Zelna Barka Balaton 2022  £22.52

Zelna Barka Birtok Sorozat (Estate Series) 2022

The history of the family winery began in 2014 with a few hectares of vineyards. Since then, in their modern cellar, they have been making wines from two Balatonfüred and one Balatonszőlős vineyard, from a total of 15 hectares, strictly organically, practising sustainable farming.

In addition to Olaszrizling, the most important variety of the Balatonfüred-Csopak wine region, Kekfrankos, Merlot and Zweigelt provide the basis for their varietal wines and blends, but they are constantly experimenting, learning and updating their plantations so that they can show with their wines not only the character of the region and the varieties, but also what they think about their environment and the world.

They do not have decades of experience or generations of winegrowers behind them. Still, they have an enthusiastic and persistent professional team with whom they get to know the potential of their plantations better every day.

Barka comes for the Farko-Ko vineyard in Balatonfured and is an elegant and complex Hungarian red wine with a more pronounced proportion of Kékfrankos (over 40%), Cabernet Franc, Merlot and, as a new addition, Syrah. It was fermented with organic yeast in tanks for two weeks on the skin then aged in 225- liter, medium roasted, used barrels from Zemplén and Mecsek for almost a year before being bottled. It is vibrant, with a good structure and fruity character. In its aroma, the aromas of red berries and forest fruits come to life, with a hint of cherries and a touch of spices. On the palate, fruitiness dominates, yet it remains lively, and elegant, with just the right body and notes of coffee and chocolate with silky tannins.

Perfect with pizza, hard cheeses or pork dishes.