Szentesi – Rajnai Rizling, 2007
I just finished off this bottle, left over from before yesterday. I don’t usually keep the bottle open for so long (why would I?), but after 2 days uncorked the wine’s still very good.
This Rajnai’s color is quite dull. But the nose is quite not so much. It’s salted chalky-mineral character is charming, with almond-marzipan notes and a veggie stock accent. Well rounded on the palate, a bit sweet (it’s semi-dry after all) with very subtle acidity which will be more accentueted after 2 hours. Full-bodied but light, elgant but it has a character too – a quite mineral one, with very ripe apple and hints of pear. Soft, silky texture, thirlling. Surprisingly short length. Mature wine, probably at its best.
Score: 6+/7
Price: HUF 3 500
Categories: Szentesi Pincészet
Tags: Fair price, Rajnai rizling
Comments: 4 Comments.
Does “Rajnai’ denote a place-name or what does it mean?
I’m enjoying a ‘Pannonhalmi Apatsagi Pinceszet 2007 Rajnai Rizling’ with my lunch today and have very limited previous experience with dry Hungarian wine, but it’s winning my firm approval!
Hi Ed,
Rajnai means “from the Rhine”. The common explanation for the name is that it’s aiming to distinguish the global varietal (Riesling, best known as a varietal from the Rhine valley) from Olaszrizling whose free translation is “Italian Riesling” which is a very widely known and widely produced varietal in Hungary. As a matter of fact most Hungarians still use the term Rizling (i.e. Riesling) for Olaszrizling.
There must be a more reliable source to explain the history of the convention but from consumer perspective the important is not to mix up Olaszrizling with Rajnai Rizling, as most Hungarians usually do.
The Riesling you had today is a good one indeed, but perhaps you should try another Apátsági as well from the not too far Somlói Apátsági Pince.
In spite of Riesling (aka Rajnai Rizling) is capable to produce excellent wines in Hungary (north and south alike!, take Szabó Zoltán’s) it’s still relatively rare.
Thanks!
‘Rhine Riesling’ is one of the terms used in the US for this grape, so that translates directly. (Sometimes White Riesling or Johannisberg Riesling).
I didn’t know it, thanks for that!
I’m currently drinking a Pinot Noir from Pannonhalmi Apátsági so I searched my notes and here’s what I found: a review of the Rajnai Rizling 2007 (I’m not sure if you’d found it).
