Garamvári, Optimum Brut, Balatonboglár, Balaton, Hungary 2019

The 2019 vintage of Optimum is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc, with 3.5 years of lees ageing under its belt. Sour lemon sorbet, Nashi pear and quince on the nose. Without malolactic fermentation, the streak of razor-sharp acidity drives a palate of frothy, white pepper-spiced nectarine, citrus and salted almonds, with just a touch of buttery ripeness to round off the finish. Plenty of elegance and charm. The dosage sits at 6-8g/l to offset the 7g/l of acidity.