A feather-light yet deeply expressive Kadarka, capturing the delicate beauty and natural tension of this famously challenging grape. The nose opens with lifted red berries, sour cherry, and rose petals, intertwined with subtle spices and a gentle earthy note. On the palate, the wine is bright, juicy, and wonderfully transparent, its naturally low tannins carried by vibrant acidity and the mineral drive of Szent György-hegy’s volcanic basalt. Raspberry, cranberry, and strawberry tones unfold with hints of exotic spice and a touch of botrytis-derived intrigue — a hallmark of true Kadarka. Graceful, aromatic, and irresistibly drinkable, this is István’s most poetic interpretation of the variety.

Winemaker | István Bencze

Region | Szent György-hegy (Badacsony area), Hungary

Variety | Kadarka

Viticulture | Biodynamic (organic certified HU-ÖKO-02)

Soil | Basalt, clay, forest soil, sand & calcareous bedrock

Altitude | 135–184 m

Age of the vines | Planted 2020 & 2021 (massal selection)

Bottles made | 300 bottles (plus a few magnums)

Vinification

Kadarka — thin-skinned, fragile, and irresistibly charming — demands meticulous selection. The 2023 vintage was harvested in two passes, on 11 and 22 September, with every cluster individually evaluated. Roughly ¼ of the perfect fruit was hand-destemmed or used as whole clusters and fermented directly in stoneware amphorae. The remaining ¾were foot-crushed, settled overnight, and fermented separately in stainless steel. After six days on the skins, the pressed juice was transferred to a 228 L French oak barrel and topped up with the amphora-fermented portion. The wine matured for 11 months, and was bottled in August 2024, unfiltered, unfined, and with no added SO₂.

An exquisitely fragile variety turned into a wine of purity, spice, and quiet depth — perfection found in imperfection, as true Kadarka should be.