Blaufrankisch (Kékfrankos)

This is 100% Kadarka (Blaufränkisch). 12.4% abv.  Ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is deep with black cherries, and raspberries. Nice, smooth texture.  Some complexity.  Flavors of black cherries and raspberries with slight minerality.  Good finish.  This has more depth than most of the Kadarkas we tried.  It is probably better with food.  Feeling adventurous?  Maybe try Spicy pork pörkölt (sertéspörkölt), a rich Hungarian stew.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

This is 100% Kekfrankos (Blaufränkisch) from Hungary.  11.6% abv.  Light ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is dusty with cherries.  Medium bodied.  Slight tannins.  On the palate, light cherries. Some minerality.   Good acidity.  Moderate finish.  An interesting wine made in a lighter style but still with some backbone.  This is a wine made for food.  Goulash would work nicely.  Drink over the next few years.  

This is Blaufrankisch (called Kekfrankos in Hungary) from Lake Balaton in Hungary.  Aged in neutral Hungarian Oak.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, rhubarb and slight cranberries.  Nice texture.  On the palate, flavors of black cherries, strawberries and rhubarb.  An interesting wine with some depth.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  Chicken Paprikash seems a classic pairing.  Drink over the next three to six years.  

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.