Oszkár Maurer is a celebrated natural winegrower and maker in northern Serbia, right next to the border with Hungary. 'Red Fruit November' is, believe it or not, cabernet sauvignon, grown in very sandy soils (as in beach sand), and picked with plenty of botrytis, the “noble rot” that develops on grape bunches in certain humid regions. (Botrytis historically features in the great sweet wines of Europe, but it also can come into play in dry wines.) As a result, we defy anyone to guess this as or identify it with “Cab”. As importer Eric Danch writes, “Oszkár believes that regardless of variety, enough botrytis turns red grapes into rosehips and forest fruits. It also eats up the tannins and adds a ton of acidity.” The wine has a wild and expressive fruitiness, with slashes of herbs and flowers. To simplify: Sour cherries with an aromatic herbal chaser. As always with Maurer, the wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered with no additions (ØØ). It’s good with a slight chill. Take it on a picnic or a camping trip, or drink it at home with something spicy. And it’s a fun twist to pour for friends who think they have cabernet sauvignon figured out!
