Delicious (and Obscure) Hungarian White

from the folks at Blue Danube (of course!)

2011 FEKETE BELA (Bottled by Tornai Pinceszet-had to lok at the label three times to get the spelling right!)

SOMLOI (geographical area) JUHFARK (the grape).

Intensely "stoney" white wine. This is not really about "fruit", although I tasted apple (quince?). A hint of petrol, maybe. Definitely "wet stone" and minerals. Soft and round, almost White Rhoneish, but then the wine crisps up on the back and mid palate to become deliciously refreshing! A very nice white wine made by a 90 year old Hungarian farmer! Awesome!

OMG. I think you can literally see this vineyard on Google Street View! It's above the village of Somlóvásárhely, Hungary

More on Somlo!

History[edit]

The wines of Somló have a long and celebrated history; indeed, the region’s fame at some point is said to have rivaled that of Tokaj. Its wine figures as medicine in old Hungarian pharmacopeias (Vinum Somlaianum omni tempore sanum). In the eighteenth-nineteenth century, Habsburg emperors/kings of Austria and Hungary, esp. Maria Theresia and Joseph II are claimed to have favored Somló wines. According to old, widespread but unsubstantiated lore, drinking Somló wine makes the conception of male children more likely. Hence its nickname: the wine of nuptial nights ( in Hungarian: a nászéjszakák bora).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soml%C3%B3

This sounds a terrific discovery, Brian. I'd love to try it but no chance at all of finding it here .

Hey, Brian.....I'm the only one around here who's allowed to taste obscure stuff like this!!!

Sound like a very interesting wine and right up my alley.
Tom

It was quite a discovery!

I am lucky in that the wine bar near me (15 miles away) is on the radar of very interesting distributors, who brings in nice stuff quite often. Including American wineries like Scribe and Hobo and Forlorn Hope that I enjoy!

The Alsatian Pinot Blanc I was raving about a couple of weeks ago came from VINI as well!

The owner of Vini gave me two bottles of very refreshing pear-apple-quince cider made by Bonny Doon because he doubted that he would be able to sell them at his markup! So, a very nice wine bar!

(VINI in downtown Davis)

Nice. I went to Hungary in 2008 on my honeymoon and we spent a few days on Lake Balaton. Which meant one of the days was for wine tasting. We visited Laposa Bazaltbor and I enjoyed a Somloi Juhfark. But of course my study of the grape and region has not progressed much since that trip!

Although in reference to your note, I remember hearing that Somloi in general tended to make more austere wines that were perfect for my/your palate.

Nice. I went to Hungary in 2008 on my honeymoon and we spent a few days on Lake Balaton. Which meant one of the days was for wine tasting. We visited Laposa Bazaltbor and I enjoyed a Somloi Juhfark. But of course my study of the grape and region has not progressed much since that trip!

Although in reference to your note, I remember hearing that Somloi in general tended to make more austere wines that were perfect for my/your palate.

The owner of Vini kept repeating that none of the tasting notes for the wine mentioned "fruit" at all.