Gál Lajos, Pajados Egri Kékfrankos Grand Superior, 2021

Gál Lajos Winery, Eger Region

This pure Kékfrankos is from the Pajados vineyard, an excellent home for the Kékfrankos grape.  Pajados has a very thin layer of brown forest soil over its bedrock of volcanic rhyolite tufa, which is visible throughout the vineyard, peeking from under the soil. The soil warms up quickly and stays warm here, making it a fine place for red grapes in this cooler-climate region. It’s no surprise that its wines have a delicious underlying minerality to them. Kékfrankos is Hungary’s most waidely planted red grape, and is grown in almost all regions. In Eger, this grape is the backbone of the Bikavér blend, which must contain 30 to 60 percent of Kékfrankos. But it also makes wonderful single varietal Kékfrankos wines, such as this one, which are elegant and balanced with fresh acidity, and become more complex as they age. Kékfrankos is appreciated for its ability to express terroir, and this one really lets Eger’s volcanic, cool climate terroir shine through. Grapes were harvested on September 26^th, fermented on their skins for four weeks, gently pressed, and then aged in a combination of new and used large Hungarian oak barrels for 14 months. This is a perfectly made Kékfrankos, which you could save for another decade. It has a beautiful ruby color, and an exciting combination of fruitiness, spiciness, and minerality. This is a complex wine, fragrant with ripe plums, chocolate-covered cognac-filled cherries, and raspberry jam. The first sip fills your mouth with a mulled wine spiciness, combined with a long-lasting chocolate-fruitiness. The fairly high alcohol level (14.5 percent) is justified by the full body, thick texture, and fruitiness. It is very well-balanced, with a fine minerality, silky tannins, and a light oaky finish. This wine would make any meal very special, and is delicious with pork tenderloin, venison, or duck.

Read About The Eger Region

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