Hungarian Wine Challenge – 1 to 5
Like lots of people, I love a challenge! And this month, I am in Hungary, travelling the country in search of at least 100 wines. I have 27 days to do it, and I’ll be travelling to multiple wine regions, tastings, festivals and other wine events in order to find some of the best wines in the country. The challenge started on 1 September and finishes towards the end of the month. So how is it going? Well, Hungary has so many good wines it is proving a lot easier than I first thought!
I am also really grateful for the new followers on both this website and Instagram. I have been absolutely overwhelmed with support of friends, family and complete strangers. I really hope you have been enjoying the Instagram updates, but today, we’re fulfilling the other part of the challenge… Not only do I have to drink 100 wines, but I have to review them all as well. So starting with number one, and finishing with number five, here we go!
Bortodoor wine tasting
For those who aren’t Budapest residents (and some who are) Bortodoor is a wine bar in Budapest which seeks out some of the best wines from Hungary and beyond. The bar has a weekly wine menu which changes every week. And on a Sunday, they do an end of week drink the losses where all wines are sold at a reduced price to clear space for the following week’s wines. This means its possible to try some very good quality wines at a much reduced price. And who doesn’t love a bargin?
Wine 1 – Furmint 300
A fresh acidic wine from the Furmint grape. Flavours of apple, lemon, gooseberry and some subtle minerality as well. Good acidity and a reasonable finish. Very refreshing and a good palette awakener.
Quality: Good
Wine 2 – Haraszthy Pincészet Sauvignon Blanc
Another fresh acidic wine with flavours of green apple, lemon and some stone, tropical fruit, and vegetal notes coming through as well. Clearly being a Sauvignon it was refreshing and quite light in style, but with good ripeness.
Quality: Good
Wine 3 – Balassa Furmint
This was a fresh acidic wine with notes of apple and citrus. This one had much stronger minerality than wine 1 and was somewhat more bitter on the finish almost a quince note to it. There was also a subtle note of nuts and oxidation which was very pleasant. The wine was well balanced and the finish was longer than the previous two wines.
Quality: Very good
Wine 4 – Haraszthy Irsai Oliver
This wine was what I think of when I think of easy drinking Hungarian wines. Floral with medium acidity and soapy aromas of rose, blossom, etc… Flavours were of apple, peach, pear and lychee. Very fruit forward, relatively simple in style and light bodied. Very quaffable, but not the most serious wine.
Quality: Good
Wine 5 – Rejiji white merlot
This wine was one of the surprises of the night. More complex, with flavours of bruised apple, nuts, dried fruit and more body than the fresh wines above. The finish was much longer and the balance was very good. This was a wine for sitting and savouring. It would be great with food as well.
Quality: Outstanding
Thank you
So thank you for stopping by for the first five wines. I hope to see you back to check out the next five! And in the meantime, keep exploring this beautiful planet we live on, one glass at a time!