Happy New Year! This champagne was opened last night at a tasting with my friends, and we loved it – if you are lucky (or rich) enough then you will probably have this in your glass while saying goodbye to 2023 tonight. It’s quite a pricey one, not surprisingly.
90points+
Top notch kadarka: Heimann & Fiai 2022
The Heimann family did it again. An outstanding kadarka, great successor to the amazing 2021 – and one of the most exciting Hungarian red wines out there.Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo 2018
Not a young wine and still unapproachable – one wonders how much time it will need. But there is greatness here waiting to unfold… Continue reading
Dorli Muhr Carnuntum 2019
Before our visit to the winery this spring I only tasted a few wines from Dorli Muhr, one of the top blaufrankisch producers of Austria. They were quite different from other Austrian reds and it all made sense when we met her in the cellar. Go visit wine producers! Continue reading
Hungarian icons: the 2HA Tabunello 2020
2HA is the true pioneer of sangiovese in Hungary. The first vintage was made almost 20 years ago, in 2005 and the first official release was actually the 2007. Continue reading
Burgenland Blaufrankisch with style: Prieler Johanneshöhe 2019
Besides Dorli Muhr, we also visited another highly regarded Austrian producer a month ago, Weingut Prieler. It was another great experience, I was amazed by the hospitality and kindness of our host, Georg Prieler. Also, the wines looked really good at the winery, and I can say that I found their Johanneshöhe just as convincing when opened a bottle at home.Outstanding monastrell: Los Frailes Caliza 2020
A unique Hungarian white wine: kabar 2019 from Péter Pince
This might be the best edition of this wine yet. Kabar can improve with a bit of ageing, a point proved by the also great 2017, so I’m looking forward how this 2019 will look in a few years time…Lovely nebbiolo from Australia, the Mayer 2019
Australian nebbiolo is quite different from Piedmont versions, but it can be great, too. Made with semi-carbonic maceration this Mayer Nebbiolo is even more unusual – and what a nice wine it is!
Péter Pince Tokaji Aszú 2017
It felt like Christmas when I opened this Tokaji aszú at the family lunch last Sunday. Just pure hedonism.