Fun Villány red: Kiss Gábor Rouge 364 2022

Image ~ August 4, 2023 ~ Zoltán Németi

Kiss Gábor is a well-known Villány producer, but he operates on a lesser scale then big names like Gere or Bock. What I tasted from him in the past did not make me a fan, but his 2022 reds are a completely different story. I liked his cabernet franc quite a lot so I bought a bottle of his entry level Rouge 364, and it’s actually almost as good its pricier brother.

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Four cabernet franc from Hungary

Image ~ July 11, 2023 ~ Zoltán Németi

From the Bordeaux varieties it’s cabernet franc which is the most accepted and famous in Hungary. And not just because Villány declared it as its main variety, although no other region focuses on it to this extent. I tried four recently, and I was really happy with only one of them, the Kiss Gábor; the others are not entirely convincing and some are also overpriced.

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Refreshing Loire Valley cabernet franc – Alfred Rock’M’Roll 2020

Image ~ June 18, 2023 ~ Zoltán Németi

Fun label. And indeed, the wine rocks! Continue reading →

Great aged cabernet franc from Hungary: Weninger 2006

Image ~ February 27, 2023February 27, 2023 ~ Zoltán Németi

For the lovers of Loire cabernet franc. Not for everyone because of the herbal notes, but this has class for sure. And this is a piece of the modern era of Hungarian wines, started almost from scratch 25-30 years ago. Continue reading →

Supermarket wines: Chateau Teleki Villányi Franc 2017

Image ~ January 20, 2023 ~ Zoltán Németi

Such a classic Hungarian red. Widely distributed in the country, you can find it in many supermarkets, and I remember tasting it from the early 2000s. But I’m quite sure it was already made in 1997 – that would not be long history in France, but it is in Hungary.

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Solid Loire red: Domaine Philippe Alliet Chinon 2020

Image ~ January 13, 2023January 13, 2023 ~ Zoltán Németi

Philippe Alliet is one of the big names of Chinon and this is their entry level wine (a cabernet franc, of course). I brought the bottle to a recent blind tasting and it showed very well, everyone loved it and thought that it was impressive. It’s a bit different compared to other Loire cabernet franc I adore, though. Continue reading →

Carbonic cabernet franc – the nouveau red Bujdosó Libás 2022

Image ~ December 15, 2022 ~ Zoltán Németi

Very few red wines are made in Hungary with carbonic maceration, the only well-known one is Vylyan’s Bogyólé. I’m a fan of such wines (just like of Beaujolais crus, which is kinda geeky stuff), I don’t think that they are junk or suitable only for beginners. Not at all. So I’m happy to see the category growing, and here is another good one, a cabernet franc from the southern bank of Lake Balaton. Continue reading →

My favourite wines – Domaine Damien Bruneau Traditionnelle Rouge 2021

Image ~ November 2, 2022 ~ Zoltán Németi

Another Loire cabernet franc and another amazing affordable wine. This is just perfect for what it is, pure and terroir driven. Give me more!

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My favourite wines – Bertrand & Vincent Marchesseau Poids Plume Bourgueil 2021

Image ~ October 17, 2022 ~ Zoltán Németi

When it’s well made, there is nothing I love more than Loire Valley cabernet franc. This is a great example, I enjoyed it to the last drop.

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A carbonic maceration cabernet franc – Domaine Breton La Dilettante 2020

Image ~ July 6, 2022July 6, 2022 ~ Zoltán Németi

I rarely buy low SO2 wines anymore as there’s a lot I don’t like about this wine trend, but La Dilettante amazed me ten years ago so I wanted to give it a try. Well, I’m not the same wine lover as back then…

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