Just a micro batch, but there is now one more csókaszőlő red wine on the market, joining the very few others that exist today. Szentesi József, Vylyan, St. Andrea and Bussay are the producers who already released such variety (I might miss a name or two), and now you can taste one from Kovács András and Tóth Kinga, if you are lucky enough – it’s extremely limited. Continue reading
local varieties
Grapes never tasted – Szentesi Kék Bajor 2020
Kék bajor is another almost extinct Hungarian grape variety József Szentesi is trying to bring back to life. According to him, it gives lighter wines. This is not the first vintage, but I’m not sure if it was ever released on the market – this 2020 is now available to buy.
Itt és Most Tihanyi Kék 2021
I must mention that Itt és Most Pince‘s owner is a fellow winemaker in the same village where I also make my wine – I’m a bit hesitant to write about his wines, but this is such an important one. To my knowledge it’s only József Szentesi who has been making wine from tihanyi kék, an almost extinct Hungarian red grape. Until 2021, when Itt és Most Pince made their first harvest from their new plantings…
Vylyan did it again: Macska Portugieser 2021
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.
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
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.
A wine like no other – Szentesi Tihanyi Kék 2018 from Nadap, Etyek-Budai wine region, Hungary

I could not name a more exciting Hungarian red wine than Szentesi’s Tihanyi Kék. It’s even more individual than his Csókaszőlő, though both are highlights for me from his range of wines, in every vintage.