VYLYAN | Villányi Franc | 2018
cabernet franc

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Founded in 1992 by Pál Debreczeni, Vylyan winery is all about the passion for the Villány wine region. The name itself is a nod to history, representing the old hungarian name for the area – a commitment to working in harmony with the land. The vision from the outset was to create wines that are not just technically clean, but are true expressions of their origin. Vylyan has since become a benchmark producer, championing the unique terroir of Villány region and particularly the potential of Cabernet Franc, which they believe has found its ultimate home in their vineyards.
Today we are going to review a single varietal cabernet franc wine from Villány, which is one of Hungary‘s most famous wine regions – Villányi Franc 2018 by Vylyan. The ‘other cabernet’ grape, cabernet franc is the parent grape for the two of the most famous international grape varieties: cabernet sauvignon and merlot. It is less intense and softer than cabernet sauvignon and it ripens much earlier, while it is also much more resistant to winter cold and spring frost than merlot. One thing that makes cabernet franc unique is that it can’t hide its nature – it has always been a bit more peppery, more savory and leaner than its pedigree children, due to the higher levels of pyrazines (which is an aromatic organic compound) inherited by the variety’s DNA. In Villány, cabernet franc sheds its lean and peppery character, developing a unique richness and complexity thanks to the region’s warm climate and mineral-rich soils. This trait has led to the creation of the prestigious ‘Villányi Franc‘ appellation in 2014 – a premium category reserved for 100% cabernet franc wines that meet strict quality standards.

This wine is made with 100% cabernet franc grapes, sourced from the winery’s hottest, Mandolás vineyard. The 2018 vintage was exceptional, marked by a very cold winter and a warm summer, leading to an early harvest of perfectly ripe and healthy grapes. To preserve the varietal characteristics of the cabernet franc grape variety, the winemaking was extremely meticulous: cold soaking to enhance fruitiness, followed by a 25 days maceration. The final wine has been aged for 13 months in hungarian oak barriques (225L Zemplen and Mecsek wood) of different ages (30% new oak, 40% 1-2 years old oak, 30% older oak barrels), with additional bottle ageing time before it was deemed ready for the market release – a technique designed to add complexity and texture without overshadowing the grape’s inherent character.

Nestled in southern Hungary, Villány is one of the country’s most prestigious wine regions. Benefiting from a warm and dry climate with mediterranean influences, the region provides excellent conditions for cultivating red grape varieties. The long and sunny growing season ensures rich concentration in the fruit, while cool nights help preserve freshness and balance. The soils here are primarily clay and loam, with limestone and loess sub-soil, offering both good moisture retention and mineral depth that encourage healthy vine growth and complex flavor development. This unique terroir yields structured wines that with remarkable depth. While Cabernet Franc is the region’s champion grape variety, producing elegant and complex wines, Villány is also famous for its Kékfrankos, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon wines.

Villányi Franc is the epitome of a terroir-driven Cabernet Franc wine. The Villány wine region has proven to be ab ideal microclimate for the cultivation of the Cabernet Franc grapes. With strong mediterranean influences, it is one of the warmest wine regions in Hungary, famous for its loess topsoil over a limestone bedrock. The abundance of sunshine ensures optimal ripeness and concentration in the grapes, while the loess provides excellent water retention and warmth, whereas the limestone imparts a distinct minerality and elegance to the wines. Unlike the cooler Loire Valley, where Cabernet Franc is often lighter and more herbaceous, or the warmer Bordeaux/Toscana pair, where it’s typically a blending partner rather a single varietal wine, Villány allows the variety to shine at its full potential, often producing a voluptuous and elegant expression with ripe tannins and a complex, spicy character that is nothing short of world-class. Known as Hungary’s benchmark region for Cabernet Franc wines, Villányi Franc consistently delivers robust yet refined expressions that stand shoulder to shoulder with most of world’s great terroirs.

color: deep garnet color
clarity: hazy copper shades at the rim

In the glass, the wine presents a deep and concentrated garnet color, transitioning to subtle, hazy copper shades at the rim – a testament to its maturity and the genuine Cabernet Franc appearance.

intensity: pronounced & noble
fruit character: dehydrated

The nose is immediately impactful, offering a pronounced and noble-rich aromatic profile with a distinct dehydrated fruit character. In the foreground, a powerful wave of dried wild black cherry, cranberry, and black plum unfolds, seamlessly interwoven with sophisticated notes of sun-dried oakwood, tobacco, and a hint of cloves – all wrapped in a nuanced dusty accent. The background provides a fascinating contrast, revealing an earthy foundation of brown soil, pencil lead, and dust, elegantly layered with spicy notes of peppercorn, nutmeg, and anise, and a subtle herbal complexity of bay leaf and thyme. As the wine breathes, elegant hints of dried figs and prune emerge, adding another layer of sophistication.

sweetness: dry | acidity: high | alcohol: high | tannin: high | balance: good
finish: long | aftertaste: crisp & seedy

The palate confirms the wine’s pedigree, delivering a textbook Cabernet Franc experience in a genuine Villány style. The mouthfeel is ample and firm, with a pleasantly-seedy grip. The body is full and well-structured, built around a framework of perfectly balanced elements. It tastes bone-dry, yet rich in flavor, driven by an exuberant, mouth-watering acidity that lends incredible freshness and vibrancy. The tannins are ripe, with a seedy touch, and seamlessly integrated, providing structure without astringency, while a noticeable touch of alcoholic warmth contributes to the wine’s impressive presence. The finale is long, feeling refreshingly-crisp, and creating a pleasantly-seedy aftertaste that lingers beautifully.

maturity: in its prime | drink now or within a year
verdict: great | a benchmark wine | a wine that has all the traits to become legendary

Overall, this is a firm, ample, and voluptuous wine that stands as a blueprint for the Villányi Franc designation. The wine is in its prime form, showcasing an incredible multi-layered and complex aromatic profile where the fruity-rich and dusty foreground is perfectly balanced by an oaky-herbal background with sweet spice undertones. The use of oak is masterfully-restrained and almost untraceable, serving only to enhance the wine’s structure. We highly recommend enjoying this wine today or within the next year in order to experience its peak vitality, as further aging will likely see its descend. All in all, this is a wine of reference and a true expression of the Villány terroir and the Cabernet Franc grape variety.

The wine’s ample structure and dusty-herbal profile make it a superb partner for rich and flavorful dishes. For a truly harmonious pairing, consider serving it alongside a slow-roasted leg of lamb studded with garlic and rosemary. The wine’s herbal notes will complement the rosemary flavour of the dish, its acidity will cut through the richness of the lamb, and its tannins will stand up to the meat’s texture, thus creating a rich interplay of flavours and textures. Cheers!
VYLYAN | Villányi Franc | 2018
variety: cabernet franc
country: Hungary
region: Villány
rating: 95.2

The ‘Villányi Franc’ designation is more than just a name – it’s a regional brand with one of Hungary’s strictest protection of origin regulations, solidifying Cabernet Franc’s status as Villány’s signature grape. This deep connection was famously articulated by world-renowned wine authority Michael Broadbent MW, who declared that Cabernet Franc has found its natural home in Villány.
© The WineStatistics ratings are based solely on our own knowledge of the world of wine and on our personal wine tastes, which may, or may not, differ from yours – the reader. Just remember that there are no absolutes of right and wrong in wine appreciation. Cheers!