A kind of random wine list

The idea of the tasting was quite accidental when we left Hungary in January. We were driving towards the Slovenian border when it occured to us that we had promised a wine tasting to our Catalan friends. We bought some wines at a petrol station, we had had some wines from another tasting, so the two batches added up a quite comprehensive flight. We wanted to show every day wines as well, not only the magnificent Tokaji Aszú, and of course, the flight could have included many other wines (eg. a Villányi Franc), but it felt complete as it was, believe us!

Dry whites – Cserszegi, Juhfark, Furmint

Lajvér Cserszegi Fűszer es from Szekszárd is an aromatic, lovely wine with trendy package. Our guests liked it, and they liked it even more when they saw the price(around 4 euros on the shelf). Then came Kreinbacher Juhfark, and it was shining all through the tasting. „Mineral and fruity, matured and fresh at the same time!”– so we managed to show the potential of volcanic Somló wine region. Pajzos T Furmint was the next one, and we could easily explain the importance of Furmint variety with this well balanced, complex, versatile, dry white wine.

Rosé and red – Kékfrankos, Kadarka, Bikavér and international Syrah

With crispy, fruity, lovely Sauska Rosé we illustrated the rosé trend in Hungary (as opposed to the darker, more full bodied Spanish gastro rosés), and we could also draw attention to Kékfrankos variety (Sauska rosé is a blend of 5 grapes with plenty of Kékfrankos). Etyeki Kúria Red was a great example of easy drinking red wines (again with shockingly good price) also including Kékfrankos (and Merlot, Pinot and Zweigelt). Then came Áldás Bikavér by St. Andrea from Eger, and our guests were fascinated. Elegance, fruitiness, harmony – and some other similar words were said. With Gróf Buttler Syrah we wanted to illustrate a completely different style from the same Eger wine region, also from one of the best terroirs of Hungary (Nagy Eged mountain). Interestingly enough this Syrah seemed to be rather full bodied, a blockbuster type of wine, however, by the end of the tasting it opened in the glasses and it was one of the greatest surprise: it became an outstanding elegant wine thank to some areation.

Killing them softly

The tasting ended with three sweet wines. The most successfully sold wine of Heinemann Airport Duty Free in Budapest is Katinka, a late harvest wine from Patricius Estate, Tokaj. A perfectly balanced blend of Furmint, Muscat Lunel and Kövérszőlő. The high acid content balances the sugar in a beautiful way, just like in the following Megyer Sweet Szamorodni, and in Pajzos Tokaji Aszú 5 puttonyos. As expected, all the three dessert wines made a huge impression on these experts, and they were re- and re-tasting the wines with pleasure.

At the end of the tasting we had the marvellous feeling that we could show something of our home country, and we were very very proud to be Hungarian.