WineLovers Discussion Group

An assortment of wines from today's tasting from Cafe Europa Imports. It's always good to try some new varietals, even if I can't pronounce them.
NV Foss Marai Prosecco Extra Dry (Veneto)
11.5% small bead, lemon pith, creamy, slightly off-dry. Nice
2004 Hilltop Neszmely Craftsman Királyleánka (Nesmély Region, Hungary)
11.1% Full muscat floral nose with a surprisingly rich body with viognier-like floral and peach flavors, ending with muscat on the dry finish.
2004 Domaine Moillard Vox Populi Chardonnay (Dealu Mare, Romania)
Rich, light oak, decent enough for chard.
2003 Hilltop Neszmely Craftsman Falconer’s Cuvée (Nesmély Region, Hungary)
12.9% merlot, cab sauvignon, pinot noir, kékrakos. Nice dark fruit aromatics with the slightest hint of oak, big dark fruit flavor, powerful/chewy tannins. Not bad at all. Why there is pinot in this mix, I have no idea.
2002 Maddalena Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles)
13% Very good cab flavor. Ripe fruit nose with modest oak, medium body, huge fruit flavors with some mocha notes. Very chewy tannins and a long finish.
2005 Anne Amie Cuvée A Amrita (Willamette Valley, Oregon)
12% Müller-Thurgau based off-dry wine. Nose is a bit flat and it has an odd bitter finish.

Bill Buitenhuys wrote:2004 Hilltop Neszmely Craftsman Királyleánka (Nesmély Region, Hungary)
11.1% Full muscat floral nose with a surprisingly rich body with viognier-like floral and peach flavors, ending with muscat on the dry finish.

Bill, Hungarian Muscat table wines are among my all-time favourite white wines. This particular wine has not made it to Ontario, although I have regularly bought many others that have shown the exact qualities you mention.

Whoever said that Muscat (or aromatic whites for that matter) have to be sweet? Dry and aromatic - this is a truly workable style, and it's one that I greatly enjoy.

I wouldnt rush out to buy this one, Paul. It's interesting from an educational perspective but other than an unexpectedly rich body it didn't seem to have a lot going on. But being that it is indeed aromatic and dry, you may want to test drive it yourself.