Villa Tolnay

NÉVTELEN CUVÉE

2020

Villa Tolnay is located at the foot of the volcanic Csobánc hill, on the northern shore of Lake Balaton in western Hungary. The ancient volcanic soils and primeval sediments of the former Pannonian Sea give the wines an unmistakably volcanic expression, with distinctive minerality and vibrant acidity.

This is a Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend that needs no name — hence “Névtelen” (the “Unnamed”) Cuvée. The grapes were picked by hand. After destemming and a quick press, the wine was spontaneously fermented with native yeasts in aged 4000 L steel/ceramic tanks. Fermentation was on the lees. The wine was then aged and underwent malolactic fermentation for an additional 10 months in 500 L barrels.

Rich with ample volcanic minerality and spice, the wine has aromas of black cherries, cinnamon and eucalyptus, with tobacco and sour cherries on the palate.

From Wine Enthusiast: “Dark garnet in the glass, this wine has blackberry, clove and black olive paste aromas. Flavors of cassis, purple plum, dark chocolate, butterscotch, aniseed and dried thyme are wrapped in a cloak of pliable tannins that start out superlight, slowly build in volume, and then drift off to leave a note of toffee on the palate.” (94 Points, December 2023)