Malatinszky, Signature Chardonnay, 2020 

Malatinszky Kúria, Villány Region

Chardonnay is grown on nearly 2,400 hectares in Hungary. It’s a great grape for reflecting the characteristics of its terroir, and the hopes and style of its winemaker. Csaba Malatinszky is a fan of this variety, and makes it in an old world style. Malatinszky started his career in wine as a sommelier, working in top Budapest’s restaurants in the 1990s, and then decided he wanted to make the switch from selling wine to making wine in 1997 when he opened his own winery. He has been fully organic since 1999 (certified since 2009). This is a full wine, with a rich and balanced body and acidity structure (alcohol is 12.5 percent). Like most Villány whites, grapes come from the Siklós area, from 10-year-old vines in the Zuhánya vineyard. On the nose there is yeastiness, some savoury mushroom notes, and a hint of gunpowder. This wine benefits from being opened in advance, and we find that it opens up beautifully after getting a bit of air in the glass—with pineapple, pear, citrus, and peach flavors emerging. This wine is great on its own, and is also a versatile match for many foods. Try it with a Hungarian dish like stuffed cabbage or pasta with cabbage. Or, with roasted pork or chicken with a creamy sauce. This is an organic and vegan wine.

Read About The Villány Region