Steigler, Kékfrankos Premium, 2020

Steigler Winery, Sopron Region

Kékfrankos is king in the western Hungarian Sopron region, which makes predominantly red wine. The city of Sopron even dubs itself the “Capital of Kékfrankos”, and some of the world’s largest areas of Kékfrankos vineyards are here. Kékfrankos is called Blaufränkisch just across the border in Austria, and it is one of the super stars of Central Europe. It’s grown widely across the Carpathian Basin, and has made this region its home since the Middle Ages. According to Hungarian urban legend, the grape gets its name from the days when occupying Napoleonic troops purchased wine in Sopron using their ‘blue francs’, which was worth more than the local currency. Because of Sopron’s relatively cool climate and partly calcareous soils, Soproni Kékfrankos is usually dominated by red berry fruitiness and fresh spiciness, with relatively high acidity and elegant, restrained tannins. This is an organic wine, which comes from nine-year-old vines which were hand-harvested. This Premium Kékfrankos is fruitier, deeper, and more concentrated. Fermentation took place in open vats, and the wine was aged for 12 months in 500-liter oak barrels. There are very ripe fruity flavors, and even some cassis, on the nose. The texture is silky, and the mica schist soil adds some minerality. This is a full-bodied wine with elegance and complexity. It will keep in your cellar for some years, but you can also open it tonight and enjoy it with grilled meat, barbecue, or duck (maybe with some sour cherry sauce, Hungarian style).

Read About The Sopron Region

Read About Kékfrankos