The pursuit of perfection: Sebestyén Winery created a vineyard selection of Bikavérs (Bull’s Blood)

2019 was the first year when Csilla and Csaba, the owners of Sebestyén Winery, had the opportunity to produce traditional Szekszárd Bikavérs from three different vineyards. They wanted to show how the Bikavér red wine blend could present the differences between the three emblematic vineyards. The quest started 18 years ago when they decided to work towards this unique selection of Bikavérs.

As Csilla and Csaba put it:

“It is an important milestone in our lives, resulting from 18 years of work. We aim to present the value and diversity of the Szekszárd Wine Region through three different styles of vineyard wines. Half our lives are in these three wines.

We are not a family of wine growers, so we have no inherited vineyards and wine styles. Our wine region has a centuries-old tradition of blending wines. These wines have also been called Bikavér (Bull’s blood), óvörös (Old red), and cuveé over time.

In our values, the Bikavér (Bull’s blood), a wine based on local varieties, unique in the world and not made elsewhere, has been greatly emphasized.

The first ten years were spent searching for a style, and the second ten years selecting and planting areas suitable for the style. The basic idea was conceived in 2007 to show the diversity of Szekszárd’s valleys through Bikavér.

From the many vineyards to be discovered, we selected three areas with distinctly different characteristics and thus different styles of wine, where we have planted the varieties needed to make bikavér (kékfrankos, kadarka, merlot, cabernets) over the last eleven years.

The fruits of this long labor came to fruition in 2019 when, for the first time ever, we could produce vineyard-grown Bikavérs from all three vineyards. The work and learning continue, and we will continue to do our utmost to ensure that the Sebestyén values are applied to the quality of nature’s wines and that they are as genuine as possible.

Iván-völgy (Iván Valley) vineyard

Area: 2,4 ha

In 2007, we were the first pioneers in the Szekszárd wine wegion to produce vineyard-selected Bikavér (Bull’s Blood) from the Iván Valley. This is where we had our first plantations. These are the areas closest to the cellar. This is where we live.

The loess of the three vineyards is the Szekszárd wine region’s thickest and dominant soil here. Thanks to the loess soil and the deep roots of the old vines, the wine produced here is very detailed and has a great depth of flavor.

Iván Bikavér

The refined nose of blueberries, plums, licorice, and oriental spices. Its firm acidity leads to concentrated fruitiness and silky texture. Thanks to the loamy soil and the deep roots of the old vines, the wine produced here is very detailed, with a profound depth of flavor.

Görögszó vineyard

Area: 4,8 ha

Our largest contiguous area was purchased in 2017. This purchase was the largest investment in the cellar’s history. Here, we started to cultivate the vines unconventionally in new plantings, believing that we could later work in organic farming.
The terraces, 60-70 meters wide and facing east, are well drained by the wind, which helps to prevent fungal diseases. The wines from here develop most slowly.
With its high red clay content, the loamy soil is characterized by fine-grained, ripe tannins, full character, and firm acidity. It is incredibly structured and rich in flavor, with long aging potential.

Görögszó Bikavér

Concentrated, deep blackberries and cherries aromas blend with pepper and eucalyptus aromas. Thanks to the high red-clay content of the loess soil, it is characterized by fine-grained, ripe tannins, full character, and firm acidity. Very structured and rich in flavor, with long aging potential.

Porkoláb vineyard

Area 2,6 ha

Planted in 2012 in the southwest-facing valley. Several scattered plots produce the crop. The wines from here are the fastest growing.
Its soft tannins, lively acidity, and delicate minerality, are due to the high calcareous loess-red clay soils. Elegantly light yet full-bodied, with a vibrant finish.

To reflect the characteristics of the growing areas as much as possible through our wines, we have made it a priority from the very beginning to use traditional processing (hand harvesting, hand selection, open vat fermentation, hand racking) and the use of 2od, 3ad, 4ed 500 liter Hungarian oak barrels with 2od, 3ad, 4ed fillings. The bottles are closed with an innovative and environmentally friendly cane cork.

Porkoláb Bikavér

Intense nose of cherries, raspberries, violets, and a hint of spicy acidity. Its soft tannins, lively acidity, and delicate minerality, are due to the high calcareous loess-red clay soil. Elegantly light yet substantial with a vibrant finish. “

Vineyards of Szekszárd

Iván Valley, Görögszó and Porkoláb vineyards are marked by 24, 27 and 40 on the map below. Click on the image if you can’t read! (Courtesy of Sebestyén Winery)

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Wines of Sebestyén Winery on Vinotek.hu