Origin  Hungary  Eger
Grape  Kekfrankos  Merlot  Cab Franc  Syrah  Pinot Noir  Menoir
Style  Medium bodied dry red

Best Hungarian Winemaker 2009 Winner Best Bikaver
The St Andrea winery was established in 2002 and came to life after being granted an allocation of land on the great Nagy-Eged, a volcano-like hillside that soars above the rolling agriculture.  It is  arguably the best wine producing region in Hungary if not all of Middle Europe, not only for its soils, position and elevation above sea level but it's more than that, to have a small plot here is to accept a vinous challenge, people will expect great wine to come from it.   Many of Hungary's great vineyards were left to rack and ruin after the Russian invasion during the Second World War and the landowners stripped of their estates.  These estates have been gradually rebuilt and and there is a real resurgence of quality winemaking many of the best of today's winemakers such as Andrea and Gyorgy Lorincz  at St Andrea were guided and influenced by the great Tibor Gal, one of the most respected on Hungarian winemakers.
So what does the wine taste like?  It has a very Pinot Noir textural element to it, it is very approachable and tasty with lots of flavours happening at once.  The choice of so many varities was no accident, Gyorgy knew that traditionally wines of Eger used many different grapes.  The wine has good movement around the palate, always a good sign, with good balancing tannin.  They suggest it is for keeping and I'm sure it will get better with cellaring, but it is a pleasure to drink now.  13 months in oak.