In Hungary It's Kékfrankos, But You Can Call It Blaufränkisch

Today’s wine comes from a little town in Hungary, Hajós, about a two hour drive south from Budapest. It’s from a winery called Sziegl Pince, but they call it Sziegl Winery. "They," by the way, are Petra and Balázs. They are Sziegl Winery, the two of them. They grow grapes and make wine from those grapes, and no doubt a lot more boring things that two people do to keep a business afloat.

Petra and Balázs say they "work exclusively with organic farming, love to experiment, {and} never make the same wine twice." They say they are “constantly looking for the new in the old.”

The grapes in question here are Kékfrankos, also known in some parts as Blaufränkisch. They were grown in the Hársfás-út vineyard in the vintage year 2020, which you may remember was a tough year for a lot of folks, not just winemakers. The Sziegl Kékfrankos has an alcohol level of 13.5% abv and a retail price of $42.

This wine has a medium-dark tint. The nose shows raspberry, minerality, and coffee notes. The palate brings a sense of Pinot Noir, but on the rustic side. Tart fruit takes a slightly sweeter role, while the tannins are firm, but forgiving. 

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