Fresh and fruit-driven, this young Kékfrankos opens with bright notes of raspberry, damson, and wild herbs, lifted by a touch of black pepper. The palate is light, juicy, and effortlessly drinkable, carried by a vibrant acidity that gives the wine its signature energy. There’s a purity and delicacy here that is unmistakably István — a gentle hand guiding a vivid expression of Badacsony’s volcanic soils. A joyful, elegant red that remains wonderfully approachable while hinting at the potential of this young vineyard.

Winemaker | István Bencze

Region | Badacsony, Hungary

Variety | Kekfrankos (Blaufrankisch)

Viticulture | Biodynamic

Soil | Volcanic Basalt and Clay

Altitude | 130 m

Age of the vines | 5 years

Bottles made | 3000 bottles

Vinification

This wine comes from the second harvest of a young 2017 plantation, composed of three Kékfrankos clones: the Austrian A4, the Ruszt-based Triebaumer selection, and a clone selected by the Szentesi–Losonci partnership. After a mid-September harvest, the grapes were hand-destemmed and fermented on the skins for eight days with extremely gentle extraction before being pressed in a pneumatic press. The wine was aged in two third-fill 228 L French barrels for 10 months, then bottled directly without fining, filtration, or the addition of SO₂.