Importance of the legal regulation of making Bikavérs (Eger vs. Szekszárd)

Wine makers of Eger and Szekszárd recognised, that more and more important to achieve a protection of the Bikavér wines in Hungary, as a lot of abuses happened with Bikavérs in the last 15 years, not mention here the bad reputation of Bikavérs during the communism...

(As we know during the communism the Hungarian Egri Bikavér had not so much reputation from the consumers, what was thanked to the socialist wine making attitude, and other bad circumstances, but fortunately with the end of the communism, at the beginning of the 90s, the wine makers broke with this approach and they started to develop their techniques and their products more and more joining to the European standards and emphasizing the quality and the unique style of their wines.)

In this year, 2009, this long process got the level of the serious declarations with the need that every wine region has to definite their unique products for the protection of the origin according to the European law. Namely they have to write down what the Bikavér is. How can we recognise a Bikavér? What are the compulsory components of Bikavérs? From which territories can we get Bikavér? etc…
So now we are talking about not only the description of a type of blend, but the origin, the know-how and brand protection of, too .

As it is known, capital cities or homeplaces of Bikavérs are Eger and Szekszárd in Hungary. According to the latest news Eger already has a working legal regulation in the regard of making Bikavér and now Szekszárd is also working on a very a similar, but a little bit different regulation as Eger has.

Common opinion of the 2 regions regulations are very important steps to get better and better safety quality on the market in the next years, and we are sure that this development will help Hungarian Bikavérs to achieve their goals, and get closer to consumers in the future.

F.Y.I.: here are some interesting information what can be good to know if you like Hungarian wines, especially Bikavérs!

1. In Eger we can distinguish two different categories of Bikavérs. :
- the classical/normal/ Bikavér
- and the superior category, what is usual the top or the leader wine of the wineries.

2. In contrast with Eger, Szekszárd Bikavérs have other name for this 2 categories:

We can distinguish also

- the normal /classical one/ (called Szekszárdi Bikavér) and

-the selection or reserve titled category what is usually more full-bodied, heavier, etc. ,the same as above in Eger.

Already used rules for making Classical Bikavér in Eger are the followings:

a. the Bikavér has to content 3 types of grapes at least
b. none of the components can be more than 50% in the blend
c. the Kékfrankos has to get the biggest part of the wine
d. and without Kékfrankos can not be Bikavér in Eger

Then the required rules for making the Superior category in Eger:

a. the Bikavér has to content 5 types of grapes at least
b. none of the components can be more than 30% in the wine
c. the Kékfrankos has to be at least 30% but max. 50% of the wine
d. the Cabernet Franc and the Cabernet Sauvignon can not be together more than 30% in the Bikavér!

And it is also good to know only grapes can be signed on the label of Bikavérs which are the components with min. 5%!!!! So you have to be calm when you can not find every components on the label... :)

I think after this long and clever legal part let's taste a good Bikavér right now! :)

Results of the X. Pannon Wine Muster (in Hungary)

This wine challenge is one of the most special wine competitions in Hungary, was established by the Tokaji Bormíves Céh (The Wine maker Guild of Tokaj) in a unique way.
Only that wineries can take part in this competititon, which sell their wines in bottles on the market (on shelves).
The jury is built up from different professional people, as every jury involves 4 international and 3 national members. At the end of the competition participants can get not medals, but their wines can be declared as a TOP WINE of the country.
In this year more than 300 different wines were entered for the competition from 96 different wineries.
The entered wines are categorized into the well-known 3 big categories: red wines, white wines and sweet wines and they have some special category as well for the bests, such as the best Bikavér of the competition.

According to the X. Pannon Wine Muster the following wines won the "Top Wine" title 2009 in Hungary: /signed with red colour can be find in our sortiment as well/

Special Categories:

1. Top Bikavérs

Eszterbauer Tüke Szekszárdi Bikavér 2007
Fritz Szekszárdi Bikavér 2007
Gróf Buttler Egri bikavér Nagy Eged 2005
Gróf Buttler Egri bikavér Nagy Eged 2006
St Andrea Merengő Egri Bikavér superior 2006 /The Best Top Bikavér!/

2. Champion Award

Sauska Villányi Cuvée 7 Villány 2006

In Red Wine Category:

Baron von Twickel Domaine Gróf Zichy Szekszárdi Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Bock Cabernet Franc Fekete-hegy Selection 2006
Bock Cabernet Sauvignom Selection 2006
Bolyki Bikavér 2006
Bujdosó Ibituba 2006
Cezar Merlot Extraordinarii 2006
Ebner 3-as hordó Cuvée 2006
Esterhazy Tesoro 2006
Eszterbauer Mesterünk Szekszárdi Cuvée 2007
Feind Prémium Cabernet Franc 2006
Gere Attila Cabernet Franc Selection 2006
Gere Attila Cabernet Sauvignon barrique 2007
Günzer Zoltán Villányi Ördögárok 2007
Heumann Villányi Cabernet Franc 2007
Heumann Villányi Terra tarbaro cuvée 2007
Jackfall Pillangó 2006
Konyári Páva 2006
Maul Taurus cuvée 2006
Molnár Syrah 2007
Rád-Ikon Ikon Cabernet Franc Evangelista 2007
Sauska Villányi Cuvée 7 Siklós 2006
Sauska Villányi Cuvée 7 Villány 2006
St Andrea Egri Bikavér Paptag dűlő 2007
Takler Szekszárdi Bartina Cuvée 2006
Takler Szekszárdi Cabernet Sauvignon reserve 2006
Takler Szekszárdi Regnum Cuvée 2006
Vincze Cabernet Franc Arcanum 2005
Vincze Kékfrankos Arcanum 2006
Vylyan Pillangó 2006
Vylyan Villányi Montenuovo cuvée 2007

In White Wine Category:

Béres Tokaji Furmint Lőcse 2007
Bolyki Metha Thema késői száraz 2007
Borpalota Mátrai Hárslevelű 2008
Bussay Rajnai Rizling 2008
Bussay Tramini 2007
Chateau Dereszla Tokaji Kabar 2007
Dörgicsei Chardonnay 2008
Figula Csopaki Nász 2007
Figula Muscat Lunel 2008
Gál Tibor Tramini 2003
Gundel Tokaji Furmint 2007
Kerkaborum Vörcsöki Hárslevelű 2007
Kovács Nimród Winery Chardonnay Battonage 2007
Nyakas Budai Chardonnay 2008
Nyakas Budai Chardonnay sel. Barrique 2007
Nyakas Budai Pinot Grigio 2008
Patricius Tokaji Sárga Muskotály 2008
Royal Tokaji Furmint 2007
Söptei Sárgamuskotály 2007
Tornai Top Selection Apátsági Furmint 2007
Tornai Top Selection Grófi Hárslevelű 2007
Tornai Top Selection Grófi Juhfark 2007
Tornai Top Selection Olaszrizling 2007
Varga P. Aranymetszés Badacsonyi Kéknyelű 2006
Wekler Pécsi Chardonnay 2007

In Sweet Wine Category:

Bujdosó Aranyhíd 2007
Degenfeld Andante 2007
Disznókő Tokaji Aszú 5 puttonyos 2002
Dobogó Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos 2004
Királyudvar Tokaji Cuvée Ilona 2007
Oremus Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos 2002
Pannon-Tokaj Muskotályos Aszúeszencia 2005
Pauleczki-vin Tokaji Jégbor 2007
Royal Betsek Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos 2003
Royal Nyúlászó Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos 2003
Tokaj Kereskedőház Tokaji Aszú 5 puttonyos 1993
Tokajicum Borház Reneszánsz cuvée 2004
Úri Borok Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos Szt Tamás 2000
Úri Borok Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos Szt Tamás 2003

Congratulations for Winners!

Our 4 days at the Wine Festival in the Castle - Report 2.

As I mentioned below, it is very difficult to say this or that wine or winery was very good, the another ones not... Every winery who was at the Wine Festival in the Buda Castle has a good reputation. They have different wines, they come from another wine regions, so we can not compare them.
The only thing what we can do to emphasize prominent wines and wine makers who could give us a special impression or could suprise us very much.

One of them or the most amazing result what we drank during the festival was the Merlot of Bolyki János from 2007. This wine has been not on the market yet, but coming soon so we were happy to be among the first ones who can taste this brand new Merlot.

If you look at our website you can find a lot of types of wine from the Bolyki Winery... red wines, white wines and they are really good, but this Merlot from 2007 is very unique and exceptional. We had the feeling we may not drink only wine, but wine with a special caffé aroma. It can be described as a full-bodied wine, and has wonderful complexity right now!! And we can declare this wine has a very big aging potentency in the future.

So as we decided after this gripping experince this wine has to join to our sortiment from the end of October.

The next astonishing winery was the Balassa Winery and his 2 amazing Tokaj Furmint, one from the Betsek and one from the Mézes-Mály vinyards and both of them from 2008. Super flavour, super taste!

So as we see we have to expand our sortiment again...

Walking ahead at the Festival, we arrived to the Selection Stand where we could taste the Juhfark of the Apátsági Winery from 2007. And I have to tell you, this wine is really a big discovery.

On the nose mostly pear and another fresh fruits what you can feel. And during the tasting... but I think I will keep it in secret... and only I can suggest you to taste soon!

And one of our newest treasure what we have found: the Eszterbauer Winery from Szekszárd. About them you can read a complete article and report at the end of October when we will visit their Winery in Szekszárd.

We had also very good experiences with the new vintages of the Sauska Winery.
Modern style on the surface of the bottles, and more modern content of the bottles...

And among the others, of course, we visited our partner wineries as well, only mention here the St. Andrea Winery from Eger, the Chateau Dereszla and Béres Winery from Tokaj, the Gere Tamás Winery, the Tiffán Winery, the Bock Winery from Villány, the Takler Winery from Szekszárd, The Tornai and the Kreinbacher Winery from Somló, and many more with whom we have connection. And in this way we would like to say thanks to them for the kind hospitality, and we have to state that we got only premium and good quality wines from them for tasting.

And finally we have to introduce the youngest wine taster of the Festival!

Yes, the old phrase is right : You can not start early enough ... to drink GOOD HUNGARIAN WINES!!!

Our 4 days at the Wine Festival in the Buda Castle - Report 1.

Dear Blog Readers of WEINKOMPLOTT,

We are happy to welcome you here again.

We have compiled a presentation for you about our Wine Festival experiences in Budapest with pictures. Have a good time to look at our impressions.

Firstly (shortly) about the circumstances....

1.Our first day was Thursday at the Festival and we arrived to the Castle in the early afternoon but we were in a hurry as firstly we had to buy tickets. We had thought, oh, it can not be a problem to buy them, but even though our opinion it was not so easy to get entrance ticket. But why? Because not every entrance station had

season tickets, and we needed this kind of ticket as we wanted to stay for 4 days. But finally

everything was OK, because we could find a kind security man who helped us... so after all we could start our exploration and tasting, and henceforth we had no more problem during the 4 days.

2. How wonderful surroundings it was... with a lot of tents... and all of the exhibitor wineries had premium wines... was difficult to start...

3. After the first steps we began the tasting at the N.A.G. Winery namely with Mr. Nagy Attila Gábor wine-maker and then during the 4 days we tasted more than 120 types of wine...

4. We had luck with the wonderful nice wheater during the 4 days... so we were happy and we could enjoy the festival very much.

So after the circumstances... now let's see the amazingly good wines and wineries.

The 18. International Wine and Champagne Festival in Budapest 2009

As we mentioned some weeks ago this wine exhibition and fair the biggest one in Hungary, and takes place in the capital city of the country, in Budapest, moreover in the centre of Budapest, in the Buda Castle.

You can not find more central wine fair all over Europe, believe me! :)

The date is: 9 th - 13 th September it means it starts tomorrow!

So ooops... I am in a hurry to introduce which wineries will be there... Who are our partners and who have been not (yet!).... but as I see it is impossible to itemize them...

Because more than 185 different exhibitors are going to be there....

Can you imagine how big it will be????

But do not worry, we will write comments and reports on our experiences and our results!

Till later after the first impressions.... :)

Decanter World Wine Awards 2009:...

... what can be good to know...

The Decanter World Wine Award wine competition has been organised from 2004, and every year it has a very big respect among the professionals who are interested in and work with wines. In our opinion this award can sign mostly the real facts of the wines and can be the most neutral judgement on the quality of them, asiding from the fact a judgement never can be neutral. But summing up this wine competition is one of the biggest and most famous one all over the world.

In this year 43 Hungarian wines were awarded.

So we would like to congratulate in this way to the winners!

Gold-Medailles

Béres Pincészet – Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos 2005
Degenfeld Pincészet – Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos 2003

Dobogó Pincészet – Tokaji 6 puttonyos Aszú 2004
Erzsébet Pince - Tokaji Aszúeszencia 2003
Sauska – Villányi Cuvée 5 2006

Silber Medaille

Baron von Twickel Szőlőbirtok – Baronesse Tereza Cuvée 2006
Bock – Villányi Capella Cuvée 2006
Dereszla Pincészet – Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Dereszla Pincészet – Tokaji Kabar 2007
Disznókő Pincészet – Tokaji Aszú 5 puttonyos 2000
Királyudvar Borászat – Tokaji Hárslevelű Lapis Late Harvest 2006
Patrícius – Tokaji Aszú 5 puttonyos 2002
Patrícius – Tokaji Aszú Essencia 2002
Royal Tokaji – Áts Cuvée Late Harvest 2007
Royal Tokaji – Betsek 6 puttonyosTokaji Aszú 2000
Dobogó Pincészet – Tokaji “Mylitta” 2006
Tokajicum – Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2005
Tokajicum – Tokaji Aszú Esszencia 2003
Törley – Gála sec
Vylyan – Pinot Noir 2006
Vylyan – Syrah 2006
Wunderlich – Villányi Cassiopeia Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Bronze Medaille

Asda – Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Asda – Medium Chardonnay 2008
Baron von Twickel Szőlőbirtok – Domaine Gróf Zichy Bikavér 2006
Bodri Pince – Szekszárdi Merlot 2007
Disznókő Pincészet – Tokaji Aszú 5 puttonyos 2002
Dula Pincészet – Egri Hegybíró Bora 2002
Gere Tamás – Villányi Aureus Cuvée 2006
Nyakas Pince – Budai Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Nyakas Pince – Budai Chardonnay 2008
Nyakas Pince – Budai Cuvée 2008
Nyakas Pince – Budai Irsai Olivér 2008
Nyakas Pince – Budai Riesling 2007
Patrícius – Tokaji Late Harvest 2003
Royal Tokaji – Aszú 5 Puttonyos 2005
Royal Tokaji – Furmint 2007
Szent Gaál Pincészet – Szekszárdi Bikavér Selection 2006
Törley Zrt. – Hungarovin Donatello Pinot Grigio 2008
Törley Zrt. – Szent István Korona Etyeki Irsai Olivér 2008
Törley – Chardonnay Brut
Törley Zrt. – Francois Collection Villányi Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Wunderlich – Villányi Cassiopeia Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc 2006

Recommended

Antaloczy Pincészet – Tokaji Furmint 2007
Béres Pincészet – Tokaji Furmint Lőcse 2007
Egri Korona Borház – Selection Egri Kékfrankos 2006
Hagymási József – Egri Bikavér Superior 2005
Hilltop Neszmély – Eva’s Vineyard 2008
Nagyrédei Szőlők Borforgalmazó Kft. – Sainsbury’s Mátrai Pinot Grigio 2008
Sauska – Villányi Kékfrankos 2007

Törley Zrt. – Campula Pinot Grigio 2008
Törley Zrt. – Francois President Brut 2004
Törley Zrt. – Francois Président Rosé Brut 2006
Törley Zrt. – György Villa Etyeki Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Törley Zrt. – György Villa Pázmándi Pinot Noir rosé 2008
Törley Zrt. – György Villa Villányi Merlot 2007
Törley – Fortuna Doux

Reports of August 2. - The Tornai Winery in Somló

Concerning the title of our post we report now on our second visit that was also in August but at the Tornai Winery in Somló. Have you ever heard about Somló or the Tornai Winery? If have not yet, suggested to read our article because we have found a treasure.

According to datas Somló is the smallest wine region (with 550 hectares) of Hungary and of course, not so famous (yet!) like Tokaj in Europe, but also noted in guide books as a very significant white wine region in Hungary.
Somló lies in the north western part of Hungary and several types of white grapes can be found there, such as: Furmint, Hárslevelű (Linden-leaf), Olaszrizling, Rajnai rizling, Szürkebarát, Tramini, and finally the most famous and special grape the Juhfark (Sheep's tail).
Very interesting thing is that here, in Somló, firstly the Romans started to produce wine, so you can imagine how old can be the viniculture in Hungary.
(Definitely from the roman's time until our days is a very long period in the viniculture, but may be good to know the beginning of the wine life here.)

As we know now approximately where is Somló, we can continue with the Tornai Winery.
This Winery was one of the first ones who started to be a private winery during the communism, recognising the new times and becoming one of the leader winery of the region.

We can say that the owners of the winery have paid great attention to the professionalism.
Beside the traditional wooden barrels, they installed the stainless steel vessels with adjustable temperature allowing reductive technology for the fermentation. And for example the method that the juice is left to stay in contact with the grape skin for 7-14 hours has been introduced here for the first time in Hungary. Moreover they use a very new and modern bottle-filling technology as well.

So...Visiting the whole cellar and the processor part of the winery we can tell you: There really everything is in order....
But tasting premium wines of the winery we can tell you: Now it is clear ... In the wines everything is in order, as well. And no doubts... we are on the same opinion as the members of the jury of the national and international wine competitions and we can understand the great results of the wines!

Especially suggested wines of the winery for tasting the Top Selections such as The Grófi Hárslevelű, the Grófi Juhfark and the Aranyhegyi Olaszrizling from 2007. (what you can find http://www.weinkomplott.de/catalog/winery.php?manufacturers_id=71#71 in our webshop as well)

And as we know the Tornai wines were entitled 'peak quality' in the last following years and no wine cellar so far has been able to achieve their unique results of this year.

Summing up we can declare the following:

The Somló is really the smallest wine region of Hungary but, because of the Tornai Winery, with a bigger and bigger success in the future.

Reports of August 1. - The Béres Winery in Tokaj

First of all let's see the facts.

In August we visited two different wineries in two completely different wine regions of Hungary, but both wine regions are noted for white wines.
Hm... Have you got an idea which ones I mean?

If you do not, you will get the answer below.

If we want to be chronological, we should start with the Béres Winery in the Tokaj Wine Region where the Director of the Estate, Zöldi-Kovács Árpád, welcame us.

You may think, oh, I know Béres. This name reminds me of special dropps which are good for the health and are famous all over the world. And yes, you are right!
But today you can get to know the Béres name in a different aspect.

The Béres Vineyards and Winery lie in the vicinity of Erdőbénye, which territory situated approximately in the geometrical centre of the Tokaj Wine Region.

The world wide famous owner, the Béres Family, decided to buy this (more than 90 hectare) estate in 2002 with the intention to create great wines, serve and build the value and the recognition of the Hungaricums not only in regard to special medicines but in the wine-making as well respecting the nature and using this unique part of the world.
Due to the special mikro-climate, the exceptional soil and the professionalism of the Winery, we can find a wide range of selection of the wines from dry whites through nice blends, single vineyard wines, szamorodni, late harvest wines to 6 puttonyos Tokaji Aszu.
"So which wines should we taste this time?" - we asked Árpád, the kind Director of the Estate.

And we can see, the question is hard.... as they have a lot of type of good wine....
but finally we decided to taste wines such as Lőcse Furmint from 2007, Tokaji Szamorodni from 2003, the Tokaji Aszú 5 puttony and the Tokaji Aszú 6 puttony from 2005 which got international awards, as well.
And the result of the tasting ?? It is really positive. We met a lot of type of dry and sweet white wine and we were happy about the quality of them, moreover we can suggest you to taste them!

If you are interested in the Béres Winery or you feel like getting to know their wines, or you have ever heard about their wines and you want to get more information about them, please visit our homepage www.weinkomplott.com or the Béres Winery website www.beresbor.hu .

After the summer break - News and events

We are almost after the summer time...
...everybody finished the holidays... so hopefully everybody is well-prepared for the reading!

Right now let's start with new information about the HUNGARIAN WINE LIFE!

We are preparing for the next wine festival what is the largest wine fair and exhibition of Hungary and takes place in the capital of Hungary - in Budapest - at the Buda castle.

This year is the eighteenth time when the Budapest International Wine and Champagne Festival is realised, that's why we can say: this is now a TRADITIONAL EVENT for us!

This Festival a special event, but not only for people who are interested in wine-drinking, more for the professionals. Because of this attribute had grown into the most highly regarded and popular professional event and combined arts festival of Central Europe.

According to our principles ,of course, we will report from this event, and we would like to summarize the best and most popular wines of the event.
So if you read our blog you can get the rank list of the bests!

But now, after the appetizer, let's see what happened in August...

AT WEINKOMPLOTT

We are happy to inform you about our brand new blog and hopefully you can find a lot of useful and interesting information about Hungarian wines.

We would like to write about our experiences and our discoveries related to every kind of wine and winery whom we have connection with... so...

We welcome every wine lover, reader, visitor and every person who is interested in our new blog.

Read and enjoy it!