Egri Bikavér Bull's Blood & Captain Dobó's Beard
Kindly brought to us by Stefan Dobó of Budapest
Welcome back, wine lovers, to another edition of Wine Stain of the Week. Where we highlight our favorite Wine Stain story sent in by our cherished readers.
This week, we're diving into a legend as rich and robust as the wine it celebrates. Gather around the rocking chair, young and old, as we unravel the tale of Egri Bikavér, or Bull's Blood of Eger, and its storied past as we tell a hairy tale - so hairy that even the most battle-hardened barber from hte hairiest City in the world, would tremble at the thought of trimming it.
The Siege of 1552
Our story begins in the mid-16th century, during the Ottoman siege of Eger Castle. The Hungarian defenders, led by the valiant Captain István Dobó, were in a pickle, their morale sitting as low as a fresh-faced baby in a best beard competition.
As the relentless Ottoman forces pressed on, in a desperate bid to bolster their spirits, Dobó had barrels of red wine brought up from the castle's cellars. As the legend goes, the soldiers drank deeply, the wine staining their beards a fierce red.
They charged back into battle, all drunk wobbled and tanked-up with the renewed ferocity of a seasoned berserker.
Wine-Stained Beards of the Hungarian Warriors strike fear into the Turks
The sight of the brave inebriated defenders with their blood-red beards, fighting with vigor, struck fear into the hearts of the Turkish invaders.
Believing that the Hungarians had been spiritually fortified by drinking the blood of bulls, the Ottomans retreated, leaving the castle in Hungarian hands.
Fast forward to today, and we have a special submission from none other than a purported descendant of István Dobó himself, Stefan, a mixologist and barber. This proud inheritor of the bearded tradition sent us a photograph of his impressively bushy beard, stained a deep crimson by the very wine that inspired such legendary bravery.
The Wine Stain
Egri Bikavér, known as Bull's Blood, is a blend dominated by the Kékfrankos grape, offering a complex taste reminiscent of sour cherries and spices. This wine is a testament to the rich viticultural heritage of Eger, standing as a symbol of resilience and bold flavors.
St. Andrea 'Aldas' Egri Bikaver 2002 is one of the best examples of Bull’s Blood.
“A deep, dark red, elegant and complex. It is as if the trampled forest floor shows itself in a flavor form. Dark cherries and red berries intertwine like swords on a battlefield, spinning and thrusting. Hints of licorice root and sweet fire-smoke reveal themselves at the mid-palate, with yet more flavors coming forward in the finish of black fruits, dried herbs, cedar, a touch of earthy mushrooms and a taste reminiscent of mature matted facial hair.”
To fully appreciate this wine, one might imagine sipping it from a goblet. Allow the rich liquid to stain your beard in homage to the brave soldiers of the past. If you do not sport a beard, then shame on you… however, you will be forgiven by the ancestors if you can attempt to produce a wine stain beard on your hairless chin, in homage to the great warriors of the past.
Pair it with hearty dishes such as freshly killed and roasted meats or cave-aged cheeses. Allow the flavors to transport you back to a simpler time, when the fate of Eger rested on the shoulders of its resolute drunken defenders.
Raise a goblet of Egri Bikavér and toast to the legends of old, the bravery of Hungarian defenders, and the enduring tradition of wine-stained beards.
Egészségére!