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On 17th June, we were pleased to welcome Darren Kirkham who with his Slovakian wife, Lucia, have founded an import and distribution company called The Naughty Grape. 

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Their retail premises are in Gypsy Hill, Streatham and they supply mostly to the restaurant trade. 

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Darren presented 9 wines from 6 different wine producing regions of Slovakia, mostly from the South and western parts - with the exception of Tokaj, which ancient brand it shares with Hungary. 

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Most wines were blends of two or three grapes, many of which were new to western European palates and very tasty too.  

Darren was an excellent presenter and his knowledge of the wines was most impressive.

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These are the wines we tasted, with a brief description for each.  

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All were highly rated by club members.

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1. Vino Matysak -Sekt Brut  2019  (from the Small Carpathians region) 12.5% £18.46
A method traditional Chardonnay sparkling wine. A good match for any Cava or French Cremant. The wine spends 5 years on the lees which imbues the wine with rich buttery flavours with a good fruit aroma.

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2. Ch. Grand Bari (Gentleman) 2024, a dry white made from Furmint grape (from the Tokaj region) 12% £13.59
This wine spends 3 to 4 months in a mixture of Hungarian and French oak (older barrels).
The wine is med straw, with a fresh, appley nose. Fresh and round on the palate with light acidity. Good with cheese or light meats

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3. Habsburg - Rulandske Sede 2023 a semi sweet Pinot Gris  (from the Small Carpathians region). 14%  £13.44.
Aged on the lees, without oak very dry (residual sugar 7.5g/l). Dark straw colour, honeyed on the nose. the palate suggests sweetness despite it being a dry wine - good balancing acidity. A buttery wine similar to a Vouvray from the Loire

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4. Vino Matysak Breslava 2022, (from South Slovakia) 13%  £14.34
A blend of Breslova and Gwertztraminer with two other grape varieties in the mix (Chasselas and Santo Maria Maltara) 
Dark straw in colour, with a honeysuckle nose. A smooth, fruity delicious dry white. A perfect aperitif.

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5. Zlaty Roh 2021 A Gruner Veltliner (Veltliske Zelene)  13% £17.96
This is an oak aged, bio-dynamic wine from the Golden Horn winery.
Med straw but with a cloudy apperance (not fined or filtered). The wine is fresh with a good fruit palate balanced by a fresh acidity.

6. Fyrmonia Pinot Noir 2022.(from South Slovakia) 13%  £17.05
An excellent presentation of a barrel aged Pinot Noir, quite dark in colour. The nose gives red berry fruit, which is followed through on the palate.

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7. Pomfy Frankova Modra  2021, (from the Small Carpathians region) 13.5%  £16.19
A pleasing Blaufrankishe, medium red in coulour and showing good fruit and balance on the nose and palate.

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8. Viajur - Dunaj (Danube) Classic 2021, (frem Nitra region) 13.5%  £12.59
The Viajur grape is a cross of Muscat and Blau Portugeser
Very dark red wine, with a dark berry fruit nose. Dark fruits and mediium tannins on the palate with a long finish.
A big fruity red. Quite delicious.

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9.Ch. Grand Bari 3 putnovy, 2017 a Tokay sweety. 10%  £18.66
An orange coloured wine with distinct orange notes on the nose and palate. 78g/l residual sugar - Nectar of the Gods.

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To Waitrose shoppers they erred on the pricey side but were intriguing and very tasty. 
 
The club attendance was rather slim (was it because the meeting clashed with a sporting event?). 

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To those who didn't come, you missed a gem of an evening