Blaufrankisch (Kékfrankos)

This is Blaufrankish from Austria and if you have never tried that varietal, it is being used quite successfully in central Europe and especially Austria.  Garnet/Purple/Blue in color, clear and bright.  The nose is deep and very nice.  Aromas of Goji Berries, dust, white pepper and tea leaves.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, sour cherries, sour green apples, and slight pepper all in a very nice almost seamless package.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  It would be nice with veal.  Drink over the next eight to twelve years.  

This is made from the Blaufrankish grape in Austria.  Screw capped.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries and slight plums with a hint of wild thyme.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  Light tannins.  On the palate, black cherries and plums with a slight earthiness.  Good finish.  This drinks well on its own but is at its best with food.  Fried foods should work well.  Fried chicken would be a good match.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

This was better than expected.  The grape is Kekfrankos which is also known as Blaufrankish.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has just a bit of funk, but also cherries, sour cherries, slight tobacco, and black pepper.  Medium bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, flavors of cherries, sour cherries, slight asphalt and an interesting "saw dust" note that is not oak.  This is really an interesting and tasty wine.  Nothing profound perhaps but good enough to demand some respect in the glass.  Nice on its own, this would be better with food.  Paprikas

This is an interesting blend of 65% Blaufränkisch and 35% Syrah.  Served at Das Loft in Vienna, Austria.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque but a bit flat.  The nose has a slight barnyard note along with black cherries and slight black pepper.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, black cherries and plums.  Light tannins.  Nice finish.  A pleasant wine that drinks well on its own and will work well with food.  It should pair nicely with Indian cuisine.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

This is a blend of 35% Cabernet Franc, Porkoláb-völgy, 29% Merlot, Porkoláb-völgy, 25% Tannat, Bati Kereszt, and 11% Kékfrankos, Bati Kereszt.  It was brought up in separate lots aged in wood and blended for bottling.  Purple in color with ruby at the rim.  The nose is nice with black cherries, black olives, tobacco and a bit of chocolate.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this has a perception of sweetness but drinks dry.  Black cherries, plums and slight spice notes.  Nice finish.  This has some depth and complexity.  It drinks well on its own and will work wel

An inexpensive Rose made from Kékfrankos (Blaufrӓnkisch) with Merlot and Syrah.  Tasted atthe High Note Sky Bar in Budapest, Hungary.  Light salmon pink in color, clear and bright.  The nose has strawberries with slight peach and watermelon.  Light bodied.  Refreshing on a warm evening.  On the palate, flavors of peach and strawberries come thru.  Dry.  Moderate acidity.  Solid finish.  The bottle was quickly emptied.  This drinks well on its own and worked well with light appetizers.  Drink over the next year or two.  

Consumed at a restaurant in Budapest.  This is an enjoyable, inexpensive, light red wine.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has sour cherries with a bit of spice.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, the sour cherries come thru with strong acidity.  Long finish.  This wine begs for food and works well with pasta.  Drink over the next couple of years. 

Bikaver means Bull's Blood and is a red blend dating back at least to the 18th century.  The name comes from the comments of the defeated Ottoman soldiers who saw the dark red wines the Hungarians were drinking.  Today, they are having a rebirth of sorts.  Always a blend, it must contain a minimum of 45% Kékfrankos and 5% Kadarka and no more than 40% of the grapes Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot can be used.  This one is 47% Kekfrankos, 27% Merlot, 10% Kadarka, 8% Cabernet Franc, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Sagrantino.  13% ABV.  Ruby in color with purple swirls, mostly opaq

Bull's blood wines are blends, traditionally from northern Hungary.   The name comes from the dubious story that says after the locals fought off the Ottoman's, the Ottomans said the people there were drinking dark red wine made from bull's blood which gave them strength.  This made from the "500 year old" recipe as a blend of Kekfrankos, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Zweigelt.  It drank nicely especially given its $12 price tag.  Purple in color, with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with plums and black cherries.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has tart che

From what is arguably one of the "Grand Cru" sites for red wine in Hungary.  This is 100% Kekfrankos that is biodynamically grown.  Purple in color with lighter ruby at the edges.  Opaque and bright.  The nose is earthy, slight barnyard with nice cherry fruit.  On the palate, nice sour cherry fruit with medium tannins.  Slight cough drop note.  Slight forest floor.  Long finish.  This is complex and deep and also tasty.  This seems like it has some upside and will improve over the next three to five years.  Drink over the next ten to twelve.  Certainly, this will work well with meat dishes