Bordeaux Fans This Hungarian Blend Is A Treasure

Recently, we came across a wine that amazed us on many levels. It was the 2003 Takler Regnum Proprietor's Reserve, a Bordeaux blend out of Hungary.

Why were we amazed? First, this delicious red has a healthy dose of award winning Cabernet Franc - and not the lighter more feminine Cabernet Franc like the wines of Chinon, but the concentrated and multi layered Cabernet Franc that produce famous reds like Chateau Cheval Blanc and Pavie. Second, the wine drinks with power and finesse with the breeding to age gracefully. Third, and maybe even more interesting, was that this world class wine was produced in Hungary.

Ferenc Takler was voted "Winemaker of the Year" in 2004 in Hungary and Saveur Magazine recently featured him by proclaiming his unrivaled greatness in Central Europe. Additionally, in a recent blind tasting by The Hungarian Wine Quarterly, nine Cabernet Francs from Hungary, France and Italy were compared. The final order of the tasting panel ranked Takler Cabernet Franc Proprietor's Reserve 2003 as the #1 wine, beating out its better known rivals from St Emilion and Chinon. The 2003 vintage is a blend of 37.5% of that same fantastic Cabernet Franc, 37.5% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Kekfrankos, an indigenous grape of Hungary. All these grapes are from old vines and all are from ultra low-yields. Total production of this special wine is approximately 800 cases, of which a mere 250 cases were exported.

Enjoy with game and beef as well as any pastas with a rich, meaty sauce. Decant for your pleasure now, or let sit for a decade if you choose.