…so no ! And less when I talk of Etyek area. Located about an hour by bus on the west of Budapest, it’s picturesque, quite and a tad of melancholic. The,way to Etyek’s “borok” !

 

 

 

 

 

Well, after an uncertain arrival in the village and a valued helping from a resident to find out about the wine-growers, I was stunned when I saw the Etyeki Kuria Estate: the building is really modern, ad makes a big contrast with the landscape and the willage…more rustic. Comfortably placed, I taste two range entry colours: the “cuvées” Kuria. The white, from the “small princess” (Kyralyleanika) and Pinot Gris, offers a pleasant flowery nose but a lack of length and body. Why not for an pre-dinner but no more…But I would choose it more easily than the rose, without interest. A bit of fruits, a disturbing high acidity, let’s go for the red ! Here, the 100% Pinot Noir is a gem ! An intense ruby colour with explosive red fruits, and a whirlwind of raspberry very elegant worthy of Grace Kelly, in these time of Cannes’ festival ! The last impression is the good one, so I keep a great memory…even if the owner oozes a bit much of business. To follow this same way, I wanted to see the most famous  producer (Argentine) of this region: Haraszthy Estate. His Cinnamon Restaurant is famous and the surroudings really class. est très connu et le cadre très classe. Unfortunately, in a booming wedding preparation, I didn’t have the right to taste.

 

 

 

 

 

It doesn’t matter, soemeone advised mean other estate, with a simple surroundings and a warm welcome. I was able to confirm by myself: Hernyak Estate. Hosted by the sweet Vali Hernyak and her mascot Bejo (her french bulldog), here too the family is in the booming wedding preparation. But it doesn’t prevent her to make me a visit of the estate, to discuss and to do a taste of her Chardonnay, goes with a delicious pogaca. This traditional bread perfectly accompanies the fat Chardonnay, a flowery acidity and a well found balance. I regret not to stay more, because the welcome and the surroundings are incredibly quite and warm !

After this round, a small break to the restaurant, to taste a national plate based on gnocchi and beef meat with sauce (sorry, I forgot the name… ) but I remember the white wine: the Sir Irsai, from the Haraszthy Estate (the Argentine), which I couldn’t taste. The blend Irsai Oliver, Chardonnay and Kyralinka gives a lemon-green wine with a nose which always reminds the Gewurztraminer but the palate clearly is more flowery, even metal. It’s not my favourite but is still fresh and elegant (not like Grace Kelly that time but more Brigitte Bardot at the end of her career.. ). Well, the night falls, so back to Budapest to end the day with sweet wines, which made the celebrity of the Hungarian wines…