2020 Bott Frigyes Kadarka
Južnoslovenská, Slovakia
2020
100% Kadarka
Continental (hot summers & cold winters)
clay on top of volcanic bedrock
Half was left whole cluster on the skins for nearly a month, half was destemmed. Both fermented separately for 3-4 weeks in open vats
12.3%
2 g/l
6.65 g/l
Notes & Pairings
This is the most dark fruited and botrytis free Kadarka in the portfolio. Still late ripening and thin skinned, but half was left whole cluster on the skins for nearly a month. There’s no dominant or immediate enzymatic/carbonic quality despite the weight and color leading you to think so. The skin contact leeches out the spice and tea. It’s easy to see how a Kadarka like this would be a required blending component in Bikavér (Bull’s Blood). One half was fermented as whole bunches on the skins but the other half was destemmed. Both fermented separately for 3-4 weeks in open vats. Both lots were then combined in 500L oak barrels and aged 9 months on the lees. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. If there were a scented candle for Central European reds, Kadarka like this would be the North Star.
