Du Perchoir Vieilles Vignes 2019

Image ~ April 12, 2020 ~ Zoltán Németi

Do you think Beaujolais Nouveau should be drink in one or two months after release? The cheapest and simplest ones, yes, probably. But surely not the good bottles. This old vines version from Domaine du Perchoir was singing at the end of November, and it might be even better now. I’m glad I bought a case back then.

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Flowering in Budapest

Image ~ April 10, 2020April 10, 2020 ~ Zoltán Németi

It’s hard times for us humans, but not nature does not stop just because we are locked down. Fortunately going out alone is not restricted here, in Hungary, and as weather has been pretty for more than a week now (peaking around 20-23 in the afternoons) trees are blossoming and you see flowers everywhere. It’s one of the most wonderful time of the year, and here are some shoots I took with my phone while walking nearby.

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