I rarely buy irsai, but when I do I usually go for one of the most popular ones, the Nyakas. Just like the 2019, the newest release is again a surprisingly good white wine. Continue reading
hungarian
Oak tales – St. Andrea Hangács Bikavér 2017
I should be proud, this Hungarian red received high marks from Decanter. I think they don’t rate wines on an absolute scale but in their context (similarly to Jancis Robinson), i.e. the 93p it received should be interpreted in the Hungarian red scene, not compared to the great wines of France etc. Even then it’s a big score. But I don’t see the appeal here.
Is this a kékfrankos? Fritz Father 2017 from Szekszárd
Kékfrankos in Napa Cab mode. Continue reading
A nice midweek quaffer – Vylyan Macska Portugieser 2020 from Villány
Portugieser is a controversial specialty of Villány – it’s kind of a local variety, but it’s mainly used for cheap wines and most of it is just to be avoided. But when it’s well made (and from properly grown grapes) like in the case of this one from Vylyan, then it becomes a really pleasant wine. So much so, that I went back to the shop to buy more, which does not happen too often, be it cheap or expensive wine.
Back online – my harvest season in the Mátra in pictures
Harvesting and making wine fully occupied me in the last 6 weeks, so much so that I basically went home only to sleep. But most work is done now and I’m trying to return to my normal life, thinking about things I was used to do before, like posting on my blog. Let me just start with a recap of my harvest… Continue reading
Shiraz big guns and Co, featuring Standish Lamella 2017
A lineup of shiraz I wanted to present to our little wine club in last autumn, but then the Covid situation got worse again and prevented the event from happening. It was only this June when I managed to gather my friends again, and despite some disappointing bottles, we could finally enjoy some good, even some world class wines. Continue reading
A stunning red wine from an ancient Hungarian variety – St. Andrea Kis Fekete 2017
I’m a fan of the ancient Hungarian grape varieties saved from extinction by wine hero József Szentesi, and I already covered some vintages of his Csókaszőlő here. Here we have a Csókaszőlő from another great producer called St. Andrea, from the northern region of Eger. A different style, but this is even better than the Szentesi versions I wrote up last time.
Exemplary Kadarka and great value: Eszterbauer Sógor 2019
I could not name a Kadarka from the last few years which was affordable and as good and well made as this entry level Eszterbauer. It even surpasses most of the expensive ones, as they are faulty to some extent, more often than not (main reason is that the variety is extremely susceptible to rot/Botrytis, harvesting healthy crop is rare, just ask Hungarian grape growers). Continue reading
Must try Hungarian Kékfrankos: Zachár 2018 from Sopron
I could not name many Hungarian Kékfrankos wines from the last one year that I liked so much, perhaps just one or two. A new producer to be watched for sure!
Ujvari Olaszrizling 2019
When thinking about young gun Hungarian winemakers, the name that immediately comes to my mind is Vivien Ujvári. She has been making standout dry and sweet whites at Barta in Tokaj, since she joined them in 2016, and by standout I mean the very best that have ever been made in the wine region – I could only recall a few early vintages of Zoltán Demeter and Szepsy that match them, and a few recent vintages of hidden gem Attila Orsolyák. Vivien’s family has a vineyard at lake Balaton, from which they just released their first wine, an Olaszrizling. Continue reading