I thought it was probably just a vintage thing for Vylyan, they nailed it in 2020 and made a standout Portugieser, but the new vintage is just as lovely, if not even better.
Vylyan did it again: Macska Portugieser 2021
hungary
Supermarket wines: Teleki Kékfrankos 2019, a nice one
Teleki is one of the most widely available entry level wine brand in Hungary, made in big quantities and available at every corner. Everyone knows it, this is what many regular wine consumers identify with quality wine and with villányi (Villány is kind of Hungary’s Barossa). I’m happy to say that it’s actually really nice! Continue reading
Exciting new wines to emerge from Hungary’s Mátra region
Keep an eye on Hungary’s Mátra wine region, some fascinating developments are taking place in this sleepy part of the country.
Like a Tokaji Aszú – Szeremley Zeus Late Harvest 2005 from Badacsony
I don’t drink sweet wines often, but this is really a category Hungary excels in. This late harvest beauty comes from the north bank of Balaton, and it’s singing at the age of 15. Quite a shame that don’t produce it anymore, at least I cannot remember vintages newer than this one. Continue reading
Hungary’s leading nouveau wine: Vylyan Bogyólé from Villány
Not much nouveau wines are made in Hungary, and from those the majority are actually white or rose. Take a look at the red ones, and you will find even less made with carbonic maceration, probably only 3-5 does exist. The most well known and widely distributed is Vylyan Bogyoló, which rules the category and really good in every vintage. The 2021 is no exception.
Szentesi Tihanyi Kék 2019
A wine that I started to follow a few years ago – Szentesi Tihanyi Kék. Such an exciting and exotic wine, I can’t get bored of it.
Királyleányka, a Hungarian aromatic white grape variety
Királyleányka is a white grape variety indigenous to Transylvania and Hungary, one that has big potential I believe, but sadly no producer takes it seriously. Most of it end up in blends, one can find only a few basic examples made entirely from this grape, from producers like Bolyki or Kősziklás, the latter is reviewed here.
Hungarian rosado: a lovely siller from Kékhegy
Kékhegy Piroska Siller 2018
An almost extinct Hungarian wine style: siller. Basically it’s the same as Spanish rosado, i.e. a darker colored, heavier rose. Classically it’s made from Kadarka, which, being a thin skinned grape results in a siller anyway, but here is a different approach: Cabernet Sauvignon with short maceration.