Troebel Wijnen
Sziegl - Bábel
Sziegl - Bábel
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The Wine & Winemaker
- Winemaker: Petra & Balázs Sziegl
- Region: Hajos Baja, Hungary
- Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Kékfrankos & Olaszrizling
The Story
We travel onward to the famous cellar village of Hajos, a surreal landscape featuring over a thousand wine cellars dug straight into the sandy hills. This is where we find Petra and Balázs Sziegl. This young couple started in 2012 with literally nothing: just one tiny parcel and a borrowed barrel. Through incredibly hard work, they now own several hectares which they farm completely organically and by hand. Their philosophy is pure and simple. No additives, no makeup, just the vineyard speaking. Everything they make breathes curiosity rather than strict rules.
The Vibe & Tasting Notes
The Bábel is a chillable red wine with fantastic attitude. The structured Cabernet Sauvignon and the local Kékfrankos provide a base full of juicy cherries and fine spice. But the real trick is the tiny splash of white Olaszrizling added to the blend. This keeps the wine incredibly lifted, juicy, and bright. It is a wine that absolutely does not take itself too seriously, which is exactly why it is so charming. Drink it slightly chilled for maximum crushability.
Why natural wine costs more, and why it’s worth it
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No shortcuts
Growers who refuse pesticides and chemical additives accept that they’ll lose a significant part of their harvest to weather, disease, and unpredictable nature, but they do it to keep their wines pure, alive, and honest.
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Risk and loss
Nature swings between plenty and scarcity; frost, hail, heat and ferments can erase volumes, fewer bottles must carry the farm’s costs, with ageing measures adding expense to keep the wine clean and true over time.
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Integrity and handwork
Hands replace chemicals: they weed, manage canopies, pick, and sort by hand; presses and gravity moves protect texture, while cleanliness and patient ageing deliver purity without shortcuts, increasing labor but preserving integrity in every bottle.
