PALYA
HUNGARY | MÁTRA
Mátra is an iconic volcanic wine region just an hour's drive from Budapest towards Tokaj in the Northeast part of the Country. Home to Julcsi and Balázs and their biodynamic vineyards of 1 hectare in the village of Szücsi.
An extremely humble, super passionate winemaker couple with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Julcsi brings in the calmness - having grown up in a family of winemakers and Balázs as an engineer, the eye for detail and the desire for innovation. Like yin and yang, they are balancing each other and quickly becoming the new faces of the region.
After a few trials, they released 2020 as their first vintage. In the cellar everything is done by hand, let it be de-stemming, pressing, racking or bottling. They don’t use fining, filtration or sulphites either. The results are not only, among the cleanest and purest of natural wines I’ve ever tasted, but they also bring a deep sense of place with.
I am beyond excited to see what the future holds for them and it is a great pleasure to share it with you.
A full-bodied red, packed with blackcurrant and red berries paired with Christmas spices a hint of pencil shaving, black pepper and forest floor. Super concentrated and rich on the palate with round tannins, great depth and a very long finish.
Winemaker | Balázs Palya
Region | Mátra
Vintage | 2020
Variety | Blaufrankisch
Viticulture | Biodynamic practices
Soil | volcanic
Altitude | 200m
Age of the vines | 30
Bottles made | 900
Vinification
The grapes were hand de-stemmed and fermented in open vat fermenter for 10 days with very gentle punch down. The juice ages in Hungarian oak barrel and fibreglass for 10 months before it is bottled without fining, filtration or the addition of sulphites.
2021 was a very warm and dry year resulting wines with more colour depth and crunchy fruit.