Malatinszky Wine Estate: Hungary

MALATINSZKY WINERY

Csaba Malatinszy is a former sommelier at Gundel, one of Budapest’s finest restaurants. He also opened one of the first fine wine stores in Budapest, featuring wines from Hungary’s finest winemakers. Having established his winery in 1997, he is a relative newcomer to Villány, but his wines have established themselves as among the finest in Hungary. Csaba is dedicated to making big, refined and concentrated wines that are approachable and capable of extended cellar time. His premium wines don’t typically reach good drinking potential until spending 4-5 years in the bottle. He pays meticulous attention to detail, even choosing the Hungarian oak that goes into the barrique barrels he uses. Csaba currently has 27 hectares (67 acres) under cultivation. Visitors to Villány can visit and tour Malatinszky’s winery, and taste his delicious wines.

MALATINSZKY WINES:

Cabernet Franc Unfiltered Series. Made from premium grapes and only in excellent vintages, this is the Malatinszky flagship wine, and one of Hungary’s finest examples of this grape’s potential. This wine is a fruit bomb, but with elegance and structure, massive aromas and tastes of berries, plums, currant, and subtle hints of oak. This is a big wine capable of long cellaring. 500 cases made per year.

Cabernet Sauvignon Unfiltered. This classic wine is showing only a portion of what is has to offer, but is excellent nonetheless. Inky black color, with masses of berry, violet, mint, mineral and cherry characteristics, this is a full bodied wine with tons of velvety tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Made from the finest grapes only in good years, this is a structured, fruit forward wine with the acidity and tannins in balance to enjoy a long life of cellar time. 500 cases made per year.

Noblesse Chardonnay. A massive, gorgeous, structured wine. Subtle aromas of fruit, mineral, honey, spice and dried herbs. Loads of butter and pear notes on the palate kick into high gear in the mid-palate, turning rich and opulent with a long aftertaste. Seamless in structure and texture, this wine can hold well for several more years in the bottle. 500 cases made.

Noblesse Pinot Noir. Marked by mint and sage notes, the core of cherry and plum flavors, this wine is intense and concentrated, slowly weaving through the firm tannins. Finishes with dashes of blackberry and spice. A few more years in the bottle will do this wine very well. 500 cases made.

Noblesse Cabernoir. A great blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir. This is a robust wine, softened at the edges by the finesse of the Pinot Noir. A flexible wine that works well with a variety of settings.