Bencze Aries Dancing on the Flor

Vintage: 2021

Origin: Badacsony, Hungary

Grapes: Riesling

Alcohol: 12.5%

István Bencze crafts this singular Riesling from the estate’s oldest vines, planted in the 1970s on the dense volcanic basalt soils of Badacsony. Hand-harvested whole bunches are gently pressed directly into terracotta amphorae to ferment naturally. The wine is then left to age undisturbed for an incredible 4.5 years under a delicate veil of flor (a natural yeast layer, similar to Jura's sous voile ageing). It is bottled unfined, unfiltered, and with zero added sulphur.

Golden and complex in the glass, it opens with white peach, apricot, and jasmine, alongside developed notes of wet stone, light nuttiness, and salty chalk from the flor. The palate is rich and creamy yet retains a piercing, electric Riesling acidity that cuts right through the oxidative depth, finishing long and intensely saline. A must-try for Jura lovers, it pairs brilliantly with aged hard cheeses, roasted pork belly, or rich mushroom dishes.