Bull’s Blood 2016 Chateau Niagara

Bull’s Blood 2016 Chateau Niagara

Today’s wine is Bull’s Blood 2016 Chateau Niagara. A red wine made in the Hungarian tradition of winemaking. Several weeks ago I did a review on Jim’s Cabernet Franc that did not disappoint at all. It was a beautiful NY State wine. As you know from my last review of their wine  Chateau Niagara is a small vineyard that Jim and Kathy Baker dreamt of until it became a reality in June 2006. It is family owned and family operated. That is when they purchased 31 acres of prime farmland in Newfane, N.Y. in the Niagara region and began growing high-quality vinifera wine grapes. Varieties include well-known wine grapes Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and  Bleaufrankish as well as some exotic varieties- Saperavi and Turan.  These grapes are part of long-term effort to create very innovative wines as well as classic styles interpreted with a sense of the Niagara Lake Plain influence. Bull’s Blood 2016 Chateau Niagara

Bull’s Blood the wine.

Egri Bikavér or Bull’s Blood is a traditional Hungarian wine with its roots going back recorded as early as the beginning of the 19th century in Eger.

According to legend, the name originates from the invasion of Suleiman the Magnificent around 1552.

“To motivate and support the small group of soldiers during the Siege of Eger castle they were served delicious food and a lot of red wine. Among the Turkish soldiers, it was rumored that bull’s blood was mixed into the red wine, as otherwise the strength and firm resistance of the town and castle of Eger could not be explained. Finally, the enemy gave up”.

Officially Egri Bikavér must contain at least three of the following 13 grapes:

Bíbor Kadarka, Blauburger, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Kadarka, Kékfrankos, Kékoportó, Menoire, Merlot, Pinot noir, Syrah, Turán, Zweigelt.

This wine

Jim chooses to use Cab franc, Blaufrankisch, and Turan grapes for his Bull’s Blood 2016 Chateau Niagara . We all know Cab Franc but I’ve not heard of the other two.

Blaufrankisch which is also known as modra frankinja, Lemberger, Blauer Limberger, Frankovka (Franconia), Kékfrankos, Gamé. is a dark-skinned variety of grape used for red wine. Blaufränkisch, which is a late-ripening variety, produces red wines which are typically rich in tannin and may exhibit a pronounced spicy character.

The Turan is an interesting grape. Turan is a dark-skinned variety of red wine grape that hails from the region of Hungary. Apart from Hungary, this red wine grape variety has success across the areas of Atlantic region as well as North America.

In these particular regions, this variety of red wine grape is termed and addressed as Agria. This red wine grape variety is the result of the crossing that was once performed in between a number of obscure grape varieties of Hungary in order to turn towards the creation of a grape which is deeply pigmented and fleshy. Because of this reason, this red wine grape variety is considered as a member of the gradually expanding family of grapes known as teinturier grapes. It produces a bright red juice used to enhance the colors of wine. 

What I found

After giving the wine time to breath, I poured a glass. It has a bright burgundy color with pronounced legs running down the glass. Nice and clear. The nose is that of cherry, oak, and violets. Very pleasant indeed. I served it at room temp approx. 70 degrees. It is a nice medium bodied wine with flavors of  Cherry, floral, white pepper mixed with toasty oak. The tannins and acidity are in harmony with one another. The finish is long and dry floral.

I paired it with Jerk Chicken, rice and beans and cooked cabbage. We drove 20 miles to get this Jamaican delight because they know how to cook it. All I can say is wow! This wine complemented the food so well. Contact Jim at Chateau Niagara for this Bull’s Blood 2016 Chateau Niagara and his other wines, you won’t be disappointed! 

Yahoo until next week! Be safe,

Cheers, Lew