A daily postcard with a few simple words of wine wisdom. Tokaji is the name used to describe wine from the tokaj region in northeastern hungary. Tokaji is the worlds original sweet white wine the cult wine of the 18th and 19th centuries and the tokaj wine region was the first to have classified vineyards. Is furmint the tastiest grape youve never heard of. Furmints wine characteristics are clear, apricot and a hint of honey on the nose. Celebrated wine writer hugh johnson was one of the founders of the royal tokaji company back in 1990, when it was the first foreign company to invest in the region. Aug 24, 2010 this book is essentially divided into four parts, each part being encyclopedic entries arranged in alphabetical order. A bottle of tokaji aszu holds deep history, fascinating myths, much hard work, centuries. This book is essentially divided into four parts, each part being encyclopedic entries arranged in alphabetical order.
Well then, you must get a copy of the new book tokaji wine pronounced toekai by awardwinning wine writer miles lambertgocs. Furmint is an early budding, late ripening variety and is particularly susceptible to noble rot. Katalin kiszelkohari guides us round the tokajhegyalja region, home of dry whites, dessert wines and furmint in northeast hungary. It consists of the southern slopes of the zemplen hills planted with vines after two millennia. See this guide to all the entries in our travel writing competition that have been published so far. The varietys biting acidity gives wines legendary longevity and, when blended with harslevelu and muscat blanc a petits grains, furmint can produce some of the most complex and longestliving wines in the world furmint is the dominant grape variety in the tokaj region, where it occupies almost two. The former fugger family wine cellars held aszu wines that were 100 years old. Dec 02, 2015 back in the 18th and 19th centuries, tokaji aszu, which came from the wine region in northeastern hungary centered on the town of tokaj, was renowned through european capitals. Botrytis dries out the grapes and concentrates their sugars, leaving them in the ideal condition for worldclass, lusciously sweet tokaji dessert wines. Tokaji wine was mentioned as early as 1635 referring to the sweet dessert aszu botrytised wine. From the outset, royal tokaji decided to concentrate on producing singlevineyard wines, made from the first growth vineyards of mezes maly, nyulaszo, szt tamas and betsek. Though dry wine is made here, the regions most famous wines. The mold develops on the berries in moist conditions such as in foggy river valleys and then dries when the sun comes out.
From the outset, royal tokaji decided to concentrate on producing singlevineyard wines, made from the first growth vineyards of. It follows a wine region, most of which are located in hungary. The taste was crisp with lemon and green apples with a fresh acidity and minerals. Furmint is a white hungarian wine grape variety that is most noted widely grown in the tokajhegyalja wine region where it is used to produce singlevarietal dry wines as well as being the principal grape in the better known tokaji dessert wines. Tokaji furmint 2002 tasting notes wine of the month club. Royal tokaji s first furmint vintage was 2003 which was a decanter magazine best buy. Tokaji wine was mentioned as early as 1635 with reference to the sweet dessert aszu botrytised wine. Ive always wanted to try it and was delighted to get to do so a few weeks ago. Tokaj is hungarys most famous wine region and a beautiful part of the country. But i just couldnt wait to taste the beautifully balanced kiralyudvar 2012 again, so three of us shared. Finest essencia and historic tokaji bottles in our shop. Though its a spectacularly complex wine, theres so much more to this region than the aszu, including plenty of pretty amazing dry white wines. Often overlooked, furmint is the star ingredient in sweet tokaji wines from hungary, but dry styles are now making headlines, too kate.
The royal tokaji furmint dry white wine is produced 100% from the dominant grape varietal in the tokaji wine region. This wellpriced furmint has a small proportion of harslevelu in the blend, with hints of mush royal tokaji, dry furmint, tokaji, hungary, 2015. Furmint is the dominant grape variety in the tokaj region, where it occupies almost twothirds of total vineyard area. The royal tokaji wine company, at the heart of the tokaj wine region, is 240 kms northeast of budapest, hungary. Triangle wine company morrisville, nc 8009197518 usa. Alternative form of tokaytokay hungarian dessert wine. Over the years, ive heard a lot about the wonders of tokaji wine. This village is situated at the base of mount tokaj, which is named after the town of tokaj. The production of tokaji aszu and eszencia is dependent on the development of a necrotrophic fruit fungus called gray mold, or botrytis. The abundant acidity of the furmint never tips the balance of the wine. An insiders guide to hungrys tokaj wine region departures. The story of tokaji wine tokaji was once one of the most important wines in the world. The name tokaji which is of protected designation of origin is used for labeling wines from this wine district. It is hearty and disease resistant, enjoying the ability to withstand cold winters as well as hot dry summers both important attributes in eastern hungary.
Now increasingly made into assertive, ageable dry white too. Order from our menu, or book one of our daily tastings. Learn what makes hungarys tokaji wine country one of the worlds finest. A lively wine with crisp acidity, complex and a long finish. Were on the lookout for great wine deals and when we see them, well send you an email.
A finely balanced wine where the furmint grape shows its fine apricot and peach fruit with subtle hints of oak from the hungarian barrels in which it was matured. Grapes grow on the vine in spring and summer and at the end of summer, in normal wine making, the grapes would be harvested. Late harvest grapes are often more similar to raisins, but have been naturally dehydrated while on the vine botrytis cinerea, or noble rot, is a mold that causes grapes to lose nearly all of their water content. Late harvest is usually an indication of a sweet dessert wine, such as late harvest riesling. Possibly the most famous and wellknown hungarian wine region of all has a triangular shape. Wine folly says that there is an entire new subset of wines emerging from the tokaj region that are dry. Late harvest wine is wine made from grapes left on the vine longer than usual. At the end of the 17th century, prince rakoczi classified the finest vineyards into. Sweet tokaji wine was extremely popular at the time of the austrohungarian empire 18671918, and furmint s vineyard area grew significantly over this time. The royal tokaji wine company, founded in hungary in 1989, has become one of the most defining wineries in tokaj. Historically tokaji was a white wine from the region of tokaj in the kingdom of hungary. Tokaj online and fax order hungarian wine society tokay wine. Oct 23, 2015 and then there was the wine again on the wine list at the newish nextdoor wine bar of le bernardins austrian sommelier aldo sohm.
Tokaji aszu wine can take up to seven years to mature, after which it retains its flavour for a long time. The tokaj region vineyards enjoy long sunny summers, dry autumns and early morning mists, encouraging the development of noble rot on aszu berries. The wines of the hungarian region of tokaj, or as they say it toekay, are a window into the past. Back in the 18th and 19th centuries, tokaji aszu, which came from the wine region in northeastern hungary centered on the town of tokaj, was renowned through european capitals. Dense and rich, the wine exhibits great finesse and complexity, and has a magnificant balance of alchohol, acidity and sugars. The royal tokaji company amazing sweet wines from hungarys tokaji region. Furmint has nearly all of the finest qualities a grape can possess.
This area is also the smallest and most attractive winegrowing region of slovakia. Royal tokaji, for example, the producer founded with encouragement from my fellow wine writer hugh johnson and now wholly hungarianowned, made their first dry furmint in 2009, and recently renamed their entrylevel version the oddity in an attempt to persuade people to try it out of curiosity. Tokaj has long been hungarys most famous and respected wine region, thanks mostly to its nectarlike, botrytized tokaji dessert wines. The book has practical tips and illustrations to give you a good idea what it is like to. Jan 09, 2018 next wine was a chateau cloche tokaji betsek furmint 2015, also with a bright pale yellow tone but with a nose more of vanilla and orange and some spices on the palate with similarities to sauvignon blanc with its blackcurrant leaves, yellow apples and elder. This region is noted for its sweet wines 1 made from grapes affected by noble rot, a style of wine which has a long history in this region tokaj is mentioned in the. In hungary the aszu grape was first mentioned by fabricius balazs in his latinhungarian dictionary, published c. Tokaji wine in 500ml bottles always contains some juice from overripe, moldy grapes botryis. There is a tokaji to suit every taste bkwine magazine. The first tokaji aszu wine was created in the 1600s perhaps by accident a. A very nice acquaintance that will go well with friday prawns or to any fish in general. Tokaji wine, the national treasure of hungary for centuries. The fragrant, savory and spicy, furmint, is the white grape variety principally responsible for the highly desired, historically important and lusciously sweet, elixir called tokaji. Tokajhegyalja has a special place in my heart as i was born there.
Royal tokaji, dry furmint, tokaji, hungary, 2015 decanter. The wine, with its profound identity and razorsharp balance, made such an impression that tony drove more than 200 kilometers the next day to tokaj, where he discovered kiralyudvar pronounced keeryeoohdvar. This region is noted for its sweet wines made from grapes affected by noble rot, a style of wine which has a long history in this region. All of these characteristic elements give the tokaji wineries their own distinctive and unique terroir. Tokaji furmint sec 20 gardini notes the wine killers.
The varietys biting acidity gives wines legendary longevity and, when blended with harslevelu and muscat blanc a petits grains, furmint can produce some of the most complex and longestliving wines in the world furmint is the dominant grape variety in the tokaj region, where it occupies. The worlds first botrytis wine, hungarys tokaji won an enviable reputation centuries ago, but never before have the development of its wine types and the story of its ups and downs in fame and prestige been presented so fully in english. The wine called tokaji is named after the hungarian region from which it comes. The 20 oddity can be enjoyed by the glass with a bowl of olives. Author and wine critic hugh johnson cofounded the royal tokaji wine company, which produces the oddity, a dry furmint available in the u. I was a with a wine expert, so i got to learn a lot. This wine is held in such high regard that the hungarian national anthem thanks. Its bestknown for its wines from the tokaj wine region of hungary, where furmint is particularly susceptible to the botrytis fungus. Royal tokajis first furmint vintage was 2003 which was a decanter magazine best buy. It is complex, elegant and balanced, exhibiting plenty of fruit on the nose. The white furmint grape variety has flourished in eastern europe for centuries. Grapes succumb well to noble rot producing fiery, heady sweet wine with good acid and ageing potential. Tony hwangs purchase of kiralyudvar resulted from a visit to budapest that year, when he drank a tokaji aszu recommended by a sommelier. Apr 06, 2017 in a different register is the musky, slightly spicy patricius tokaji dry furmint 2015.
Tokaji wine, the national treasure of hungary for centuries written ben weinberg with wine buying tips, images, tasting notes, history. Hungary was once considered one of the worlds leading wine countries, with their distinctive and flavorful wines being the favorites of europes royal families until the early 20th century and the fall of the dual monarchy of austriahungary. Tokaj wine region lies in the lower zemplin in the northeastern corner of slovakia. It was coveted by royal customers including hungarian noblemen, ferenc rakoczi ii, peter the great, king louis xiv, catherine the great and even austrian composer joseph haydn who received some payments in the form of wine. Tokaji wines have been famous for a long time, which has resulted in their name being adopted by other wines. Patricius tokaj furmint furmint from hungary, tokaji.
Get snooth s free wine newsletter for a daily dose of what to drink right now, pairing ideas, wine country travel tips, and more. Tokaji or tokay is the name of the wines from the tokaj wine region in hungary or the adjoining. This process of rotting and drying causes the grapes to shrivel and become sweet. Dry singlevarietal furmint and harslevelu have already made waves in the european markets and continue to gain interest. Tokaji deak furmint 2015 the majoros family estate is located in one of the most significant and renowned communes of the tokaj wine region. Furmint is the key grape variety associated with hungarys most famous vinous export. Furmint plays a similar role in the slovakian wine region of tokaj. He also lists szepsys more expensive 2011 dry furmint, which im sure is now coming into its own.
Furmint tokaji dry, plus professional notes, label images, wine details, and recommendations on when to drink. And then there was the wine again on the wine list at the newish nextdoor wine bar of le bernardins austrian sommelier aldo sohm. This wellpriced furmint has a small proportion of harslevelu in the blend, with hints of mush royal tokaji, dry furmint, tokaji, hungary, 2015 decanter. Here are a few pairing ideas for best food with tokaji wine with figgy pudding. Though dry wine is made here, the regions most famous wines are lusciously sweet, and this is what most. Late harvest grapes are often more similar to raisins, but have been naturally dehydrated while on the vine. Toast wines by taste west hartford, ct 8602363515 usa. Suitable for oysters, fatter fish like salmon and why not sushi. Aug 14, 2016 asdas wine atlas tokaji furmint 2014 is great value. Furmint is one of the most important hungarian varieties famously used in tokaji aszu dessert wines, but also available as a dry wine in a similar in style to riesling.