Grand Bateau red 2020 (per 6); Bottle price € 13.75

Maturation in 70% new barrels, the rest in old barrels for a period of 6 to 8 months. The combination of Merlot 80% and the rest Cabernet Franc is striking, a somewhat unusual combination but fits in with the new development of the rediscovery of the Cabernet Franc, an undervalued grape in my opinion. In any case, it is my favorite from Hungary. In taste and smell you will find pepper and also black fruit. The maker also talks about the smell of an empty cigar box. Original, that's for sure.

Price €13.75 and packed in boxes of 6

Below more about the winemaker and his background:

Bordeaux

Perhaps the most famous wine region in the world. Is that because it is the largest area on the entire planet because of those 120,000 hectares or thereabouts? Or because the English put it on the map and developed it during 3 centuries of domination. Or perhaps the favorable location on the river in terms of transport/export.

Dutch people were there for water transport to the northern parts of Europe. They also did that in the Loire. So the dominance of the Netherlands was particularly striking since they drained part of the Médoc, a swamp area, just like in the Vendée.
Napoleon ensured that the area was of course back in French hands since 1453 and that there was an official qualification in the area in 1855. Production is mainly red. Grape varieties Cabernet-Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The surfaces are quite large in contrast to Burgundy, for example. It is therefore convenient that the Merlot ripens 3 weeks before the stiff Cabernet, which makes harvesting easier.

Grand Bateau Bordeaux

This Château works closely with the famous Château Beychevelle in the north of the Médoc. This means, among other things, that the winemaker of the latter, Philippe Blanc, uses his expertise on the wines of Grand Bateau. This collaboration has been going on since 1980.