Hungary

This is the flagship wine of one of Hungary's leading wineries.  It is a blend of 50% Cabernet Franc; 40% Merlot; 10% Cabernet Sauvignon with the grapes coming from the Csillagvölgy, Konkoly, Kopár, and Ördögárok vineyards.  Purple in color, opaque  but a bit cloudy.  The nose is nice with dust, spice and cherries.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is deep and complex.  Black cherry fruit with some cherries and a sli graphite note.  Pinpoint balance.  Nice, silky finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue to for another ten to twelve years.  It will go well wit

This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.  The label list 15% abv.  Purple in color, garnet at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, black cherries, spice and slight cigar box.  Full bodied.  Medium to firm tannins.  On the palate, cassis and black cherries with some underlying spice.  Very ripe for Hungary.  Quite delicious.  Enough acidity to work at the dinner table, it also drinks great on its own.  This needs strong flavors to stand up to it.  Pörkölt (Meat stew) would be a nice choice.  Drink over the next ten 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

This is a new wine from the Szepsy family that is 100% Furmint.  The grapes are from the Hasznos, Bohomáj, Úrágya, Urbán and Nyulas vineyards.  It was fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks.  Gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is tight but with air opens to show spice, minerals and salinity.  Viscous with good acidity.  On the palate, this is more about minerality with some citrus.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well now on its own and will work well with lighter foods such as Langos (deep fried flat breads with spreads).  Drink over the next three to five years.  Tasted at Di

One of the best wines from Hungary I have tasted.  Köves is the name of the vineyard.  Egri Csillag means star of Eger which comes from a legend about the lights coming from the Watchman's Huts protecting Hungary from the Turks in the 17th century.  This region has long been known for its reds known as Bulls Blood but apparently a few hundred years ago, the whites were more prominent.  It is an organic blend of 60% Hárslevelű, and 40% Furmint.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is complex and perfumed.  Spicy with wintergreen, alfalfa and gun powder.  Medium bodied.  On the palat

Tasted at Divino Wine Bar in Budapest.  Medium Deep golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has lots of minerality with slight animal notes along with an herbal streak and alfalfa.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, minerals with a slight tangerine note on the finish.  This is a nice wine to drink alone or with lighter foods.  Drink over the next five years.  

Tasted at the DeVino wine bar in Budapest.  Made from the Juhfark grape on the Somlo Hill in Hungary.  Silvery/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is bright with lanolin, minerals/wet rocks and slight citrus note.  Viscous.  On the palate, this is drier than a previous vintage (2018) I had tried.  Lemon/citrus and minerals on the panels.  Good, not bracing acidity.  Long finish. This seems much more polished than the 2018 although both are enjoyable.  This drinks well on its own and will work well with all but the heaviest foods.  Stuffed cabbages would be a nice choice.  

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.  

This is a dry wine made from the Sárgamuskotály (also known as Muscat à Petits Grains) in Hungary.  Consumed at the Liz & Chain sky Rooftop bar in Budapest.  Slivery/green/gold in color, clear and bright.  It has an interesting nose of orange, mint, tarragon and acacia flowers.  Light bodied with a slight viscosity.  On the palate, this has nice lime notes with slight orange peel.  Moderate acidity.  Long finish.  A refreshing wine at the end of a hot day.  It drinks well on its own and will work well with lighter foods.  Fried artichokes would work well.  

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.