Bencze Birtok, Pinot Noir 2022

Situated near Lake Balaton on the basaltic Mount Szent György, are the sloping vineyards of the Bencze Birtok estate. Founded in 2011, initially as a more personal experimentation project, István Bencze cultivates 20 hectares of both newly planted and old vines in partnership with nature. The overarching drive of the project is to reflect the terroir through native and forgotten Hungarian grape varietals. Wild yeasts drive spontaneous fermentation, and the wines are produced without sulphites or filtration with a focus on ageing in various clay amphorae. Entry-level in price but by no means character, Pinot Noir 2022 is harvested from a single plot planted in 1999 on basalt-clay soils. 20% of the berries are directly pressed by feet in whole bunches, while the remaining are destemmed. Skin fermentation then takes place for 10 days in open oak vats before ageing in stainless steel. Deep in colour and phenols with an astringent redcurrant nose and notes of fresh wild strawberries, rosemary and rhubarb. Slightly effervescent and super juicy with a bloody undertone, this has big ageing potential. Pinot Noir 2022 would pair well with any wild game dish and woodland berries.