Description
Though Eger has long been known for its red blends, since 2010 winemakers have been attempting to breathe new life into the region’s whites with the new Egri Csillag blend. What is Egri Csillag, and what makes it peculiarly Hungarian? It’s a complicated and potentially very variable blend based on Carpathian-basin varieties, such as Olaszrizling, Hárslevelű, Leanyka, Királyleányka, Zengő, Zenit, and some Hungarian crossings. There are many possible directions winemakers can go with this wine, but generally it should be fruity and floral, but not too aromatic, with no single variety dominating. The wine should show the essence of the fruit and the terroir. This Egri Csillag Superior from the Tóth Ferenc Winery is a blend of five different varieties, harvested from two vineyards—the Marinka and the Almagyar. The wines were aged separately before blending. The Olaszrizling, Hárslevelű, and Rajnai Rizling wines in the blend were aged in 500 liter barrels for five months, while the Leányka and Királyleányka were stainless steel-fermented and aged. Egri Csillag can come in three levels (which signify quality and style), and this Superior is the middle level. It is a complex, yet refreshing, and fruity wine, which is well-worth tasting. It is a perfect pair for a variety of cheese and pasta.
