Kovacs Nimrod Monopole 777 Pinot Noir 2017

Kovacs Nimrod Monopole 777 Pinot Noir, Eger, Hungary, 2017 

Grape: 100% Pinot Noir (Using Dijon Clone 777 which has a notable fruity character) from vineyards in Nyilasmár (granite & volcanic soils) and Nagyfai.

Tasting notes:

Fragrant sandalwood and herbal medicinal notes follow through into cherry, wild strawberry, raspberry and pepper spice aromas. Gentle characters of leather and tobacco also add complexity to this intriguing Pinot. Moderate tannins with good body. The long ageing in oak barrels gives this wine a velvety and round finish making it very moreish.

The Kovács Nimród vineyards are farmed with minimal intervention and primarily planted with Burgundian Northern Rhone varieties. These vines feel very much at home in the Egar as it is located on a similar latitude to that of Burgundy, and thanks monks from Burgundy planting vines in this area centuries ago, the area has grown into a world class wine producing region. KNW have three vineyards including Nagy Eged (Eger) and Nyilasmár (Noszvaj) - both classified as ‘Grand Cru’ and incorporating around 10 and 8 hectares respectively, and Nagfai - 12 hectares of ‘Premier Cru’ vines also located in Noszvaj, one of the major wine growing districts of the Eger region situated just 8km outside the main town. This particular wine is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes exclusively selected from their Noszvaj vineyard sites of Nagyfai and Nyilasmár Monopole. The wine has been aged in 70% Hungarian and 30% French oak barrels for 15 months (30% are new barrels). Production is just over 5,500 bottles.

"I prefer this to the 2016. Fresher, more elegant, longer. Delicate alpine strawberries, cranberry and redcurrant fruit slips into the fine-textured tannins like long legs into custom-fit leather trousers. The texture of fine clay and a touch of tobacco. Winemaker Istvan Polyak reckons this needs about five years of ageing before it’s ready, but I'm not sure I completely agree. It's already lovely and drinking well, although it will develop over the next three years or so. Lots of potential here." 16.5/20 points, Tamlyn Currin, jancisrobinson.com, October 2020.

Also awarded "Silver Medal" in the Concours Mondial Bruxelles in 2020.

Food match: 

Rare, spring lamb; mushroom risotto; duck.