Bencze Birtok, Kadarka 2023
Place: Badacsony, Hungary
Grape: Kadarka
Vibe: Natural, Juicy
Kadarka is a finicky grape you don’t see much of elsewhere, as its thin skins require expert handling at harvest. Bencze uses two separate picking dates, evaluating every single cluster individually. Talk about a lot of effort just to make 300 bottles. We have one, lol.
Feather-light, like fine Poulsard, it’s wonderfully red-fruited, spice-scented, with a faint whisper of medicinal botrytis. I’m told this is a hallmark of quality in Kadarka, though getting the balance between fruit and this character is notoriously tricky. Thankfully, this is Bencze, and you’re very much in safe hands. ABV: 11%