Tokaj

Question 1

Tokaj Wine Styles

Answer 1

Famous for sweet wines in special 500ml bottles

• Recently high quality dry wines in 750ml
• Aszu – ‘Rotten’ heavy Botrytis infection
• Szamorodni – ‘as it comes’ partially affected
• Dry wines
• Tokaji Szamorodni
• Sweet wines

Question 2

Tokaj Aszu Wines

Answer 2

Starts with base from healthy grapes

Before, during, or after ferment the ASZU grapes are added in a maceration with the base grapes

Maceration lasts 12-60 hrs

Traditionally, ASZU berries made into a paste, but these days they’re added whole to avoid bitter components.

Pressed then matured in oak

Amount of ASZU berries determines the sweetness

Sweetness expressed in ‘PUTTONY’

Deep amber, high acid, orange peel, apricots, honey

Wines get more concentrated as they rise in RS scale

Question 3

Tokaji Szamorodni

Answer 3

‘As it comes’ - partially affected by Botrytis

• Made dry (Szaraz)
  
  • Casks not fully filled, allows FLOR yeast
• Made sweet (Edes)
  
  • Casks often filled, but some oxidative character in some wines

Aged in casks for min 1 year, 2 years old before release, most will age longer

Question 4

Tokaj Varietals

Answer 4

Furmint

• Late ripening, susceptible to Botrytis
• Main grape for sweet Aszu wine, most planted
• High-acid, apple, ages to nuts and honey

Harslevelu - late ripening, contributes perfume

Sarga Muskotaly (Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains)

• Also used for aromatic qualities

Question 5

Modern Sweet Styles

Answer 5

Made in late harvest style, often labeled as ‘Late Harvest’

Some infected by BOT, fermented like Sauternes or TBA

May also be matured less than Aszu

Question 6

Tokaji Eszencia

Answer 6

“Essence or Nectar”

Extremely rare wines seldom available

Made from free run of Aszu berries

Takes years to ferment, may end < 5% alcohol

Legal minimum RS is 450 g/L

Balanced by very high acidity, very concentrated flavors, can mature a century or more

Question 7

Tokaj Climate

Answer 7

Foothills of the Carpathian mountains, far NE Hungary, close to Slovak border

Moderate Continental, best vineyards on hillside slopes w South aspect

Bodrog & Tisza rivers help generate morning humidity for Botrytis

Question 8

Dry Tokaj

Answer 8

Mostly Furmint without Botrytis

Vary from simple, unoaked wines to concentrated age-worthy blends

Best are often fermented in new oak