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2020 Heimann & Fiai Kadarka Porkoláb-völgy, Hungary, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This is 100% Kadarka (Blaufränkisch). 12.4% abv.  Ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is deep with black cherries, and raspberries. Nice, smooth texture.  Some complexity.  Flavors of black cherries and raspberries with slight minerality.  Good finish.  This has more depth than most of the Kadarkas we tried.  It is probably better with food.  Feeling adventurous?  Maybe try Spicy pork pörkölt (sertéspörkölt), a rich Hungarian stew.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

2018 Grál Borpince Pelzberg Kékfrankos, Hungary, Tolna, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$29.00USD

This is 100% Kekfrankos (Blaufränkisch) from Hungary.  11.6% abv.  Light ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is dusty with cherries.  Medium bodied.  Slight tannins.  On the palate, light cherries. Some minerality.   Good acidity.  Moderate finish.  An interesting wine made in a lighter style but still with some backbone.  This is a wine made for food.  Goulash would work nicely.  Drink over the next few years.  

2022 St. Donat Kékfrankos Magma, Hungary, Tihany Volcano, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$27.00USD

This is Blaufrankisch (called Kekfrankos in Hungary) from Lake Balaton in Hungary.  Aged in neutral Hungarian Oak.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, rhubarb and slight cranberries.  Nice texture.  On the palate, flavors of black cherries, strawberries and rhubarb.  An interesting wine with some depth.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  Chicken Paprikash seems a classic pairing.  Drink over the next three to six years.  

Turnbull 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Black Label

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$180.00USD

Rich and bold, this Cabernet is in the vein of “new school” Napa Cabernet; which is to say unashamedly rich, forward fruit, potent oak, and a no holds barred take on a formidable Napa cab. That’s not to say it isn’t well structured, because this certainly is, and Turnbull is well-known for making structured Cabernets. In point of fact they have been doing so for a long time, and I have reviewed many of their wines over the years. This offers very ripe blackberry and blueberry fruit, plum, noticeable oak notes, including vanilla, sandalwood, and slightly sweet charred oak.

2021 Somlói Apátsági Pince Hárslevelű Nagy-Somló, Hungary, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This is %100 Hárslevelű (HARSHlehveh-LOO) from Somló, Hungary (Shoam-low).  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with Apples, honey and acacia flowers.  Medium bodied.  Slightly sweet.  Big acidity.  On the palate, this has a nice "fruity" quality.  Flavors of apples and honey with a slight chalkiness.  Good finish.  This is a very  interesting and different wine.  It is very nice on its own but probably better with food.  Pad Thai would be an interesting pairing.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

2022 Royal Tokaji Wine Co. Tokaji Furmint Uragya, Hungary, Mad, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

This is a dry table wine.  From the Uragya vineyard which translates to "God's Bed".  This is 100% Furmint grape.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is reticent but shows some minerality, a slight lemon peel quality and a hint of char.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has some depth.  Flavors of pear, slight  honey and just a bit of chalk/minerality.  It improved with some air.  This was nice on its own but better with a triple cream cheese.  It can likely go another ten years but the freshness from drinking young is nice.  

2020 Castello del Trebbio Chianti Rùfina Riserva Lastricato, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

This organic wine from Tuscany is 100% Sangiovese fermented in terracotta amphorae and aged in wood barrels.  Deep purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice  with dusty cherries, slight spice, leather and slight thyme.  Medium body.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, flavors of cherries with a bit of dust.  Good finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for another five to ten years.It is nice on its own but better with food.  A great choice for Pizza nights but also a classic pairing with pasta.  

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