Description
Dr. Géza Balla is an iconic figure in the Hungarian-Romanian wine scene, and his wines are very popular in Hungary. Balla is usually mentioned among the best winemakers of Hungary (he is an ethnic Hungarian), even though he produces wines just across the border, in Romania (in the Minis region). In 2018, he became the first non-Hungarian born winemaker to be named “winemaker of the year,” an important honor in Hungary. He is currently dean of the winemaking department of the Sapientia Transylvanian Hungarian University, and he is also a member of the Hungarian Wine Academy. Sziklabor translates as “stone wine,” and this is the highest quality level that the Balla Géza winery produces. The name is inspired by the vineyard—a very rocky and warm place, which is ideal for ripening the red varieties, such as this Feketeleanyka (called Feteasca neagra in Romania). This single-vineyard wine comes from the low-yielding Rokagodor plot. It was spontaneously fermented and aged in 225 liter oak barrels for one and a half years. It is a rich, complex, and age-worthy wine (15 percent alcohol). It has concentrated aromas of black fruits, currants, tobacco, and cocoa. Decanting this wine is encouraged.
