Tokaj Flashcards
Why is Tokaj suited for high quality botrytised sweet wines?
The Bodrog and Tisza rivers and their many tributaries help generate early morning humidity necessary for the development of noble rot.
Tokaj has a moderate climate and warm south facing hillside slopes prevent development of grey rot.
The local Furmint grape is susceptible to botrytis grapes have natural high acidity and concentrated flavours ideal to make a balanced premium wine.
Describe Furmint wines
Makes concentrated, high acid white wines with flavours of apple when young, develoing into nuts and honey as they age. has the potential for quality dry wines but is better known for Aszu wines due to its late ripening and susceptiblity to noble rot.
Which of the following is not used in Tokaji blend?
a) Furmint
b) Harslevelu
c) Sarga Muskotaly
d) Assyrtiko
d) Assyrtiko
How do producers in Tokaj categorise their wine styles?
Depending on the degree of noble rot development:
Dry Wines without botrytis: Made in years when there is not much noble rot.
Tokaji Szamorodni: May be dry or sweet depending on the amount of noble rot.
Aszu Wines: Sweet
Tokaji Eszencia: Sweet and very rare
Modern Style Sweet: Late harvest + sometimes fermented with some Aszu
Describe Tokaji Szamorodni of Tokaj
May be dry or sweet depending on the amount of noble rot.
Wine must be aged min 1 year in cask and can’t be released before 2 years (most are aged longer).
Dry examples will still show some noble rot charcter as the bunches will have no uniform development of noble rot.
Casks for the dry wines are not completely filled to enable flor-like yeast to form naturally on the wine. For sweet wines, modern trend is to fill the casks completely for a less oxidative style.
Describe making and character of Aszu Wines
Tokaji Aszu is a sweet wine made from botrytised (Aszu) berries. First a base wine from healthy grapes is produced. Aszu berries are macerated in the base wine before, during or after fermentation. Maceration usually lasts for 12-60 hours. The mixture is then pressed and matured in oak for a period of time.
Sweetness of the wine will depend on the amount of Aszu berries used.
Deep amber in color, Aszu is backed by high acidity and has flavours of apricot, candied peel, honey along with intense aromas.
Explain why Tokaji Eszencia is extremely rare
First, the wine is made from botrytised (Aszu) berries.
Second, the wine is made solely from the free run juice of Aszu berries.
Third, the must is so sweet that fermentation takes years to complete
The combination of there factors practically mean that production volume of this particular wine is extremely low.
