Updated: 20 April, 2021

Hello! Welcome to As Drunk by Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature interesting wines that we encourage you to seek out. The reviews featured in this series may be written by either one or the both of us. The featured wines can be from obscure or well-known wine regions. We hope that these wine recommendations will keep you gastronomically curious and your palate invigorated!

Zlatý Roh

One of our favorite wineries in central and eastern Europe is Slovak.

Located just outside Bratislava in the village of Devín, Zlatý Roh is a young winery with a bright future. These are minimal intervention Slovak wines. Their vineyards are located on the Danube and you can see Northern Burgenland (Austria) just across the river. Winemaker Filip Nagy works with organically farmed grapes and ferments the wines spontaneously with native yeasts.

We first visited the estate in 2018, during our second whirlwind tour through the Slovak wine regions. Filip immediately impressed us with his energy, focus, and vision. This is a small project now, just done out of a garage but the plans are to expand the vineyards and build a new winery. That’s all in the future, for now, these are some of the most exciting wines coming out of Slovakia. Get your hands on them if you can!

Wine Recommendations

You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.

• Zlatý Roh, Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

This is the first vintage of Zlatý Roh Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon. There are notes of blackberry, pine, graphite, and sour cherry notes. It’s all fruit at this point. Fresh and full in body with a touch of green notes on the finish. It’s young now and should round into form in a few years. For a natural red, this is very solid and should cellar well, possibly deserving an uptick in score. Score: 89/100

• Zlatý Roh, Blanc 2018

The Blanc is our favorite wine from Zlatý Roh every vintage. It’s a barrel-fermented blend of Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. Notes of sweet peach, sliced apricots, grass, lime, and a touch of white pepper. This is a full-bodied, unfiltered, and unfined white. It’s slightly cloudy with a tangy finish, no tannins. Score: 91/100

• Zlatý Roh, Pinot Noir 2018

The Zlatý Roh Pinot Noir is very old world in style, it’s more of an earthy, vegetal wine. Notes of soil, greens, fall leaves, and mushroom with strawberry. It really smells like a forest floor with a touch of forest berries. Silky smooth palate with concentration and a long finish. There is some grippy tannin. This has a future in the cellar, its made in the spirit of Burgundy. Score: 91/100

• Zlatý Roh, Veltlínské Zelené 2018

Another brilliant white from Zlatý Roh is this Grüner Veltliner, which is golden in color. Notes of lime, basil, grass, and white pepper. It’s a full-bodied, unfiltered wine. It’s so ripe that you wouldn’t expect it to be from Slovakia. Bright, focused fruit and a peppery finish. Score: 90/100

New 2019 Vintage

Zlatý Roh changed up the labels with the 2019 vintage. The style remains the same but the wines are named after the vineyard of origin. This is another set of beautiful wines from this boutique Slovak producer. The Riesling and Pinot Noir really stood out to me in this set of wines.

• Zlatý Roh, ‘Goldeck Purweg’ Blanc 2019

The Zlatý Roh, ‘Goldeck Purweg’ Blanc is a bend of Grüner Veltliner and Riesling aged in wood and amphora for 6 months. I have loved every vintage of this wine in the past. Notes of green guava, pineapple, grass, pine cone, and a kiss of oak. At this point, the nose is a little shy but the palate is where it comes to life. Plenty of explosive green and white-fleshed fruits upfront with crushed rocks on the backend. The texture is the key to this wine. There’s a lot of substance here and vibrant acidity. Long finish. Score: 91/100

• Zlatý Roh, ‘Purweg’ Riesling 2019

This Zlatý Roh, ‘Purweg’ Riesling is a beautiful, minimal intervention white. Notes of honey, white pepper, white pineapple, and green guava. On the palate, the fruit is crunchy and layered. There’s a vibrant spine of acidity that runs through the wine. The skins were in contact for 12 hours, which leaves a very faint trace of tannin. Gorgeous wine. Score: 92/100

• Zlatý Roh, ‘Goldeck’’ Veltlínske Zelené 2019 

The Zlatý Roh, ‘Goldeck’’ Veltlínske Zelené 2019 is Grüner Veltliner fermented in cask and amphora and aged for 10 months. Flavors of baked apple, grass, white pepper, and passion fruit. The wine is a bit shy right now but there’s a lot of texture here. There is a small amount of tannins and limey acidity. With time in the bottle, this could very well deserve an uptick in score. Score: 89/100 

*Check out the 2020 fermenting in the video below

• Zlatý Roh, ‘Goldeck’ Pinot Noir 2019

The Zlatý Roh, Pinot Noir 2019 is partially fermented with whole clusters (50%) and aged in cask and amphora for 10 months. Delicious, earthy Pinot Noir. Notes of sour cherry, cranberry, fall leaves, pepper, and earth. It’s unmistakably Old World Pinot Noir on the nose. Silky smooth palate with soft tannins. There’s a spiciness on the finish that’s undeniably good. Put this in the cellar and watch it bloom. Score: 91+/100

• Zlatý Roh, ‘Purweg’ Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

The Zlatý Roh, ‘Purweg’ Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend aged in oak. This has considerable alcohol levels for how far north it is grown (14.3%). It shows more earth and cool climate characteristics. Notes of cherry, earth, tobacco, and fall leaves. On the palate, it’s silky smooth and some capsicum notes emerge. Chewy tannins. Don’t expect Bordeaux but do expect a delicious, complex red blend. Score: 89/100

You might also enjoy:

Exotic Wine Travel Slovak Wine Articles

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Please note that the opinions expressed are our own and have not been paid for in any way. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Slovak Wine With Style: Zlatý Roh appeared first on Wine Travel.

There are a few can’t miss places for wine lovers in Budapest and Könyvbár & Restaurant is one of them. Every time we pass through the city, we pay a visit to Könyvbár (which translates to ‘book bar’). It’s located in District VII as is one of only two establishments listed on the Raisin Natural Wine App in Budapest.

The reason we frequent the restaurant is because of proprietor Mihály Lippai. He is passionate about wines, focusing on small producers within Hungary. We have tasted many wines here that are not available anywhere else in Budapest. Mihály leans toward natural wines, he carries labels from around the world but heavily features those from his homeland.

“There are some youngsters and curious makers who are ready to break the rules and move Hungarian wine forward. I believe this country is going to be better with this new generation,” Mihály says.

It had been one year since I last visited the restaurant. After a 4-day press trip with hungarianwines.eu, I made a long-awaited return. It was great to see the cuisine had improved with a new chef. The dishes have traditional Hungarian flavors prepared and presented in a contemporary way. Another noticeable difference is the number of foreign wines on offer.

That evening, I wanted to focus on Hungarian producers (although there were a few international wines sprinkled in throughout the night). The number of small, high-quality producers in Hungary baffles me. While there isn’t a big natural (minimal-intervention) wine movement in Hungary but there are several high-quality producers leading the charge. Some of these producers are already producing some knockout wines.

Exotic Wine Travel’s Picks:

• Bencze, ‘Kék’ 2017 – Balaton

Bencze is a small producer on the North Balaton shore. The Bencze Kék is made from the grape Kékbokator and it’s an exciting wine. The nose confuses you because it is rather shy at first with a faint amount of yeast and yellow flower. However, the palate explodes with starfruit and intense salinity. Long, citrusy finish it has Riesling-like acidity. Score: 91/100

• Sziegl Pincé, ‘Kolostor Domb’ Kadarka 2017 – Hájos-Baja

Sziegl is a small producer in the Hájos-Baja, which is not one of the more renowned regions in Hungary. We’ve been fans of their Kékfranks in the past but this is a step up in quality. The Sziegl ‘Kolostor Domb’ Kadarka is a made in tiny quantities – one barrel was produced.

There are notes of rhubarb, strawberry, pepper, and earth. This smells delicate and easy on the palate but it’s full and rich in body. The mid-palate is silky and intense while the finish is peppery and long. Only 12% in alcohol, this is downright beautiful, light red wine. Score: 93/100

• Grand vin de Barnag, Schmutzig 2018 – Balaton

Grand vin de Barnag is a tiny project started by a sommelier who produces small batches of wine in Balaton. This is Zweigelt aged in the barrel for 8 months. This is a light and earthy red wine. Notes of cherry, fall leaves, pepper, and caramel. This is a raw, juicy, and fruity natural wine. It smells like a conventional wine but tastes like natural wine. Tart acidity and low level of tannins. This is a name to keep your eye on. Score: 86/100

• Organic, Cuvée Marie Vallis Rufus 2016 – Južnoslovenská (Slovakia)

Stefan Kasynik is a wizard in Južnoslovenská (South Slovakia). Like many winemakers in the region, he identifies himself as ethnically Hungarian. The Organic Cuvée Maria Vallus Rufus is a blend of St. Laurent, Andrée, Zweigelt, Blaufrankisch, and Alibernet. Crazy blend that is crazy complex and delicious. Notes of dark berry, cedar, pepper, and dried strawberry. This is juicy, medium-bodied and crazy complex. It has a lot of ripe red fruits with a touch of French stemminess to it. Score: 92/100

*Check out our article on the Organic Cuvée Marie Vallis Albus (orange wine).

• Grál Borpince, Pelzberg 2016 – Tolna

Grál Borpince produces beautiful wines in the Tolna region, which is adjacent to the more famous Szekszárd. The Grál Borpince Pelzberg is 100% Kékfrankos. Notes of juicy strawberry, fall leaves, earth, and pepper. This wine is red fruit-driven and has tons of delicious factor. Silky mid-palate with slightly grippy tannins and a long finish. Outstanding stuff. Score: 92/100

• Ráspi, Kékfrankos Selection 2006 – Sopron

Ráspi is a big name in the region of Sopron, which is basically an extension of Austria’s Burgenland. The Ráspi Kékfrankos Selection 2006 has an incredible nose with wax, fall leaves, mushroom, red fruit, and pepper. This is a true, cool-climate red. The age has rounded the palate on this wine. The tannins are developed and the wine has a beautiful spiciness to it. Long finish. Score: 92/100

• Stumpf, ‘Nagy-Eged Cuvée’ Cabernet Franc Merlot 2015 – Egér

Stumpf Pincészet is a small producer in Egér constructing exciting wines with the help of Master Sommelier John Szabo. They producer several red wines from the Nagy-Eged Cru including a Bikavér, Kékfrankos, Pinot Noir, and this cuvée. The Stumpf ‘Nagy-Eged Cuvée’ Cabernet Franc Merlot is darker and richer than their other reds. It has a core of dark fruit that is held together with a tight frame of acidity and fine tannins. It’s got a subtly spicy finish. I prefer their other reds a tad more but this is still a delicious wine. Score: 90+/100

• Királyudvar, Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2000 – Tokaj-Hegyalja

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

Királyudvar is one of the legendary names in Tokaj and their 6 puttonyos is well regarded. The Királyudvar Tokaji Aszuú 6 Putonyos 2000 is dark in color from the bottle age. It has notes of caramel, lemon, natural gas fall leaves, coffee, and citrus peel. The wine is nutty, full-bodied, and rich. It’s an old-school Tokaj with a long and fiery finish. Score: 95/100

Bonus Vin Jeune

• Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot, Château-Chalon 2008 – Jura (France)

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

Ok ok, the Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot Château-Chalon is not a Hungarian wine. This is a French wine from the Jura and a marvelous one at that. Vin Jeunes are wines aged under a thin layer of bacteria (flor) like Sherry. This has notes of almond, pear, white apple, caramel, and pepper. It’s unique and full-bodied with lots of nuttiness on the palate. This complex wine finishes long and salty. The Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot Château-Chalon is a true meditation wine. Score: 96/100

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Thank you to KönyvBár & Restaurant who provided the tasting. Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Hungarian Wine: A Walk On The Wild Side appeared first on Wine Travel.

Tokaj is one of the world’s legendary wines, known as the wine of kings and king of wines. When it comes to sweet Tokaji, the Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos is often the crown jewel in most producers’ portfolios (in addition to Tokaji Eszencia). These wines are so intense and unique, they feel almost medicinal when drinking them.

This type of wine is made by using grapes infected with botrytis, which are shriveled and intensely sweet. The sweetness level of Tokaji was traditionally measured by how many baskets (puttony) of botrytized berries were added to the base wine. A Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos traditionally took six puttony of grapes to achieve the proper level of sweetness. The botrytized grapes aka Aszú berries are picked by hand, making these wines labor-intensive.

Most people associate Tokaj with Hungary and for good reason. If you’ve ever had the chance to sip on a sweet Tokaji, it was most likely from Hungary. A little-known fact is that this luscious sweet wine is also made across the border in Slovakia, where it’s known as Tokajský Výber 6 Putñový.

Slovak Tokaj

A small part of Tokaj falls within the borders of modern-day Slovakia. The existence of Slovak Tokaj is highly controversial and Hungarians have disputed Slovakia’s use of the name to the EU. Pushing politics aside, both sides of Tokaj show similarities.

The first and foremost is the volcanic soil. Slovak Tokaj producers possess long cellars that tunnel through the volcanic tuft. These cellars are humid and have the perfect conditions for the black cellar fungus Racodium cellare, which feeds off evaporated alcohol and keeps the air free of musty smells.

Many of the grapes are used on both sides of the border (Furmint, Hárslevelü/ Lipovina, and Sárgamuskotály/Yellow Muscat/Muškát žltý). The Hungarian side also has unique grapes like Kabar, Kövérszőlő, and Zetá. We haven’t come across these in Slovak Tokaj, although there could be small isolated plantings.

Info poster by WineSofa.eu

There are over 900 registered hectares of vineyard space in Slovak Tokaj but many claim that less than 50% of that is actually planted. Slovak Tokaj consists of seven villages as opposed to 27 in Hungarian Tokaj. There are seven larger producers in Slovak Tokaj in addition to several small, garage wineries.

Slovak Tokaj Nomenclature

WineSofa has put together an info poster to explain the different styles of wine in Tokaj. Winemaking laws are very similar in both parts of Tokaj. The nomenclature in both sides is different, which should be no surprise because the Slovak and Hungarian languages bear no resemblance to each other.

Here are terms that appear on Slovak Tokaj labels.

• Tokajský = A wine from Slovak Tokaj. A wine from the Hungarian side is called Tokaji.
• Suché/Sladké = Dry/Sweet
• Samorodné = The same name as Szamorodni in Hungarian Tokaj
• Výber = Aszú, the dried grape berry affected by botrytis
• Putňový = Analogous to Puttonyos in Hungary, which are the traditional wood baskets used to collect Výber/Aszú berries
• Forditáš = Analogous to Forditas in Hungarian Tokaj. A style of wine where Výber/Aszú skins are reused to make a second batch of sweet wines. Similar to the ripasso method in Italy.
• Výberová Esencia = Analogous to Aszú Eszencia, which is a style that was officially discontinued in Hungarian Tokaj. It’s sweeter than Výber Putñovy wines, yet lighter than an Esencia wine.
• Esencia = Eszencia, the free run juice from Výber/Aszú berries. It runs strictly from the weight of the grapes and is collected via a tap at the bottom of a tank.

Tokaj: Differences in Style

Hungarian Tokaji might be more user-friendly to most of the wine drinking public. Wine geeks will probably be intrigued by the sweet wines from Slovak Tokaj, aside from the uniqueness factor. Among the wines of Slovak Tokaj, the Tokajský Výber 6 Putñový is sure to peak interest. 

There are some obvious differences in the styles between sweet Hungarian Tokaji and Slovak Tokajský. In general, the sweet Tokajský wines from Slovakia are more oxidative and “old-school” in style compared to Hungarian Tokaji. The sweet Slovak Tokajské wines are nuttier with toffee-like notes, similar to Tawny Port. What the wines share with their Hungarian counterparts is the fiery acidity that wipes the palate clean.

Slovak Tokajský Výber 6 Putňový 

We have included all producers of 6 Putñový wines in Slovak Tokaj with the exception of Chateau Vecsey – who chose not to show their wines. Chateau Grand Bari is another new project in the region but they have yet to release a Tokajský Výber 6 Putñový to the market. Unfortunately, these wines are not heavily exported, which means you will have to visit Slovakia to pick them up. 

• Chateau Viničky Tokajský Výber 6 Putñový 2009

The Chateau Viničky Tokajský Výber 6 Putñový 2009 is widely available in Tesco outlets throughout Slovakia. This wine has notes of dried apricot, walnuts, almonds, and lime skin. Very sherry-like on the nose. Concentrated on the palate. It’s rich with nutty flavors. The acidity isn’t searing like normal Tokaj but it is high. Natural gas and citrus-like finish. It isn’t the most complex wine in this style but it is delicious. Score: 88/100

• J&J Ostrožović  Tokajský Výber 6 Putňový 2003

J&J Ostrožović is one of the biggest names in Slovak Tokaj. It’s still owned by the founder, Jaroslav Ostrožović. Jaroslav produces many different wines, including a reductive fresh style of sweet Tokaj, but he still prefers to make the traditional Tokaj wines.

The J&J Ostrožović Tokajský Výber 6 Putňový 2003 has a golden amber color. With 160 g/L of RS and 13 g/L of acidity, it’s aged for five years in the barrel. Layers of fall leaves, apricots, orange peel, and tobacco make up the complex flavors. The wine is rich on the palate with fiery acidity and a spicy finish. Score: 93/100

• Tokaj & Co. Tokajský Výber 6 Putñovy 2006

Tokaj & Co. is another one of the big boys on the market. Their wines can also be found easily in Tesco outlets throughout Slovakia. The Tokaj & Co. Tokajský Výber 6 Putñovy 2006 is a blend of 65% Furmint, 25% Lipovina, and 10% Yellow Muscat. This was aged for eight years in the barrel and 180 g/L of RS. Wax, fall leaves, lemon, and apricot notes dominate the flavor profile. It’s rich and luscious on the palate, which includes lots of aged notes. Fiery acidity and a long finish. Score: 90/100

• Tokaj Macik Tokajský Výber 6 Putňový 2006

Jaroslav Macik is a traveling man. He can be seen judging at various competitions over Europe. His wines are also the only Slovak wines currently displayed at La Cité du Vin in Bordeaux. The Tokaj Macik Tokajský Výber 6 Putňový 2006 is made with a base of Samorodné wine, unlike most other sweet Tokaj wines that use fresh, dry wine as a base.

It has flavors of pumpkin spice, orange peel, and dried apricot with a touch of fall leaves. This is aged under a thin film of bacteria called flor. This is a unique style, it isn’t as full bodied as normal 6 Putñový wines. The wine is lighter on its feet with a lovely freshness. Score: 90/100

• Zlatý Strapec Tokajský Výber 6 Putňový 2009

Zlatý Strapec is a gem of a producer. Their wines aren’t present much on the market and most of their business comes from selling bulk wine from the tap to the locals. However, their Tokajský Výber wines can be stunning.

The Zlatý Strapec Tokajský Výber 6 Putňový 2009 is orange and amber in color. Charred wood, orange peel, nuts, and dried apricot dominate the palate. With 160 g/L of RS, it’s rich and concentrated. This has many layers of flavors. It’s chewy and has an impeccable balance for a wine of this sweetness. Fiery acidity and a long finish, both staples for the sweet wines of Tokaj. Score: 92/100

You may also enjoy:

Slovak Tokaj: A Forgotten Region
Hungarian Wine: The Legendary Tokaj Region
Return To Tokaj

The post Slovak Tokaj: Tokajské Výber 6 Putňový appeared first on Wine Travel.

Hello! Welcome to As Drunk by Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature interesting wines that we encourage you to seek out. The reviews featured in this series may be written by either one or the both of us. The featured wines can be from obscure or well-known wine regions. We hope that these wine recommendations will keep you gastronomically curious and your palate invigorated!

Wine Not!?

There are few wine bars that really impress us, but Wine Not!? in Bratislava, Slovakia is an exception. The minute we stepped into the bar Charine exclaimed, “let’s skip the hotel and sleep here.” The bar has over 1000 labels to choose from and they focus on wines from the former Austro-Hungarian empire. There is also a heavy focus on Italian wines.

The selection of international wines is great, but it’s the selection of Slovak wines that get us really excited. There are more than twenty producers present, some of which are extremely hard to get. Including the Organic Cuvée Marie Vallis Albus made by Štefan Kasynik.

Organic Cuvée Marie Vallis Albus 2015

The village of Strekov sits in the Južnoslovenská (South Slovakia) wine region. It’s a village near the border of Hungary and most of the people are ethnically Hungarian. It has become the epicenter of natural winemaking in Slovakia. We visited in the winter of 2017 and came away impressed with the wines. The region has patches of volcanic soil and a moderating influence from the nearby Danube River. South facing slopes in the region allow enough sunlight to ripen red varieties, which can be a challenge in Slovakia.

One producer we did not visit was Organic Winery. It’s s a small winery making minimal intervention wines. Organic Winery isn’t heavily marketed and it seems like only the wine insiders in Slovakia know about the wines. Wine Not!? was kind enough to open a bottle for us.

The Organic Cuvée Marie Vallis Albus 2015 is a blend of Pinot Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Welschriesling, and Muškat Moravsky. It’s an orange wine (amber wine) made without added sulfites.

The wine has notes of apricot, yellow flower, honey, and citrus peel. This has a chewy texture and low level of tannins for a macerated white wine. It’s clean and not oxidized – which can turn many people off when it comes to orange wines. It’s very good vino and is knocking on the door of greatness, if the finish was a tad longer it would move up to levels of rarified air. We can’t wait to taste more wines from this producer’s portfolio on our next trip to Slovakia. 

Score: 90/100

(You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.)

The post Organic Cuvée Marie Vallis Albus 2015 appeared first on Wine Travel.

Hello! Welcome to As Drunk by Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature interesting wines that we encourage you to seek out. The reviews featured in this series may be written by either one or the both of us. The featured wines can be from obscure or well-known wine regions. We hope that these wine recommendations will keep you gastronomically curious and your palate invigorated!

Vinocentrum Wine Bar

Braño Bahna moved to Svätý Jur about fourteen years ago. He decided to set up a wine bar called Vinocentrum which would serve wines only from the village. The problem is that very few were bottling their own wine. Nearly every producer in the village made wine. but for their own consumption with friends. Braño set out to change that.

Now Vinocentrum has over 100 wines in stock and pours 16 different wines daily, all from the village. Every year Braño and his wife travel around the wine world, bringing back wines for all the local producers to taste. When we visited, he had recently returned from Alsace, France.

We got the chance to spend two evenings in the wine bar. Both nights were packed. “Everywhere I travel around the world, I’m looking for a wine bar like this,” Braño said of Vinocentrum. Vinocentrum is fun and unpretentious. It’s full of antique furniture, photos of Braño’s family, and wine books written in several different languages.

If you’re in Bratislava, the village of Svätý Jur is only a 15-minute train ride away. It’s worth the trek to make it to this place. Who knows, you might bump into Braño himself. FYI, Vinocentrum also makes a great cup of coffee with beans from a local roaster.

Braño Bahna Veltlín 2017

Braño Bahna Winery is located in the village of Svätý Jur. He farms three hectares of vineyards organically and produces less than five thousand bottles of wine per year. Braño is very dedicated to low impact in the vineyards, even in a wet summer like 2018, he refused to spray.

This year downy mildew hit his vineyards hard, like in most of Europe. However, Braño isn’t discouraged. He does what he can each year and the labels he produces depends on the vintage.

Braño had just bottled some of his 2017 whites when we visited and the Veltlín is our favorite. The Braño Bahna Veltlín 2017 sees two days of skin contact. It’s fermented with native yeasts and spends the rest of the time in stainless steel until bottling. Flavors include lime, grass, and a touch of green herbs with some oxidation from the skin contacts. Tangy with bright fruit. Chewy texture with a bright fruity finish, it doesn’t have the searing acidity that can be common in the region. Beautiful and easy to drink for this style of wine.

88/100 (You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.)

@branobahna is an easy subject to shoot. There’s this innate joy about him that comes through the photos. #BranoBahna first commercial vintage was 2003. Today, he makes around 5,000 bottles every year. The white wines are made from grapes from his own vineyards, which are planted with vines that are 40-45 years old. The red grapes are bought. All of his wines are made with spontaneous fermentation with no temperature control in the cellar. Braño was very kind to open some of his archive wines and I enjoyed plenty. For his current release, I am particularly fond of his Veltlín 2017. It has good fruit concentration on the front palate and finishes fresh with acidic strength and mineral undertone. There’s a hint of sweet brown apple, but I won’t consider the wine oxidized or over-macerated; the characteristic actually helps to balance out the precise lime note of the wine. This is linear, refreshing #GrunerVeltliner that shows extra flesh because of 2-day skin contact. #summerready #svatyjur #slovakwine #travelstory #drinkadventurously #travel_captures #wineroad

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Aug 12, 2018 at 1:11am PDT

 Braño Bahna and Vinocentrum provided accommodation for our visit. The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. 

The post Braño Bahna Veltlín 2017 & Vinocentrum appeared first on Wine Travel.

Hello! Welcome to As Drunk by Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature interesting wines that we encourage you to seek out. The reviews featured in this series may be written by either one or the both of us. The featured wines can be from obscure or well-known wine regions. We hope that these wine recommendations will keep you gastronomically curious and your palate invigorated!

Golguz, Cuvée Premium 2015

We first got a taste of Golguz at the Wine Museum in downtown Bratislava, also known as the Národný Salón Vín Slovenskej Republiky. When we visited in the winter of 2017, a Golguz Rulandské Modré (Pinot Noir) 2015 caught our attention. It’s made from late harvest grapes and retains the beautiful fruit and earthy undertones we expect from Pinot Noir.

Our friend and Slovak wine writer Tibor Vittek told us, “this wine is from Hlohovec, which we call little Burgundy because it’s an excellent area for the Pinot varieties.”

Fast forward eight months and we found ourselves at Golguz winery during our ten-day re-tour of Slovak wine regions. We arrived in Hlohovec after a five-hour drive from Slovak Tokaj, we were met by the assistant oenologist and house sommelier. After exchanging quick pleasantries, we jumped right into tasting from the tank and bottle.

Golguz has 200 hectares of vineyards in Hlohovec but only produces around 200,000 bottles per year – the rest of the grapes are sold. The vineyards surround the town of Hlohovec and are located within the Malokarpatská (Little Carpathian) wine region. Drinking through their wines, it’s apparent that their vineyards give good fruit. All of the wines show a ripe, luscious fruit note that isn’t always found in the Small Carpathian region.

We’ve been pleased with nearly every wine we have tasted at Golguz. Surprisingly, it’s a red that sticks out to us the most.

The Golguz Cuvée Premium 2015 is a blend of Alibernet, Dornfelder, and Cabernet Sauvignon aged in oak. The Cuvée Premium bottling is not produced every year and the blend changes depending on the vintage. It’s dark and rich on appearance but medium bodied and juicy on the palate. Nice combination of black and red fruit with a touch of oak and capsicum notes. Smooth mid palate with lots of fruit and chewy tannins. It has a little savage note that we liken to Carignan, which probably comes from the Alibernet. Low in alcohol at 12.5% and tons of fun to drink. 

88/100 (You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.)

Penzión Jašter

We have to enthusiastically mention Viecha Jašter. It’s a local restaurant that has recently opened up a guesthouse. The owner, Paolo, produces his own wine and is the president of the local wine association.

It was the most comfortable accommodation we stayed in during our recent trip to Slovakia. The rooms are spotless and close to the level of a 4-Star Hotel. We also ate several meals there and the food is hearty and honest. Thanks to Viecha Jašter for having us!

Golguz and Viecha Jašter provided accommodation for our visit. The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. 

The post Golguz Cuvée Premium 2015 appeared first on Wine Travel.

Hello! Welcome to As Drunk by Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature interesting wines that we encourage you to seek out. The reviews featured in this series may be written by either one or the both of us. The featured wines can be from obscure or well-known wine regions. We hope that these wine recommendations will keep you gastronomically curious and your palate invigorated!

Tokaj & Co. Tokajský Výber 5-putňový 2003

We came across the damp and moldy cellars of Tokaj & Co. during a trip to Slovak Tokaj in the winter of 2017. While Tokaj is synonymous with Hungarian wine, there is a small portion (around 10% of the total vineyard space) of Tokaj located in the southeastern part of Slovakia. Tokaj & Co. is the oldest producer in Slovak Tokaj and was a state-owned company during the Czechoslovakia period. During the summer of 2018, we returned to the cellar.

Putñovy is the Slovak word for Puttonyos, used in Hungary. These sweet wines are made by soaking (macerating) shriveled grapes affected by noble rot (botrytis) into a base wine for a period of time and then pressing the juice – like steeping a tea bag and then pushing out the water with a spoon. The shriveled grapes (called cibébový in Slovakia and aszú in Hungary) are hand-picked late into the season.

Samorodné is the Slovak term for Szamorodni, used in Hungary. These wines are made by harvesting whole bunches of grapes (bunches with normal and shriveled grapes), vinifying them and then aging the wine in oak. It can be made into a dry or sweet wine depending on the vinification.

Tokaj & Co. Tokajský Výber 5-putňový 2003

The Tokaj & Co. Tokajský Výber 5-putňový 2003 is a blend of 65% Furmint, 25% Lipovina (Hárslevelü), and 10% Yellow Muscat. The wine has 130 g/L of RS and is matured seven years in the barrel. Tangerine, fall leaves, mushroom, and sweet tobacco make up the flavor profile. Candied fruit on the front palate is shocking but the finish is full of lemon, gas, and fiery acidity. It is fruity on the front and serious on the back.

4.0/5

Tokaj & Co. Dvojka Samorodné Sladké 1990

We have tasted this wine twice. The first time was our visit to the Tokaj & Co. cellars and the second time was a thorough tasting of the whole bottle. I have enjoyed this wine since the first sip but Charine took some time to warm up to it. When I opened this sample for the second go-round, Charine was drinking a Pinot Noir that she loves. After sniffing my glass, she exclaimed “WAAHHH” and immediately poured out the Pinot Noir and helped herself to a glass of this wine.

The Tokaj & Co. Dvojka Samorodné Sladké 1990 is a blend of 65% Furmint, 25% Lipovina (Hárslevelü), and 10% Yellow Muscat. This is technically a 2 Putñovy wine with 50 g/L of residual sugar and was aged four years in oak. Flavors include mushroom, fall leaves, apple cider, and dried apricot. This is uber complex and smells like Sherry but tastes like a true Tokaj wine with the vibrant acidity. It’s nutty and citrus on the finish. It’s a wine for geeks, a drink to meditate with. 

You can see Charine’s take below:

(You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.)

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Tokaj & Co. provided samples of the wines for this article. The opinions expressed are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. 

The post Tokaj & Co. Dvojka Samorodné Sladké 1990 & Tokajský Výber 5-putňový 2003 appeared first on Wine Travel.

Slovakia lies near the northernmost latitude of where wine grape growing is feasible in Europe. Within the country, the Malokarpatská (Small Carpathian) region is where the most northerly located vineyards are. With this in mind, one might think that only white wines are made here… Think again.

The most regarded area for red wine production in Slovakia is Južnoslovenská (South Slovakia) especially near the villages of Strekov and Mužla. During our second trip through the wine regions of Slovakia, we found a number of well-made and delicious red wines from the north. Terra Parna and Magula wineries are located in the village of Sucha nad Parnou. Their wines show that high-quality reds can be made in the Small Carpathian region if the right grapes are planted.

The village of Zemianske Sade lies 30 kilometers to the east of Sucha nad Parnou. The vineyards here also lie within the Small Carpathian region. Here Slobodné Vinarstvo produces fine minimal intervention red wines.

Magula

Vladimír (Vlad) Magula and his family farm eight and a half hectares of vineyards in Sucha nad Parnou. They are a certified Eko and Bio producer. Some of their vineyards are brand new and the existing ones have low yields, so the family’s current production is around 15,000 bottles per year. They produce minimal intervention style white wines from Central European grapes like Devin, Grüner Veltliner, and Welschriesling and reds from Frankovka Modrá (Blaufränkisch), Dunaj, Portugieser, and Rosa.

All Vlad’s wines are made with native yeasts and are not fined nor filtered. They are chewy wines with generous texture. Magula does produce a few whites, oranges, and a beautiful light red called Carboniq, but we feel more passion in his reds made from Frankovka Modrá. Vlad took us through his first ever vertical tasting of his Frankovka Modrá (2017 & 2016 barrel samples and 2015-2011 from the bottle). The wines showed consitency throughout the board.

Exotic Wine Travel’s Picks

• Magula, Frankovka Modrá 2011

This 2011 vintage of Magula Frankovka Modrá won a gold medal at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles competition. It’s the virgin harvest from this vineyard. Flavors include red fruit, spicy, fall leaves, and white pepper. It’s medium bodied with a good balance of fruit and tertiary notes with developed tannins. This wine doesn’t have a ton of life ahead of it but it sure is fun to drink now.   4.2/5

• Magula, Frankovka Modrá 2012

The Magula Frankovka Modrá 2012 has flavors of sour cherry, raspberry, cedar, and earth. This wine is ripe and concentrated for this grape, thanks to the warm vintage. It is aged for 24 months in oak. There is wonderful texture in this wine. It’s juicy with layers of nuances – it is a serious red wine with a peppery finish. It’s one of the top Slovak reds we’ve tasted, it also happens to be one of the most age-worthy too.   4.3/5

• Magula, Frankovka Modrá Unplugged 2015

This is a full throttle, minimal intervention wine that wasn’t touched by electricity or machinery of any kind. It’s made with whole cluster fermentation. grapes for the Magula Frankovka Modrá Unplugged are foot stomped and juice was moved with hands and gravity. The wine is aged for 24 months in bottle. Spicy notes of cherry, raspberry, and brambleberry make up the flavors. It’s medium bodied and juicy in style with good fruit intensity and a long, pleasant finish.    4.2/5

Terra Parna

Across the village from Magula is Terra Parna winery. The two are good friends but farm and make completely different styles of wine. Terra Parna produces classic, conventional wines that focus on precision and balance. Joseph Zvolenská and his daughter Ivana head up the production of around 35,000 bottles per year from six and a half hectares of vineyards.

Stepping into the winery, you can tell that Terra Parna is focused on giving a wow experience to guests. The tasting room is bright and the windows give wide views of the gently sloping vineyards. This family-owned estate produces user-friendly whites from the likes of Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc, but it’s their reds from Svätovarinecké (St. Laurent) and Alibernet that caught our attention. 

During our visit, Terra Parna assembled a vertical tasting of their Svätovarinecké from the bottle (2008-2013). We had a hard time assessing the wines at first because they were unlike any St. Laurent wines we’ve come across. These examples are bigger and beefier versions of the grape yet don’t suffer from over-extraction. Here are our two favorite vintages. 

Exotic Wine Travel’s Picks

• Terra Parna, Svätovarinecké 2012

This tastes totally Italian thanks to the generous acidity. The Terra Parna Svätovarinecké 2012 has notes of rubber, tobacco, black cherry and a touch of soil – like an aged, lighter style of Chianti Classico. The wine is aged for three months in French oak and is medium bodied and juicy with a silky mouthfeel. It has a long finish with developed tannins. This is an outstanding effort and one of the finest Slovak reds we’ve tried.   4.3/5

• Terra Parna, Svätovarinecké 2013

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Terra Parna Svätovarinecké 2013 is the current release on the market. It’s aged in French oak for three years before bottling. The wine has a true grapey flavor with additional notes of cherry, cedar, and a touch of smoke from the barrel. It’s a denser, more serious St. Laurent with a lot of barrel influence. Fruity finish with soft tannins.   4.0/5

Slobodné Vinárstvo

Just south of the town of Hlohovec is where you can find the family farm of Slobodné Vinárstvo. It’s a family run affair that produces around 30,000 bottles per year from 17 hectares of vineyards. Some of the vineyards are recently planted and not currently in production. The farm doesn’t consist solely of vineyards. There are an additional 300 hectares planted with various crops. We arrived just in time for the poppy seed harvest.

We spent a full day with proprietors and sibling-in-laws Mišo Kuropká and Agnes Lovecká. Mišo’s wife and Agnes’s partner also take part in the vineyards, winemaking, and marketing of Slobodné Vinárstvo. They make a wide range and one of their wines were featured in Simon Woolf’s book Amber Revolution. We found ourselves drawn to their two reds Partisan Cru and Alter Nativo.

The wines of Slobodné have found a nice niché for themselves on the export market. This means you should be able to find them in specialty wine shops, focusing on natural wines. We’re fond of their whole portfolio, but these are our favorites.

Exotic Wine Travel’s Picks

• Slobodné Vinárstvo, Partisan Cru 2015

The Slobodné Vinárstvo, Partisan Cru 2015 is the current release on the market. It’s a blend of Frankovka Modrá (Blaufränkisch), Alibernet, and Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 18-20 months in used oak. Beautiful red fruit notes with fall leaves and spiciness sit on a medium-bodied frame. It has good oak integration, Charine says it’s pretty darn close to smelling like a Bordeaux. Drinkability is off the charts and it’s very food friendly.   4.2/5

Check out Charine’s take on the 2012 vintage (also delicious) in the video below to see what the Partisan Cru label looks like. She also describes what the grape Alibernet actually is and where it comes from.

• Slobodné Vinárstvo, Alter Nativa 2014

The Slobodné Vinarstvo Alter Nativa is made from 100% Blaufränksich aged for one year in amphora and then another year in oak barrels. Notes of volatile acidity combined with fresh red fruit, spice, earth, and fall leaves make it feel very Frenchy. The 2014 Alter Nativa is rich and concentrated compared to other vintages of this wine, which is surprising considering the tough, rainy year. It’s round on the palate with multiple nuances of flavor and a long finish.   4.2/5

The photo below is the 2015 vintage (which is also delicious) and the label is the same as the 2014.

(You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.)

Magula, Slobodné Vinárstvo, and Terra Parna provided two nights of accommodation for us to visit. Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Fine Red Slovak Wines Defying Latitude appeared first on Wine Travel.

Hello! Welcome to As Drunk by Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature interesting wines that we encourage you to seek out. The reviews featured in this series may be written by either one or the both of us. The featured wines can be from obscure or well-known wine regions. We hope that these wine recommendations will keep you gastronomically curious and your palate invigorated!

Hacaj Cuvée De Prestige Brut Nature 2014

The city of Pezinok is nestled in the heart of the Malokarpatská (Little Carpathian) wine region. The town is surrounded by rolling hills and prime vineyard space. There are dozens of producers in the village, making wines ranging from old-school and traditional to modern and clean.

Hacaj is the only producer in #Slovakia that focuses on #sparklingwine—that’s interesting and perhaps a tad weird to me since Slovakia offers excellent conditions for growing grapes with high acidity. Mr Ján Hacaj’s first commercial vintage was 2000. Today, he works with 5 hectares of #vineyards in the Small Carpathian #WineRegion and makes around 15,000 bottles of traditional-method sparkling wines each year. All riddling is done by hand by Mr Hacaj. I am particularly fond of his top bottling called the “Cuvée de Prestige 2014 Brut Nature”. Tasting notes will be posted on Facebook.com/exowinetravel. #slovakwine #winetrip #drinkadventurously #wino #winestagram

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Aug 9, 2018 at 8:32am PDT

Our one week stint through this region yielded many gems. We found one of those in a small cellar in downtown Pezinok. In this humble cellar, Jan Hacaj produces around 15,000 bottles of sparkling wine. annually. Mr. Hacaj produces all his sparklers with the Champagne Methode. He does nearly everything by hand. There aren’t any fancy riddling machines here and his disgorgement equipment is small and unremarkable.

We’re usually not satisfied with Champagne Methode sparklers in emerging wine countries. There’s a good reason why Champagne is the benchmark for sparklers. For some reason, I trusted Mr. Hacaj would make good wine from the moment I met him. There was something calm and confident about the way he walked around his cellar.

Mr. Hacaj started the tasting with his top wine, which was an interesting choice. As we sipped on the wine, he told us about his latest trip to Champagne and how he was inspired by the small producers. In the future, he’s confident that his sparklers can reach even higher levels of quality. From the lineup we tasted, he’s already doing a fine job.

This is Hacaj Cuvée De Prestige Brut Nature 2014 is made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir aged on the lees for three years. By Slovak law, this wine is a Pestovateľský Sekt, which translates to Winegrower’s Sekt – the highest class of sparkling wine in the country. The wine has notes of white pear, melon, brioche, and oak. The flavors have a Champagne-like quality without the flintiness, fine bubbles, and searing acidity. It isn’t as rich and complex as vintage Champagne but it doesn’t have to be, it is delicious in its own right. The Cuvée De Prestige is very balanced for a brut nature and never feels too dry on the palate. 

4.0/5 (You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.)

You might also enjoy: 

Video: Exotic Wine Travel In The Small Carpathians, Slovakia

Notes:
– Thank you ivan Záleský of www.kamzavinom.sk for organizing the visit to Hacaj Winery.
– The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers.

The post Hacaj Cuvée De Prestige Brut Nature 2014 appeared first on Wine Travel.

Slovakia is at the northernmost reaches (latitude) where grape growing is possible. The grape growing regions are in the south of the country between the latitudes of 47.5N and 48.5N. In other words, it’s pretty cold in Slovakia for growing wine grapes.

Despite the challenges, there are some excellent wines being made in the country. One area that wineries are excelling at is sweet wines. Slovakia has a small part of the Tokaj region within its borders and those wines need no introduction. Sweet wine production isn’t limited to Slovak Tokaj. There are a number of delicious sweet wines being made in all wine growing areas of Slovakia.

After two intense weeks of tasting throught he country, you can see a few of our favorite sweet wines below.

Sweet Slovak Wine Labeling

Slovakia has adopted Austria’s Predikat labeling system for quality wines with residual sugar.

Late-Harvest: Neskorý Zber

Auslese: Výber z Hrozna

BA/Beerenauslese (Berry Selection): Hrozienkový Výber

TBA/Trockenbeerenauslese (Dried Berry/Noble Rot Selection): Cibébový Výber

Ice Wine: Ládové Vino

Straw Wine: Slamové Vino

Our Thoughts

We were very impressed with the ice and straw wines throughout Slovakia. These wines were all well made and offered exceptional value for a low price. Check out more of our thoughts on the sweet wines of Slovakia in the video below (~ 8 mins).

Exotic Wine Travel’s Picks

(You can find out more about our scoring system on the START HERE page.)

• Château Belá, Veltlínské Zelené Ládové Vino (Ice Wine) 2006

The Château Béla Veltlínské Zelené (Grüner Veltliner) ice wine is an exceptional wine. Full of mango chutney, fresh cut grass, dried fig, and mineral flavors. The aged notes of petrol and fall leaves come into play as well, the list of flavors goes on and on. It’s rich, complex, and thought-provoking. A great dessert wine from a fantastic vintage. Château Béla is owned by the famous German producer Egon Müller.   4.5/5

• Château Belá, Alibernet Ládové Vino (Ice Wine) 2012

Do you want a completely different sweet wine experience? Then try the Château Belá Alibernet ice wine. It has red raspberry, forest strawberry, tomato, and blood orange flavors. This has high acidity and has a red fruit and orange peel finish. This is one of the most intriguing sweet wines that we’ve come across. It gives you unexpected flavors and makes for a marvelous drinking experience.    4.3/5

• Château Rúban, Milia 2017

Château Rúban is a new project in South Slovakia. They have state of the art winemaking facilities and a beautiful guesthouse. They purchase all of their grapes. The Cháteau Rúban Milia has 36 g/L of RS making it medium sweet. This grape is a cross between Müller Thurgau and Traminer. It has flavors of green apple, white flower, and pineapple. Floral and fruity with crisp acidity. It’s a refreshing sweet white wine. This is a crowd pleaser that everyone will enjoy.    3.7/5

• Château Topol’čianky, Rizling Vlašsky Ládové Vino (Ice Wine) 2016

Château Topol’čianky is one of the big players in Slovak wine. They produce a large portfolio of wines, spanning from inexpensive retail wines all the way up to premium wines. Their sweet wines were outstanding for wines priced below 15 Euros. The Château Topol’čianky Rizling Vlašsky (Welschriesling) ice wine has notes of grass, melon, cantaloupe, and minerals. This is syrupy on the palate and rich in flavor. Acidity could be a touch higher but this is still high-quality ice wine.    4.0/5

• Chateau Topol’čianky, Palava Slamové Vino (Straw Wine) 2008

The Château Topol’čianky Palava ice wine is made from a grape cross of Gewürtztraminer and Müller-Thurgau (similar to Milia). It has flavors of petrol, honey, dried apricots, and fall leaves. This is uber complex on the palate with toffee flavors and finishes with a fiery, lemon finish. The mid-palate needs a little more umph, which keeps it from reaching higher levels.    4.2/5

• Frtus, Milia Hrozienkovy Vyber 2015

Rado Frtus has put substantial investment into rejuvenating his family’s vineyards and producing quality wine. He is already producing wines of good quality and we have no doubt he will be an outstanding producer in the coming years. This is his best seller, the Frtus Milia has over 100 g/L of sugar. Lemon, white peach, and white pear. It is sweet but not clumsy on the palate due to the high amount of acidity. The finish is fresh and lemony. It’s a wine that is not difficult to understand and is very delicious.    3.9/5

• Karpatská Perla, Dílemúre Aurelius TBA 2013

Karpatská Perla (Carpathian Pearl) is one of the largest producers in Slovakia. They produce a wide range of quality wines and their sweet wines really pop. This grape is a cross between Neuburger and Riesling.

The Karpatská Perla Dílemúre Aurelius is a TBA wine affected by botrytis. It has 100 g/L. Fall leaves, apricots, honey, and lemon. The acidity keeps this wine very fresh on the palate. It is more citrus fruit driven than honey. Medium finish for a sweet wine. This is 10% ABV.    4.2/5

• Karpatská Perla, Pálava Slamové Víno (Straw Wine) 2011

The Kárpatská Perla Pálava is a straw wine (made from dried grapes). It’s golden in color with flavors of green herbs, yellow flower, and white peach with a touch of fall leaves. Full of 200 g/L of RS. This is fresh and herbal. Despite the vintage, this sweet wine has resisted aging, it could go on for much longer. Fresh and delicious, but luscious on the palate.    4.1/5

• Trnovec, Rulandské Biele Ladové Vyber (Ice Wine) 2016

Trnovec is a small producer near the city of Nitra. They are famous for their Pinot Blanc (the grape is called Rulandské Biele in the Slovak language. The Trnovec Rulandské Biele is an ice wine with 160 g/L of RS. Clear notes of white pear, hazelnut, and green apple. This is rich and dominated by white fruits with a limey finish. Good value for money.    3.7/5

The Trnovec Rulandské Biele Ice Wine 2013 vintage from the Trnovec Facebook page.

Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers.

The post Nine Sweet Slovak Wines appeared first on Wine Travel.