Szentesi, Laska, 2020

Szentesi Winery, Etyek-Buda Region

Along with Tihany Kék, Laska also used to be amongst the most popular varieties in Hungary. But then phylloxera invaded in the late 1800s and changed the landscape of Hungarian (and European) wine. Many old Hungarian varieties died out and were not replanted. Only 10 Laska vines survived, which Szentesi discovered at the wine research institute in Pécs and planted in his vineyard. He thinks Laska has a huge potential. It’s a late-ripening variety, with small bunches. It needs yield control to ensure that it ripens well. But when well-ripened, Laska is a full-bodied, high tannin wine, which might remind you of wines from Bordeaux. Laska is generally dark—with blackberry, black cherry, plum, cocoa, and coffee characters. This wine is medium-bodied, with a dark color. Its strong tannins and acidity are well-balanced. This is a complex wine, with lots of intense and layered flavors. It’s on the fruity side—lots of black currant, cranberries, blackberries, fresh raspberries, candied fruit, and black pepper. Cherry liquor lingers in the long and deep finish. The wine was spontaneously fermented, barrel-aged for 14 months, and unfiltered. When we drink this wine, we marvel at how unlikely it is that it even exists today in our glasses. Only 700 bottles were produced. This is an easy one to pair with food. Drink with roasted duck or beef roast with fruit sauce, or turkey and cranberry sauce.

This vintage is sold out in Hungary!

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