Budapest wine

Try Egri Bikaver, which translates as "Bull's Blood of Eger."

Godzilla

Decanter had a special supplement on Hungarian wines this year. They tasted both wines availble in the UK, and some that were not exported were tasted in Hungary. Most of the tasters in Hungary were from Decanter's sister title in Hungarian. All of the best wines in the tastings were tasted in Hungary and not exported, at least to the UK.

Here are some of the reds they liked and rated as 4 out of 5 star.

Figula Mihaly , Figula Cabernet Sauvignon, Balatonfured 2003;

Weninger Soproni, Kekfrankos Selection, Weninger Pinceszet Balf 2002;

Demeter Pinceszet, Cabernet Franc, Eger 2000;

Gere Attila, Villanyi Merlot Solus, Villany 2002;

Szende Pince, Szende Cuvee, Villany 2000;

They also mentioned several white wines. If you can bring yourself to taste one, a wine that comes from close to Budapest might be interesting. You might try Nyakas, Pince Etyek, Budai Cuvee 2002.

I have tasted none of these wines, so if you do not like them, complain to Decanter :-) .

Reply to snipped-for-privacy@cwdjr.net .

Ian wrote on Fri, 16 Sep 2005 17:16:47 +0200:

IH> le/on 15 Sep 2005 22:01:28 -0700, tu disais/you said:-

??>> I will be traviling to Budapest this winter and hear ??>> Hungary is an up-and-coming wine producer.

??>> Does anyone have suggestions about what is good, and if it ??>> can be found in the US???

IH> I'm afraid I don't know what's available in the USA. IH> However there are a number of full bodied reds -

I've seen Egri Bikaver, as well as other Hungarian wines whose names I forget, in our not too enterprising county stores here. I'm not just talking about the place in Potomac, which is the only state store that I know with wines costing well over

James Silverton Potomac, Maryland.

The Decanter special supplement on Hungarian wines also listed a few restaurants, some of which have very good wine lists.

Gundel - Palatial, gypsy musicians, and garden for summer dining. Try plate of different foie gras, poularde in paprika, or the very famous Gundel crepe. Outstanding wine list. +36 1 468 4040 or snipped-for-privacy@gundel.hu. ;

Muzeum - Late 19th century interior, white napkins, haughty waiters. Try carpaccio of yellow boletus, goose leg with red cabbage, or Hortobagy pancake. Hungarian wines. +36 1 138 4221. ;

Kispipa - A Jewish restaurant located in the old ghetto. Try soup with beans and Transylvanian stuffed cabbage. No information on wines given,

Trattoria Toscana - Although you need not go to Hungary for very good Italian food, Huba Szeremley's wines are listed. + 36 1 327 0045.;

Also some of the many good hotels have good restaurants with good wine selections. Hotels listed included Hotel Gellert, Grand Hotel Margitsziget, Gresham Four Season Hotel, Hilton, Corvinus, and Hotel Taverna. Details concerning the restaurants within the hotels were not given.

Reply to snipped-for-privacy@cwdjr.net .