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I had my first Croatian wine just a few years ago and while my experiences are still quite limited, I loved every single one from the country so far – including this plavac mali. Thanks, Matthew Horkey for introducing Croatia to me!
Dominio de Anza Rioja 2021
Opened this Rioja with high expectations, but it let me down. For over €20 and with a 94p WA score I hope for an outstanding wine but this is far from that. Re-tasted it in many contexts with the same conclusion.
Hungarian rose: Sauska and Font
Here are two well-known rose wines that are widely available on the Hungarian market. The Font is on the cheap side, it’s about 4 EUR (sold by Lidl) and the Sauska is on the expensive side of Hungarian rose at 8 EUR.
Supermarket wines: Lidls Deluxe Reserva Privada Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Chateau Purcari Academia Saperavi 2019
Supermarket wines: Hacienda Uvanis Garnacha Old Vines Navarra 2022 from Lidl
Solid garnacha from Lidl. Old vine material for €4? It rather tastes like just cheap, €4 red wine, but a very good one.
Casa Castillo La Tendida 2020
Casa Castillo is a star producer of Jumilla, and their wines are different from most made in the region. Less oak and less sweetness, more purity – I’m gravitating towards the style, but I’m not fully convinced by this wine. And it’s not the first case when I expected more from a Casa Castillo red… Continue reading
Standout kadarka: Bock 2019
Kadarka is an indigenous red grape variety to Hungary, even though it most likely originates in the Balkans. It produces a light red wine which tends to be fairly simple, but it’s quite distinguished and has some pinot-noir-like qualities and appeal. Continue reading
Fun & delicious light red from Szekszárd: Sebestyén Indigó Zweigelt 2023
100% zweigelt from a well-known Szekszárd producer called Sebestyén, made in an easy drinking style. Spot on contemporary bistro red! Imagine a good beaujolais villages but with less tannins – you are now close!
Lajvér Kadarka 2021, Szekszárd, Hungary
I liked what I tasted from Lajvér in the past, but this current release of their kadarka is a bit different. It’s from 2021 and similarly to most Hungarian wines of that vintage (BTW it was a poor one in many parts of Europe), I find it challenging rather than agreeable.