Wine Lovers' Page: Hungary vs Italy "Shootout"

Today's Wine Tasting Note

Hungary vs. Italy 'Shootout'

Faced with an unknown Hungarian red and a recent release of an old Italian favorite, I decided to put them up against each other in a double-blind "shootout" tonight. The results? No clear winner. They're both good wines of good value, quite different in style. Nothing the matter with a bout that has no loser! Here's the tale of the tape ...

Peters' Hill 1995 Bátaapáti Special Reserve Mócsényi (Hungary) Superior Quality Dry Red Wine ($5.99)
Clear garnet color. Caramel and black pepper aroma, very spicy, with a unique and distinctive aroma of paprika (yes, I know it's a Hungarian wine, but I swear I am not making this up). Ripe red-fruit flavor, fresh and tart. Interesting, balanced and fruity table wine, with 35% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% the Hungarian red grape KＬfrancos in the blend. Importer: Premiere Wine Merchants, NYC. (June 28, 1997)

Taurino 1993 Salice Salentino Riserva ($6.99)
Dark ruby in color. Black-fruit and spicy oak aromas; full, plummy fruit flavor, soft and seemingly almost sweet at first tasting, but lemony acidity builds structure as the wine crosses the palate. Simple, mouth-filling fruit; good table wine. Importer: Winebow Inc., NYC. (June 28, 1997)

All my wine-tasting reports are consumer-oriented. In order to maintain objectivity and avoid conflicts of interest, I purchase all the wines I rate at my own expense in retail stores.

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