VAWC members Monika and Robert, guided us through a tasting of some of the best wines from Hungary. They presented lively fresh whites, meaty reds and the delicious sweet desert wines of Tokaji Aszu. All this while cruising around the canals of Amsterdam on the refurbished freight boat Anna Maria.
It was a great evening. Below is the list of wines tasted that night plus the average scores from the group. The sweet wine again won top scores!! You can also visit our download section to download the list of wines and a ppt presentation with further information of wines from this up and coming region. Downloads
Aperitif: Kajszibarack Pálinka
Producer: Mr. Gyula Ulcz
Quality Status: “Pálinka” (special quality term, is regulated and protected by EU law)
Origin: Soponya (Central-Hungary)
Vintage 2003
Price €7,3 (only privately available)
Alcohol: 40% vol.
Extra info: Hungarian eau-de-vie (aqua vitae), 100% apricot distillate, with an alcoholic strength of 40%.
Wine 1 : Esküvé
Producer: (Dr.) László Bussay
Quality Status: Quality wine, white, dry (****/83)
Origin: Muraszemenye, Csörnyeföld (Southwest-Hungary, Lake Balaton)
Grape varieties: Cuvée of Rhine Riesling (46%), Welschriesling (46%) and Nectar (8%)
Vintage 2004
Price: €6,1
Alcohol: 12% vol.
Score: average group score 1.89
Extra info: Great acid and concentration. Domain 10, the philosophy is: one kilo of grapes per vine. Age of vines: 2-15 years. It was fermented in wooden barrels for half a year, and regularly stirred during the maceration (batonage). Basic wine of the winery.
Wine 2 : Somlói Furmint
Producer: Mr. Béla Fekete
Quality Status: Quality wine, white, dry (****/83)
Origin: Somlóvásárhely, Somló (Northwest-Hungary)
Grape varieties: 100% Furmint
Vintage 2003
Price: €10.1
Alcohol: 13% vol.
Score: average group score 2.41
Extra info: Extremely small vineyard of 3,5 acres, produces 16.000 bottles per year. Run by an 80-year-old pensioner, who is known as Uncle Béla—the ‘grandfather’ wine region Somló. Typical wines of this area are high in acidity and alcohol with a mineral taste, due to the, mainly basalt, volcanic soil.
Wine 3 : Tokai Hárslevelű
Producer: Mr. István Szepsy
Quality Status: Quality wine, white, dry
Origin: Mád, Tokaj (Northeast-Hungary)
Grape varieties: 100% Hárslevelű (Linden Leaf)
Vintage 2003
Price €18
Alcohol: 14% vol.
Score: average group score 2.41
Extra info: Mr. Szepsy, a cult figure, is said to be the greatest winemaker of Tokaj. His wines convinced Hugh Johnson to start a venture in Tokaj—Royal Tokaji Company. This wine is a dry wine reflecting the acid and the mineral aromas of the region. The bouquet is very special, needs time to appreciate it.
Wine 4 : Soproni Kékfrankos, Spern Steiner Selection
Producer: Weninger Winery
Quality Status: Quality wine, red, dry (****/88)
Origin: Balf, Sopron (Northwest-Hungary)
Grape varieties: 100% Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch)
Vintage 2002, 2003
Price €13,8
Alcohol: 13,5% vol.
Score: average group score 3.0
Extra info: This wine is a so called terroir wine made from the yield of 40 year old vines feeding from the slate and rocky soil of Spern Steiner. It was kept on the skin for 14 days then pressed. Matured in French barrique barrels for 15 months. The 2003 vintage received gold médaille at the Challenge International du Vin.
Wine 5 : Gróf Buttler Egri Bikavér "S" (Bull’s Blood Cuvée)
Producer: Gróf Buttler Kft.
Quality Status: Wine of protected origin , red, dry (*****)
Origin: Eger , (Northeast-Hungary)
Grape varieties: 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 20% Pinot Noir, 20% Kékfrankos
Vintage 2003
Price: €21,7
Alcohol: 14% vol.
Score: average group score 3.07
Extra info: The name Bull’s Blood is not unique, but in Hungary this cuvée is the only wine with an AOC. By law it should contain 3 different grapes (Cabernet Sauvignon or Franc, Merlot, Kékfrankos, Kadarka) and aged for at least one year in oak.
Wine 6 : 6 Puttonyos Tokai Aszú
Producer: Tokaj- Oremus Kft.
Quality Status: Superior quality wine, natural sweet wine, botritysed(*****/top wine)
Origin: Tolcsva, Tokaj, (Northeast-Hungary)
Grape varieties: 100% Furmint
Vintage 1999
Price: €30.7
Alcohol: 11% vol.
Score: average group score 3.22
Extra info: This wine needs to be served chilled to 13 °. Matches perfectly with with desserts of apricot, orange or mandarin, cigar, spicy Oriental Cuisine, goose liver or blue cheese. Characteristics: quince, dried apricots, vanilla, lime blossom honey aromas.