A new wine from Kaiken. Pure malbec, raised without oak – that’s where I got interested. Haven’t tasted their well known wines for years, what I remember is what was once the mainstream New World style: in your face, ripe, sweet and oaky numbers… big on flavour but boring and predictable. This is different.
Undeniable shift from the main Kaiken style, but it does not go too far – it’s not a stinky low intervention wine. Precise and clean, like their classic range, but the lack of oak adds a welcomed restraint and savour. Ripe yet fresh nose, a pleasant rubbery reduction, and that marzipan note is just so malbec. Super smooth, it’s like silk on the palate, plush and dense. Very polished, but finishes very hot, the alcohol feels way more than 14,5% (stated by the label say), it detracts me from really liking it.
Rating: good, 86 points.
Price: 6650 HUF (€ 18).
Stockists: Bortársaság and more (check out wine-searcher).
Tasted: February, 2022.
Drinking window: now-2025.
Source: own purchase.