Etikettarkiv: Blaufränkisch

Hungarian Natural wine with spicy notes

There is a constant increase of green wines – organic, biodynamic and also so called natural wines. Natural wines do not, unlike organic wines, have any specific certifications – however there are a number of factors that most winegrowers agree on if they want to classify their wines as ”natural”. The vineyard should be organic or biodynamic, the yeast used should be ambient and a common phrase used is ”nothing added, nothing removed”. The grapes are hand harvested and a minimum of SO2 is added (often at bottling). Artisan practices like the use of amphorae is also common. We tasted the natural wine Sopron 2020, a blend of the black grape varieties Kekfrankos (Blaufränkisch in Austria) and Syrah, made by the Hungarian producer Weingut Weninger.

On the nose this wine has a pleasant note of violet, black cherries and plums as well as spice. The acidity is refreshing, and on the palate there are both red raspberries and black cherries, spices and chocolate notes. The tannins are soft and velvety. There is also a hint of licorice. This is a very nice wine to pair with food, both lighter meat and red meat with spicy flavors! Add potatoes roasted in the oven and spicy creamy sauces and you will understand why I give this wine 81 points!

Wildwux Austrian pleasant cuvée

Austria is quite a rare experience for me, but it is getting more common now in Sweden to find nice Austrian wines. This cuvée from Burgenland called Wildwux (2015) is spicy and well-balanced  and worth its price of 120 SEK (nr 2911). I give it 84 points.

The cuvée is made of 30% Zweigelt, 27% Sankt Laurent, 27% Merlot, 11% Blaufränkisch and 5% Pinot noir black grapes. Both Zweigelt, St Laurent and Blaufränkisch are typical Austrian grape varieties. This cuvée gives a mix of spices, herbs, bramble, raspberries and oak on the nose. The alcohol level is 13 %. Half of the wine has been matured in oak vessels for a year (50 % in French and 50 % in Austrian oak barrels).

Wildwux is produced by Birgit Braunstein KG, who took over the family vineyard in Burgenland in 2001 (in the area Neusidlersee). The family has grown grapes in these fields from 1632. The focus has for a long time been long term sustainability, and from 2016 it is biodynamic certified.

The wine is spicy and well-balanced. You can sense the oak, and some chocolate notes. Raspberries and blueberries are present – and the typical peppery sour cherry notes from Blaufränkisch! I personally enjoy it also on its own, at around 16° C, or with a cheese like soft white mold cheese. It will also combine well with lamb or pork dishes. Enjoy!