The Hubers bought their first cellar in 2011, most likely to store their first wines, harvested in 2008. Since then, however, they have been expanding rapidly, opening four adjacent cellars deep underground!
János Huber is an honest man. "A cellar? Come on! I never wanted that." That's how it all started here, as it did for hundreds of other winemakers in the country who went to the vineyards with their parents and grandparents as children to hoe the vines. Then, of course, he caught the bug, the timelessness of working with grapes, the love of nature, and all he needed was good wine to justify his newly born hobby, which later became his full-time job and livelihood.
Olaszrizling third 2023 I 87 points
Medium lemon color. Intense aroma, mainly woody and spicy notes. (third-fill barrel) Medium-plus body, round acids, slight carbonation on the tip of the tongue. White and yellow fruits, a hint of butter and caramel on the palate. Medium finish with sour apple. Superb!
Szeleburdi 2023 (Olaszrilzing, Grüner Veltliner, Kövidinka, Cserszegi Fűszeres) I 88 points
Pale gold color. Sweetish, yellow-fleshed fruits, pear, apricot, sweet spices, vanilla, pipe tobacco in the aroma. Full-bodied, round acids, ripe fruitiness. Very well-balanced, with a long finish, ending with ripe sweet fruitiness and spices.
An important part of the current venture is hospitality, with a tasting room in the cellar village of Hajós. This is where most of the 10,000 bottles produced from the current 1.2 hectares are sold, and with new plantings, the small family estate will soon expand to two hectares.
Spieler Siller 2024 (Zweigelt, Kékfrankos) I 88 points
A lighter than medium cherry color, which is not surprising for a Schiller. Cherry and doughy aroma, crying out for a stifolder. Light on the palate, with round acidity, a nice tight structure, lively, fruity, cherry notes and a long finish.
Kékfrankos 2021 I 87 points
Medium ruby color. Restrained aroma with lots of red and black berries and a hint of wood. Medium body, lively acidity, nice sour cherry fruitiness, cherry pits and spices on the palate. Medium-long finish. Very drinkable.
The four cellars behind the press houses were opened up with a cross passage in 2019, and since then they have had their own labyrinth. The wines are made in one branch (and press house), aged in another, and the third is a show cellar for curious wine tourists. What else could a true Swabian dream of, right?
Minus Four 2022 (50% Kékfrankos, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Dornfelder) I 90 points
Deeper than medium ruby color. Black berries, pepper, paprika, and spices on the nose. On the palate, medium-bodied with firm tannins, but not drying, beautiful black and red berries, spices, lively acids, long finish. A very nice wine, deserving of a gold medal anywhere.
Olaszrizling second (sweet) 2022 I 92 points
Medium golden color. The aroma is rather dry, with dried fruits, raisins, peaches, and cotton candy. On the palate, it has a full body, slightly soft acids, a hint of bitterness at the end, and lots of dried fruit. A very nice wine, but when compared to other sweet wines, the balance leans slightly towards 101g/l sugar. Nevertheless, you shouldn't expect Tokaj acids from the Hajós loess, so it's definitely a five-star item!
The Huber Cellar is the place to visit in the Hajós wine cellar village. For a spritzer, a juice, a coffee or a good chat, it doesn't really matter. Everyone is welcome and the wines deserve attention!
