Sebestyen Mozaik bikaver 2019

The Mozaik Bikavér from the Sebestyén estate comes from the hillsides of Szekszárd in southern Hungary, one of the country's historical cradles of red wines. The vines are planted in soils that blend loess, clay, and sandstone layers, providing good drainage and ensuring even ripening of the grapes. The moderate continental climate, influenced by the proximity of the Danube Valley, favors balanced reds that are both ripe and fresh. The plots are spread across several hills within the appellation, allowing for the blending of different expressions of the terroir in this cuvée.

The grapes for this cuvée are hand-harvested on the slopes of Szekszárd, then destemmed before fermentation in tanks. Each grape variety is vinified separately to preserve its individual character. Maceration is conducted gently to extract color and tannins, with regular pump-overs. After malolactic fermentation, the wine is aged in oak barrels, a combination of larger and larger vessels, to refine the structure, impart subtle spicy notes, and preserve the fruit's freshness.

This wine reveals notes of ripe red and black fruits, complemented by delicate floral touches and spicy nuances reminiscent of pepper and licorice, underpinned by a light oak character. On the palate, it is supple, with fresh acidity, fine, polished tannins, and a medium-length finish that lingers on sweet spices and juicy berries , offering a harmonious and approachable whole.

It was the Romans who planted the first vines at a time when the Country was part of a region called Pannonia. It was at the dawn of the 18th century that Hungary, united with Austria, ensured the export of its most famous wine throughout Europe: Tokaj (from the Furmint grape variety). As throughout Europe, in the 19th century, viticulture was destroyed by phylloxera. During the communist period, vineyards were managed in cooperatives which guaranteed a stable income for wine producers. Quite a few small winegrowers were unable to keep up with this growing economy, so the Hungarian vineyard was restructured, losing 30% of its surface area in the process. Nowadays, many family estates have emerged, some of which produce wines of incredible quality. As everywhere in Europe, viticulture is in decline as part of the European restructuring plan for the wine industry. Hungary, which is at the same latitude as Burgundy, has a continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. The rainfall is sufficient for non-irrigated viticulture and the soils are heterogeneous and of high quality depending on the region. With around a hundred indigenous and international grape varieties, the country has good varietal diversity. The fürmint and the hárslevelű from the Tokaj region, vinified dry and at the origin of the great sweet wines of Tokaj, are undoubtedly the best-known varieties today. The most widely planted grape variety is Olaszrizling for whites and Kékfrankos for reds. International grape varieties, mainly Bordeaux grape varieties, flourish in particular in the south of the country where they produce high-class wines.