Kiralyudvar, Henye Pezsgo, Tokaj

Interesting wine. Cooked apples on the nose which makes it a great Fall wine. Basically an apple-forward Champagne but without forgetting it was made in Tokaj which is known for dessert wines, as is the Furmit grape this is made from. In fact, this sparkler is a great dry one for desserts because it tricks your nose into expecting sweeter while actually being dry.

This was a bottle of a case from The Rare Wine Company, curated for holiday drinking . If you are not familiar with RWC, I urge you to visit their website and sign up for their newsletter. RWC specializes in aged Barolo and Madeira -- and by aged I mean decades to centuries old. Want a Madeira from your birth year? Or a 1945 Barolo? Visit RWC. They often offer very interesting wines at approachable prices. Who would think of …

I’m not a champagne drinker, usually I don’t like sparkling stuff at all, so I’ve got to be honest about not really having a context here. However, I will have to say that this was nothing short of amazing. Not sure how it should be called as it is made with champagne technique but is obviously not from Champagne but from Tokaj so it cannot be officially called a champagne. The background to it is that Tokaj Kiralyudvar owner Anthony …

Interesting and educational, how often you get to try a spelling wine from Hungary, and from the same grapes used in Tokaji? The wine is very fruit forward, in fact it reminded me of some Spanish cider, Sidra, as it had some apple notes on the back palate. Do not expect any of the yeasty or extra dry characteristics of Champagne.

Very quaffable with yeasty notes, balanced sweetness and nutty pleasingly bitter finish.

The nose is nice, but then overall it is quite off balanced between the acidity and sweetness. Gotta choose your side. Not my style.

A very unique sparkling. A slight bit of aldehyde on the nose but it worked well with the style. Some bits of tropical fruits, fresh baked bread and some minerality on the nose. Very nice acids and no noticeable RS. This was a winner for just about everyone involved and one I'd surely pick up again.

Tasted blind. Nice fresh nose with apple and honey. More lemon on the palate with a rather acidity and a touch of bitterness and hazelnut. Balanced with small bubbles. Very agreeable to drink. Guessed a sparkling vouvray/CB.

Nice richness and a hint of sweetness from this dry sparkeling. Has some unusual herbal components that go very nicely with foods.