– Which wines were you the most proud of in 2021?

– One of the most outstanding wines of ours is Sky Furmint 2017, which won Champion award at the latest edition of VinAgora last spring, plus it was selected “The Best Furmint of Hungary”. Is not the first international accolade of this wine: the earlier vintages, 2015 and 2016 both won gold at VinAgora contests, 2016 was the winner of its category, while vintage 2011 won gold medal and two trophies at International Wine Challenge in London. These acknowledgements justify our philosophy: the highest altitude vineyards of Nagy-Eged mountain give exceptional fine wines. The same applies to our two flagship red wines from Nagy-Eged, NJK (Kékfrankos-Syrah) and Grand Bleu (100 % Kékfrankos).

– Also Nyilasmár and Nagyfai vineyards near the village of Noszvaj are classified Grand Superior…

– These vineyards have the potential to give beautiful varietal wines and blends, recently probably Max Syrah deserves the most attention, it has soon become a sought after wine among the experts. The selected grape for this wine comes from the sunny Nyilasmár vineyard, unfiltered, full flavoured wine. Very limited: only 1100 bottles were made, and we named it after an extraordinary jazz drummer called Max Roach.

– Let’s look forward for a second. What are the plans for 2022?

– Going on with quality winemaking is a constant objective, but this year we plan to reach a wider audience with our wines. To achieve this goal, last year we created two new labels: a reductive Chardonnay and a Merlot with subtle oak ageing. Both of them are estate wines with crop from our Nyilasmár and Nagyfai vineyards, and both are price–value champions, thus they are suitable for the younger consumers. The success was immediate: we have sold all of our reductive Chardonnay wines, therefore we will bottle double amount this year. Another good news is that after two years of restrictions, finally we can greet our American consultant and friend, Kent Barthman in the cellar, personally. We had a fruitful day of tasting, Ken and our colleagues tasted themselves through all the wines in barrels and bottles and compared them to other wines from significant vineyards of the world. It is crucial for us to get to know the trends and styles of the world, to improve, to be aware of the customers’ customs, since we make wines not only for the local, but also for the international market.
Interview by Judit Doros, translated by Ágnes Németh

KNW wines are available in several countries, find their partners here.

50 bottles still available from „virgin harvest” 2008

The current vintage of Grand Bleu is 2011, you can find details here. The plantation of this Kékfrankos vineyard took place in 2004, thus 2008 is the very first vintage, the so called „virgin harvest”. Virgin harvest has always have a special added value, no matter where it comes from, because it can never be repeated. But in this case the „virgin wine” is much more than just the first wine of a vineyard. Only 300 bottles were made, only 100 bottles are left, and now 50 bottles are available for collectors. Dr. Gabriella Mészáros AIWS and wine writer was astonished by the wine: „Dignified, cool elegance on the nose with luscious mint, thyme and basil, however the true magic comes with the palate: silky texture, vibrant acidity, gently spiced fruitiness. Perfection itself. Probably angels participated in making this wine…?”
So now is the must-not-miss opportunity to order the very last bottles of this first vintage, only 50 bottles are available. Only 49. Only 48…

Order here: noemi@kovacsnimrodwinery.com

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More about Nagy Eged – unique soil and mesoclimate

Nagy-Eged is part of Bükk mountain, it is 536 meters high. It’s within easy reach from the town of Eger, thus a popular hiking route with the national „Red Route” crossing it. Its diverse flora and fauna makes it even more attractive, and also ideal for kite riders. But for us its most remarkable because of its unique climate and soil, which makes Nagy-Eged the „grand cru” of Eger and has the capacity to give wines classified Grand Superior.

The soil is grey limestone despite of riolit tufa of the rest of Eger wine region. Rendzina soil and brown forest soil is also typical. As for the climate: the heat of the Great Plain meets the coolness of Bükk mountains here, and it results a mesoclimate with early spring and a large number of sunny, hot days (more than 100 days with a temperature of 25 Celsius). Annual rainfall is 540–550 mm. Southern slopes of 20–35% steepness. (Rendsina soils are humus-rich shallow soils that are usually formed from carbonate – or occasionally sulfate-rich parent material. Rendzina soils are often found in karst and mountainous regions. The term rendzina originated from an old Polish word “rzędzić”, which means “to chatter”. Soils of this type contain a significant amount of gravel and stones, which, during ploughing, produce various sound effects (clicking, screeching, etc.), i.e., “talk” to the ploughman.)

Devasteted, now thriving

The emblematic mountain has a 1000 year old history of grape growing, since our first king, Saint Stephen brought cistercian monks here who grew grapes on the mountain. The first written evidence is from the 13th century, and the golden age must have been in the 18th century, when Nagy-Eged was famous for its outstanding wines. Then unfortunately phylloxera destroyed all the vineyards of the mountain. A small replanting took place in the 1950s, but soon the new vineyards were abandoned, because the mass production concept of the communist era did not find them economical.

When the wine renessaince took place in the 1990s, Nagy-Eged could hope in the revival. Finally Gróf Buttler Winery took the efforts to first replant vines on Nagy-Eged. The 18 hectares were replanted in 2003. Later, in 2005 Kovács Nimród Winery also planted 10 hectares for their best wines, and then St Andrea Vineyard 4 hectares.

Wineries from the „grand cru”

Do not miss Gróf Buttler and Kovács Nimród Wineries, both have wines from the best „grand cru” of Eger called Nagy Eged.
From Gróf Buttler the concentrated, unique Syrah Grand Selection 2013 is a must:

• Very deep, almost black colour. This is a full bodied, elegant wine. Very concentrated, complex on the nose and on the palate: red and black berries (black current, black cherry, dried plum) with the barrel aromas (mediterranean herbs, chocolate, cocoa bean, vanilla, nuts) and moderate minerality. Nice acids, ripe tannins, long aftertaste. Still very young, with long aging potential.

• Kovács Nimród Winery is probably the only one producing wine of Furming grape in Eger, and of superb quality. A not-to-miss chance to taste Nagy Eged Furmint 2014 now!
  This elegant Furmint comes from the best terroirin Eger, the Nagy-Eged hill as a special gift from a very good year. It was fermented and agedin 225 liters and 500 liters barrels onlees for 8 months. The colour of the wine is glit. The start of the aroma is discrete and elegant. A complex wine, exhibiting pear and apricot flavors with limestone and flint overtones.  When it opens the taste is vanilla peach, toasted seeds, smooth and soft with nice long, clean finish. It is lovely now and will age very nicely in the bottle.

Tickets are available in limited quantity, price: 4500 HUF (14,5 euros)
The event website is in Hungarian, but you can write to the organizers for help.

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