Back for Europe - Bock Rocks

Jul 21, 2006 8 Replies

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.


Salut/Hi Joseph Coulter,

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

Thanks very much for the report!

Agreed - on both counts.

Ian Hoare wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

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.

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!

"Ric" wrote in news:ZBcwg.176992$F snipped-for-privacy@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net:

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

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:

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.

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:

M.

Michael Pronay wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@pronay.com:

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

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

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

M.

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