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| Hungarian Wine Panorama |
| By Rajiv Singhal |
| The wines from Hungary have been long sought after, even if the to-die-for dessert wines from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tokaj have hogged all the limelight. The indigenous grapes have grown well and truly showcase the conditions. Traditions of wine making in Hungary date back to the Romans. |
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Unique wine cellars in Hungary |
| H.E. Gyula Petho, Ambassador of Hungary to India opened his cellar for vino india to share a diverse range that he felt "represented" Hungary and went beyond just the world famous and world class dessert wines! From sparkling to rose to white to reds and finally the dessert wine (without which any Hungarian tasting would be incomplete) and many blends of indigenous grapes from even the not-so-well-known of the 22 wine regions in the land. |
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H.E. Gyula Petho, Ambassador of Hungary to India |
| We were tasked to share our impressions of these wines with our readers. Oenophiles may well consider the option that Hungarian gems present - be adventurous and dig into the Pandora's Box of 22 Hungarian wine regions to find the one that would suit your taste. And hopefully, one forward looking visionary importer will consider these wines in their portfolio. |
| At the team tasting, Vipul Thakur put his hand up and hence the tasting notes that appear below are his. |
| The Wines |
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Chateau Vincent, Tokaj Furmint Brut, Methode Traditionnelle, NV
Region: Tokaj.
Grape: Furmint.
Appearance: Pale lemon colour. Very minute beads lending to a lovely rising foam.
Nose: Intense. Ripe apricots and passion fruit with subtle yeast which blooms into notes of honey and toast with some cinnamon.
Palate: Ripe citrus fruits, honeydew melon and pineapple.
Finish: Vibrant. Balanced acidity with a minerally finish.
Dosage: 9 gm/l
Alcohol: 12% abv.
Verdict: Fresh, with a linear domination of fruit.
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Gunzer Tamas, Villany Rose, 2014
Region: Villany.
Grape: Furmint.
Appearance: Salmon pink with slight effervescence due to added carbon dioxide.
Nose: Rose petals, red fruits (cherries, red currants) with hint of pink peppercorn.
Palate: Dry juicy palate of red berries and plums with refreshing acidity.
Finish: Vibrant. Balanced acidity with a minerally finish.
Alcohol: 12% abv.
Verdict: Refreshing fruit forward personality. |
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Bodvin Pinceszet, Tokaj, Aldomas, Furmint, 2012
Region: Tokaj.
Grape: Furmint.
Appearance: Gold (suggesting long bottle ageing).
Nose: Intense. Whiff of alcohol, vanilla and roasted nuts with strong leather (like in a shoe store).
Palate: Caramelised and woody, with some petroleum notes.
Finish: Vibrant. Balanced acidity with a minerally finish.
Alcohol: 14.5% abv.
Verdict: Medium bodied.
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Maurer Corvina White, 2012
Region: Szabadka.
Grape: Szeremi Zold, Bakator, Mezes Feher, Sargamuskotaly, Rizling.
Appearance: Pale gold.
Nose: Nutty, Dried apples.
Palate: Mature fruit with slight bitterness and pungent spices.
Alcohol: 12.5% abv.
Verdict: Unique showcase of indigenous varietals - should have been drunk earlier. |
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Gunzer Zoltan, Kadarka, 2012
Region: Villany.
Sub region: Ordogarok (50%) and Bocor (50%).
Grape: Kadarka.
Appearance: Light ruby.
Nose: Dried rose petals, lavender, plum with hint of black fruits and some oaky spiciness.
Palate: Dry, red fruit preserve, bramble, black cherry. Smooth tannins with hints of cedar and sweet spices.
Finish: Bitter and nutty with good structured acidity.
Ageing: 12 months oak ageing.
Alcohol: 13.5% abv.
Verdict: Well balanced easy drinking which should be drunk now.
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Takler, Szekszardi Bikaver Reserve, 2012
Region: Szekszard.
Grape: Kekfrankos, Kadarka, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
Appearance: Deep ruby.
Nose: Dark berries with hints of prune, smoke, pepper and wood.
Palate: Dry. Juicy berries with supple even grippy tannins and cracked black pepper. Hints of roast coffee beans. Evident background oak.
Ageing: 16 months in second fill oak barrels.
Alcohol: 14.5% abv.
Verdict: A complex regional icon. Needs an hour of decanting. |
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Barta Oreg Kiraly Dulo, Tokaj Szamorodni, 2013
Region: Tokaj.
Grape: Tokaj blend of Furmit, Harslevelu and Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains.
Appearance: Light bright gold.
Aromas: Honey blossoms, orange peel, apricots, honey with hints of sweet spices.
Palate: Sweet lime, lychee, mangoes, honeycomb, caramel toffee and a bit of hazelnut.
Residual sugar: 115 g/l.
Alcohol: 11.67% abv
Verdict: Standout cloying sweetness. Lovely balance of ripe fruit and nuances of botrytis.
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| vino india was invited to a special review of the Embassy of Hungary's cellar by the Ambassador of Hungary to India. |
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O T H E R S T O R I E S |
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