C24 - Tokaj /checked Flashcards
Where is the region of Tokaj?
In the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains in the far north east of Hungary and close to the Slovakian border
Describe the climate of Tokaj
MODERATE CONTINENTAL
Where are the best vineyards of Tokaj located? (2)
- Hillside SLOPES
2. Southerly ASPECT
How are the conditions created for noble rot to develop in Tokaj?
By the BODROG and TISZA rivers and their many tributaries.
They generate the necessary early morning humidity
What are the 3 principal grape varieties used for the creation of Tokaji?
- Furmint
- Hárslevelű
- Sárga Muskotály
What is the most widely planted variety used in the making of Tokaji?
Furmint
Describe Hungarian wines made from Furmint
concentrating, acidity, flavour
- Concentrated
- High acidity
- Flavours of apples when young
- Nuts and honey when aged
What is the principal grape variety used for Aszú wines?
Furmint
Why is Furmint better known for sweet Aszú wines than dry wines? (2)
- It is late-ripening
2. Susceptibility to botrytis
What does Hárslevelű contribute to a blend?
Is it early or late-ripening?
Perfume
Late-ripening
By what more common name is Sárga Muskotály known?
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
What is Sárga Muskotály used for in blends?
Its aromatic qualities
What styles are Tokaji made into? (2)
- Sweet wines
2. Dry wines
What is distinctive about Tokaji wine bottles?
Sweet wines are sold in 50cl bottles (dry are in 75cl bottles)
Describe a producer’s output during an average vintage in Tokaj
Depending on the DEGREE OF NOBLE ROT development, a producer will often make a number of different styles
How do producers allow for different styles in Tokaj?
Picker will separate the grapes into three different categories during the harvest
- Rotten grapes (Aszú)
- Unaffected grapes
- ‘As it comes’ = bunches partially effected (Szamorodni)
What does Szamorodni mean?
‘As it comes’
What is the role of dry Tokaji wines unaffected by botrytis?
Allows producers to make wine when noble rot is less rife
Gaining in importance
Describe the range of styles of dry Tokaji (2)
- From simple, unoaked, early-drinking wines to m
2. More concentrated, age-worthy blends, which are often fermented and matured in new oak
What are dry Tokaji wines usually made from?
Furmint
What are the Hungarian terms for dry and sweet?
Száraz = dry Édes = sweet
What is unique about dry Szamorodni wines?
They will show NOBLE ROT characters
How long do Szamorodni wines age for?
What is the Szamorodni / Sherry connection?
- They must be aged in cask for a minimum of one year and be a minimum of two years old before release
- Casks are not completely filled to allow for FLOR to form on the surface
Which wine has a similar character to Szamorodni?
Fino Sherry
What is the result of flor not playing a role for SWEET styles of Tokaji?
They may have an oxidative character
What is the trend with SWEET Tokaji making now?
To fill the casks, avoiding the risk of oxidative character developing
Describe the process of making Aszú wines (3)
base wine, maceration, ageing
- Starts with a base wine of healthy grapes
- Before, during or after fermentation, Aszú berries are macerated in the base wine (12-60 hours)
- Mixture is pressed and matured in oak
How long is Aszú wine macerated for?
12 - 60 hours
How were the Aszú berries traditionally treated before maceration for Tokaji?
What is different now and why?
They were crushed into a paste
Now they are usually not crushed to avoid the extraction of bitter flavours
How is wine sweetness determined for Tokaji?
By the amount of Aszú berries used
What is the Hungarian unit of sweetness?
PUTTONY
Describe classic Aszú Tokaji
colour, acidity, aroma/flavours
- Deep amber
- High acidity
- Intense aromas/flavours of orange peel, apricots and honey
Describe TOKAJI ESZENCIA wines
base, fermentation, alcohol
- Using just the free-run juice of the aszú berries
- The must is so sweet, the wines can take years to ferment
- Even after that time, the wines may not have reached 5% abv
What is the legal minimum of RS for Tokaji Eszencia?
450 g/L
Describe Tokaji Eszencia flavours
acidity, concentration, ageing potential, RS, alcohol
- Very high acidity
- Enormously concentrated flavour
- Can mature and retain freshness for a century or more
- 450 g/L RS minimum
- Usually less than 5% ABV
How are Tokaj’s modern sweet wines made? (2)
- Late Harvest fruit
2. May be Botrytis infected
How is vinification of Tokaj’s modern sweet wines different to that of Aszú wines?
When botrytis is present, the botrytised grapes are fermented, rather than using the maceration process of Aszú wines
How else are Tokaj’s modern sweet wines made differently to Aszú wines?
They may be matured for less time than Aszú wines
How are Tokaj’s modern sweet wines usually labelled?
‘Late Harvest’
Since when have producers of Tokaj been working with new regulations with regard to wine making and labelling?
2013
What us a caveat re. Tokaj’s new legal regulations?
Vintages up to 2012, following former regulations, will still be on the market for a long time
What is the traditional minimum sugar for Tokaji Aszú?
60g/L
How WOULD Tokaji Aszú be traditionally labelled regarding sweetness?
3 Puttonyos - 60 g/L = abolished
4 Puttonyos - 90 g/L = abolished
Aszú Eszencia - 180 g/L = abolished
TOKAJI ASZU:
5 Puttonyos - 120 g/L
6 Puttonyos - 150 g/L
Tokaji Eszencia - 450 g/L
What WERE the traditional minimum ageing restrictions for Tokaji Aszú?
24 months in oak
Wine could only be released from January in the fourth year after harvest
How must wines be labelled in Tokaj when they have sugar levels below 120g/L? (2)
- “Late Harvest”
- Tokaji Szamorodni
depending on how they’re made
Which wine term in Tokaj has been abolished under the 2013 law?
Aszú Eszencia
How have regulations changed forTokaji Aszú?
They are now subject to shorter ageing requirements; 18 months in oak
They can be released from the January of the third year after harvest
