We recommend not one, but two wines as Wines of the Weekend – a white and a red, one for the day, one for the night, one called ‘star’, the other called ‘blood’. Both are blends and both have received 90 scores recently from Andreas Larsson world champion sommelier. His wine website, Tasted.wine boasts more than 22 000 wine reviews, and Larsson is more and more familiar with Hungarian wines. Let’s look at the details!

Tóth Ferenc Egri Csillag Superior 2019

Ferenc Tóth is the founder and the winery – and also the name of the estate (In Hungary surnames come first). Egri means ‘from Eger’, and Egri Csillag (The ‘Star of Eger’) is a white blend created by Eger wine producers a few years ago to have a white counterpart for the famous red blend Egri Bikavér (‘Bull’s Blood). Egri Csillag is always a blend of at least 4 grapes and the ratio of Carpathian Basin varieties (eg. Leányka, Királyleányka, Furmint, Hárslevelű, Zengő, Zenit) should be minimum 50% of the blend. The aromatic grapes cannot exceed 30% of the blend.

Andreas Larsson’s evaluation

Medium deep ruby red colour. Youthful nose ranging from red to darker fruit with a mild spiciness, fine oak, tobacco and sage. The palate is rather full with a nice extraction, young but grainy tannin, fine oak elevage giving some vanilla and butterscotch, savoury fruit with nice balance and length. (90 scores)

Tóth Ferenc Egri Bikavér Superior 2017

Egri Bikavér is undoubtedly the most famous wine of Eger wine region. The blend has to contain again at least four different grapes and Kékfrankos has to be the dominant variety (30–65% of the blend). The minimum ageing requirement is 12 months in wooden barrel. As the winery indicates: “The blend of an outstanding vintage, selecting the best single variety base wines of the winery. Kékfrankos, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon are coming from Síkhegy, Kadarka and Pinot Noir varieties are from Almagyar and Merlot is from Tihamér Crues. All base wines were aged in the best suitable size and type of barrel for the variety for 18 months. We blended 106 hl at the end of July and bottled 40 hl at the end of August.“

Andreas Larsson’s evaluation

Bright light golden colour. Pure intense and aromatic nose with exotic notes of pineapple, apricot, honey and white flower. The palate is suave and generous, yet bone dry with a racy freshness, fine extract and a long finish. (90 scores)

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