Bussay Csókaszőlő 2023

Csókaszőlő is one of Hungary's rarest grapes, an ancient native variety that all but vanished until a small handful of producers began reviving it in the 2000s, and Bussay is one of the few to keep it going in Zala. The winery was founded in 1989 by Dr. László Bussay, a doctor who fulfilled a lifelong dream of making wine like his grandfather had; today his daughter Dorottya Bussay runs the estate and has taken a particular liking to Csókaszőlő despite its notorious disease susceptibility in the vineyard.

The grapes, named for their near-black color resembling the Csóka (jackdaw) bird, grow on the five hectare family property in Zala's rolling hills, and the wine is fermented spontaneously in open vats before aging in Hungarian oak. Expect cranberry and currant on the nose, with cherry, wild cherry spice and a whisper of smoke on the palate, finishing with real finesse and length. 750ml | Zala, Hungary