Wine notes July 06

On ship Villany kékfrankos described as full and rich, I found it to be
a bit thin spicy with a green berry character this faded a bit with
time, and air but never really disappeared

Jozsef Bock, Villanyi, Cabernet Franc 2004 fine dark firm tannins good
fruit reminiscent of a Touraine from a good vintage

Balaton Fueredi, Chardonnay 2004, M. Figula. Reminiscent of a great
village Chablis this had good citrus taste clean fresh finish. Like the
cab franc, I hated to see it go.

Jozsef Bock Merlot Villany 2003.disappointing. Very fruity and smooth
but lacking. I wasn't sure exactly what the problem was until the next
night when we picked up a bottle of

Ch Calon Montagne St. Emilion 2003 in a regensberg grocery. This was
pleasant, not as fruity as the Bock, but showing a little tannin and
acid. It was a nice accompaniment to roast beef. This wine instantly
made me realize the problem with the Bock. The Bock was flabby and this
one was well crafted and quite delightful with food.

If there was one reason to travel back to Hungary (and there are more) I
would say becasue the wines juwt don't seem to be available elsewhere
and more is the pity.
--
Joseph Coulter
Cruises and Vacations
http://www.josephcoulter.com/

Salut/Hi Joseph Coulter,

le/on Fri, 21 Jul 2006 09:29:55 -0500, tu disais/you said:-

On ship Villany kékfrankos described as full and rich, I found it to be
a bit thin spicy with a green berry character this faded a bit with
time, and air but never really disappeared

Thanks very much for the report!

If there was one reason to travel back to Hungary (and there are more) I
would say because the wines juwt don't seem to be available elsewhere
and more is the pity.

Agreed - on both counts.

--
All the Best
Ian Hoare
http://www.souvigne.com
mailbox full to avoid spam. try me at website

Ian Hoare wrote in
:

Salut/Hi Joseph Coulter,

le/on Fri, 21 Jul 2006 09:29:55 -0500, tu disais/you said:-

On ship Villany kékfrankos described as full and rich, I found it to
be
a bit thin spicy with a green berry character this faded a bit with
time, and air but never really disappeared

Thanks very much for the report!

If there was one reason to travel back to Hungary (and there are more)
I
would say because the wines juwt don't seem to be available elsewhere
and more is the pity.

Agreed - on both counts.


The absense of Hungarian wines is remarkable to me. In Austria I looked
and could find none, Germany the same. In the Czech Republic I could
find any number of forgetable Czech wines but non from Hungary.

I got mine from the store described by someone on the Vaci Utca. Bacchus
(?) it was on the river side ofthe street about a block from the
Elizabeth Bridge. Nice store, young girl working seemed to know her
stuff. When she saw my list (Thank you M Pronay) she shoook her head
when I pointed to one selection and said "Wrong 'Gere' you want this
one!" and when picking the Chardonnay for which I had no reference she
recommended the cheaper of three that she offered.

--
Joseph Coulter
Cruises and Vacations
http://www.josephcoulter.com/

INFANTICIDE! You're a baby-killer! (just kiddin' ya ---)

I confess that I have never had a Hungarian wine - will have to try to find
some. Thanks for the report.

I'm making plans to do a side by side this weekend; some of the Hermitage
(Chappoulet, in particular) and St Joseph's we brought home alongside our
own '05 Marsanne. It's too hot to work in the vineyard, so I guess I'll have
to hang out in the cellar and drink!



Wine notes July 06

On ship Villany kékfrankos described as full and rich, I found it to be
a bit thin spicy with a green berry character this faded a bit with
time, and air but never really disappeared

Jozsef Bock, Villanyi, Cabernet Franc 2004 fine dark firm tannins good
fruit reminiscent of a Touraine from a good vintage

Balaton Fueredi, Chardonnay 2004, M. Figula. Reminiscent of a great
village Chablis this had good citrus taste clean fresh finish. Like the
cab franc, I hated to see it go.

Jozsef Bock Merlot Villany 2003.disappointing. Very fruity and smooth
but lacking. I wasn't sure exactly what the problem was until the next
night when we picked up a bottle of

Ch Calon Montagne St. Emilion 2003 in a regensberg grocery. This was
pleasant, not as fruity as the Bock, but showing a little tannin and
acid. It was a nice accompaniment to roast beef. This wine instantly
made me realize the problem with the Bock. The Bock was flabby and this
one was well crafted and quite delightful with food.

If there was one reason to travel back to Hungary (and there are more) I
would say becasue the wines juwt don't seem to be available elsewhere
and more is the pity.
--
Joseph Coulter
Cruises and Vacations
http://www.josephcoulter.com/

"Ric" wrote in
.net:

INFANTICIDE! You're a baby-killer! (just kiddin' ya ---)

Guilty as charged! The Cab Franc had potential to age nicely, the
Merlot, however, IMNSHO was granted euthenasia.

I confess that I have never had a Hungarian wine - will have to try to
find some. Thanks for the report.

Be careful you don't end up with the equivalent of Dracula wine from
Romania, importers don't always go for quality and I daresay that the
only Hungarian wine I saw in Germany was Bikaver and a pretty darn cheap
one at that. That said I will repeat Herr Pronay's choices of good
names:

Try to go for producers like Attila Gere, Gere & Weninger, Ede
Tiffán, Józef Bóck (all from Villány) or Weninger (Sopron).






--
Joseph Coulter
Cruises and Vacations
http://www.josephcoulter.com/

Joseph Coulter wrote:

Jozsef Bock Merlot Villany 2003.disappointing. Very fruity and
smooth but lacking. ... This wine instantly made me realize the
problem with the Bock. The Bock was flabby ...

That's a vintage problem. Remember 2003, put it together with
extreme continental climate in southern Hungary, and there you
are. you should retry in another year.

M.

Joseph Coulter wrote:

The absense of Hungarian wines is remarkable to me. In Austria I
looked and could find none,

The next time you're in Vienna, check Vinothek "In Vino Veritas"
located at Salzgries 2 in the center of town. They are 100%
specialized in Hungarian wine and are open since April 2005:

http://www.weinhandel.co.at/

M.

Michael Pronay wrote in
:

Joseph Coulter wrote:

Jozsef Bock Merlot Villany 2003.disappointing. Very fruity and
smooth but lacking. ... This wine instantly made me realize the
problem with the Bock. The Bock was flabby ...

That's a vintage problem. Remember 2003, put it together with
extreme continental climate in southern Hungary, and there you
are. you should retry in another year.

M.

That explains it. After the Cab Franc I just knew it wasn't the winemaker.

--
Joseph Coulter
Cruises and Vacations
http://www.josephcoulter.com/

Joseph Coulter wrote:

Jozsef Bock Merlot Villany 2003.disappointing. Very fruity and
smooth but lacking. ... This wine instantly made me realize
the problem with the Bock. The Bock was flabby ...

That's a vintage problem. Remember 2003, put it together with
extreme continental climate in southern Hungary, and there you
are. you should retry in another year.

That explains it.

Furthermore, merlot ripens much earlier than cabernet franc, which
adds to the problem.

After the Cab Franc I just knew it wasn't the winemaker.

Of course not, József Bock is one of the top producers in Hungary.

M.