Béres Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos 2016, Tokaj: 95 pts (gold)

Decanter panel’s review: A tour de force with myriad candied orange peel, tangerine and dried apricot characters with a searing backbone of lemon acidity and a vibrant finish. (DWWA 2023)
Grapes: 65% Furmint, 35% Muscat Lunel
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Chateau Dereszla Tokaji Aszú, Tokaj, 2019: 92 pts (silver)

Decanter panel’s review: Aromas of saffron with apricot jam, some juicy apple and tropical notes of papaya. Very juicy acidity, well made and long. (DWWA 2024)
Grapes: 70% Furmint, 30% Hárslevelű
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Feind Choice 2018, Balatonfüred–Csopak: 96 pts (gold)

Decanter panel’s review: Oozing with delectable dried mango, apricot and peach jam with an undercurrent of vanilla harmony; lavish and spectacular with a dashing, youthful burst of acidity. (DWWA 2023)
Grape: 100% Zeusz
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Patricius Tokaji Aszú 5 puttonyos 2018: 92 pts (silver)

Decanter panel’s review: Aromas of honeysuckle, gingerbread, apricot jam and caramel with some floral nuances. Harmonious and vinious, waxy texture and long finish. (DWWA 2024)
Grapes: 76% Furmint, 11% Yellow Muscat, 9% Zéta
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Sauska Medve Furmint 2021, Tokaj: 97 pts (platinum)

Decanter panel’s review: Cuts an alluring dash with stylish grapefruit, peach and apricot characters laced with delicious coconut oak. Steely, vivid and fresh with a linear structure, a spine-tingling citrus acidity and vibrant saline finish. Long and precise. (DWWA 2024)
Grape: 100% Furmint
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Taschner Chardonnay Brut 2020, Sopron

The trend of producing bottle fermented sparkling wines is clearly visible from the results. 5 Hungarian bubblies received gold, all made with the traditional method. 3 of them are from Balaton (Androsics, Bujdosó and Kern) and one from Villány (Teleki Tradíció). Kurt István Taschner was one of the first winemakers to include sparkling wine in is range, and his Chardonnay is an elegant, refined sparkling wine in every vintage. Taschner Irsai Olivér 2023 received a silver medal.

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Babarczi Merlot 2021, Pannonhalma

The No 1 grape variety among the 146 Hungarian medal winners is Merlot: 36 Merlot wines were awarded. And not only from the Southern Villány, from cooler regions as well, like Babarczi Merlot 2021 from Pannonhalma. The wine was aged partially in French and partially in Hungarian barrique for 10 months. Just like for its 2020 predecessor, the grape was healthy and fully ripened. As Zsuzsanna Babarczi commented, probably 2021 is even more fruit forward, and it has a lot of potential for certain. Only 2400 bottles were made.

Babarczi Marianum Cabernet Franc 2021 also received gold medal.

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Tornai ‘Aranykönny’ Nagy-Somlói Zeusz 2022, Somló

The second most important grape variety is Furmint with 27 wines, though most of them are sweet wines, only 9 of them are dry, and 3 of them are not from Tokaj. Tornai Somlói Apátsági Furmint 2021 is one of the non-Tokaj dry Furmint wines. 29 of the medal winners are sweet or semi-sweet wines, 25 of them are from Tokaj. But not only Tokaj can give great sweet wines, the volcanic Somló also can. Tornai’s gold winner wine has 85.2 g/L residual sugar, nicely balanced with the 7.67 g/L acidity. It is made of Zeusz grape, an indigenous Hungarian variety, and the name ‘Aranykönny’ means ‘Golden Drop’. White flowers, blossoms and petals but there is the peach and mineral character also. On the palate the sweet sip is framed with high acidity and medium alcohol and body. The promised notes by the nose are completed with peach and candied lemon and lemon peel. In the medium length aftertaste, there is orange oil as well.

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Steigler Bio Premium Cabernet Franc 2021, Sopron

The 3rd most typical grape variety among the medal winners is Cabernet Franc, which clearly reflects the tendencythat Hungary can give great varietal wines made of Cabernet Franc. Villány is the leading wine region in this respect, but more and more wine regions follow suit, for example Sopron, where the organic Steigler Cellar makes stunning wine of the variety. Black forest fruits, plum, sloe, smoky tones and oaky notes. Concentrated, full bodied wine with soft texture, refined tannins, refreshing acidity and some mineral character. Steigler Pinot Noir and Kékfrankos also received gold medals.

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Gizella Szamorodni 2019, Tokaj (97 points)

The Platinum winner wine represents an ancient style called Szamorodni, which means that botrytised berries are picked together with the healthy berries (unlike in the case of Tokaji Aszú). The blend is made of 87% Furmint and 13% Muscat Lunel.
Decanter: Complex aromas of ripe baked lime, grapefruit rind, white peach, dried mango, honey and apricots marmalade. Beautifully harmony between sweetness and a vibrant acidity, lively and young. Wonderfully long finish.
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Feind & Feind Choice 2018, Balatonfüred–Csopak (96 points)

This late harvest wine is made of 100% Zeusz, an indigenous Hungarian grape. The winery has collected countless medal recently, here is another great acknowledgement.
Decanter: Attractive aromas of dried apricots, peach jam, mango, vanilla and savoury nuances of mushrooms on the nose. Sweet and harmonious on the palate, youthful.

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Patricius Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos 2018, Tokaj (96 points)

The winery is a “usual” player in the top chart of Decanter results. This Tokaji Aszú is made of 86% Furmint, 10% Zéta and 4% Hárslevelű – the recipe is not written in stone, it varies according to the vintage.:
Decanter: Glossy new oak on the nose, with fresh and dried fruit aromas, subtle hints of tea and aromatic herbs. Mineral on the palate, delicate finish.

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Sauska Tokaji Aszú 2017, Tokaj (95 points)

Sauska is one of the most versatile wineries of Hungary: great red wines from Villány, amazing sweet and dry wines from Tokaj and gorgeous méthode traditionnelle sparkling wines from both wine regions. This Tokaji Aszú is made of 61% Furmint, 23% Hárslevelű and 16% Kabar.
Decanter: Intense and concentrated, with a fair dose of toasted oak, yellow flowers, papaya, white chocolate, sage orange peel and jammy apricots. Classic and persistent.
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Béres Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos 2016, Tokaj (95 points)

This Tokaji Aszú is a great example of balance. The wine is made of an excellent vintage, and its enormous residual sugar content (216.8 g/L) is beautifully balanced with the high acidity (13.07). It is made of 65% Furmint, 35% Muscat Lunel.
Decanter: Lemony aromas with notes of tangerine, candied orange peel, dried apricots and hints of mushrooms. Elegant and vibrant, muscular, with a firm acidity.

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Holdvölgy Expression 2019, Tokaj (95 points)

The only dry of the white gold winners. Expression is made of 100% Hárslevelű and comes from the legendary, first class Becsek vineyard. The wine farmented and matured in oak for 6 months. A crystal clear expression of Hárslevelű grape variety.
Decanter: Ripe aromas of yellow fruit with hints of acacia, honeysuckle and peaches. Open and generous, with a firm structure and salty mineral finish.

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Szászi Szent György-hegyi Zeusz, 2013 

Szent György-Hegyi Zeus 2013

Golden yellow colour. An obviously great wine made from fully ripened grape. It was harvested manually, fermented spontaneously in stainless steel, then aged in big barrel for 6 months, and it was released after 2 years of bottle ageing. Both high acidity and high alcohol content have been nicely integrated during bottle ageing. The salty mineral tones run parallel with the sweetish flavours of dried fruits. Only 1500 bottles were made and the ex cellar price is only 8–9 euros.

Wine with a view

Szent György mountain is not the Olympos, it does not belong to the highest mountains in Europe with dramatic slopes, but it has volcanic soil, and from Szászi winery you can get an amazing view of Lake Balaton, the largest lake of Europe. The winery has a restaurant as well with great local food – an ideal place to eat if you are on holiday at the lake!