Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
PÉTER LENGYEL'S TOP FIVE
We know what we like, but we're no experts. So we turned to 'he-who-knows-all' -
Budapest-based wine translator and maven Péter Lengyel - for his favourite five
wines (without regard to vintage and in no particular order):
Ottttó L
izling(South Balaton) Made from fruit harvested
ideally ripe in late September from the Gesztenyés vineyard in the village of Gyugy,
this fine Riesling is pale in colour and bursts with crisp, fruity flavours.
IIsttván Sz
ó Légli'
gli's G
s Geszttenyés R
s Rajjnai R
i Rizlin
s Fuurmiintt(Tokaj) With a flavour recalling apples, dry Fur-
mint has the potential to become the best dry white in Hungary; Szepsy's version can
hold its own against a top-notch white Burgundy.
Ráspii's K
n Szepsy''s Sz
s Szent T
t Tamás F
s Selecttiion(Sopron) This is an increasingly popular red wine from a
varietal known as Blaufränkisch in neighbouring Austria; its pale colour belies its full
flavour, finesse and complexity.
Tiifffán''s G
s Kéékffrrannkos Sele
de Selecttiion(Villány) A Bordeaux-style red blend that plays with the
French big ones; profound, concentrated and resonant, with great elegance.
IIsttván Sz
s Grrande Sele
s Aszú(Tokaj) Hungary's sweetest 'noble rot' wine from
the acknowledged leader of Tokaj vintners; possibly the greatest sweet wine made
anywhere in the world.
n Szepsy''s 6-
s 6-puutttonyos A
Szekszárd
Mild winters and warm, dry summers combined with favourable loess soil help Szekszárd in
Southern Transdanubia to produce some of the best affordable red wines in Hungary. They
are not like the big-bodied reds of Villány, but softer and less complex, with a distinct spici-
ness. They're easy to drink.
The premier grape here is Kadarka, a late-ripening variety produced in limited quantities.
The best Kadarka is made by Ferenc Takler and Pál Mészáros. Kadarka is a traditional in-
gredient here in making Bikavér, a wine usually associated with Eger. In fact, many wine
aficionados in Hungary prefer the Szekszárd 'Bull's Blood'; try Zoltán Heimann's version.
Tamás Dúzsi (Kékfrankos Rosé) is acknowledged to be the finest producer of rosé in
Hungary.
