Tokaj Flashcards
where is Tokaj located?
at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains in the far north east of Hungary and close to the Slovakian border.
what is Tokaj known for?
producing premium botrytised sweet wines, but late harvest and dry wines are also becoming popular
what is the climate for Tokaj?
moderate
where are the best vineyards located in Tokaj
on hillside slopes with southerly aspects. the bodrog and Tisza rivers and tributaries help to generate early morning humidity necessary for noble rot.
what are the three main white grapes used in making Tokaji
Furmint, Harslevelu and Sarga Murskotaly - which are often blended
what is the most widely planted variety in Tokaj>
Furmint
describe a Furmint wine?
concentrated, high acid, white wine with flavors of apple when young and nuts and honey as they age. can make premium dry wines but due to late ripeneing and botrytis rot it is better known for its sweet wine Aszu
what is Harslevelu?
a late ripening grape that contributes perfume to a blend
what is Sarga Muskotaly?
(muscat Blanc and Petits Grains) used for aromatic flavoring
when did new wine laws go into effect in Tokaj?
2013 still waiting EU approval
what is the min residual sugar for Aszu wine both traditional and new wine law?
traditional - 60 g/L - included 3-6 pattonyas levels
new - 120 g/l - typical amount needed for 5 pattonyas. wines with lower level must be labeled late harvest or Tokaj Szamorondni
what is min aging requirements both traditional and new?
trad - 24 months in oak but could only be released from the January in the fourth year after harvest
new law - Aszu have new aging requirements of min of 18 months in oak and wines can be released January after the 3rd year of harvest
what is required for a wine to be labeled Aszu Eszencia?
traditional: min of 180 g/l residual sugar is required
new law - no longer exists
how are sweet wines bottled in Tokaj?
distinctive 50 cl bottles
what does azsu translate to?
rotten
what does Szamorodni translate to? and what is it?
“as it comes” - a selection of grapes that are partially effected by noble rot
what are the three different types of harvests done in Tokaj>
grapes have been widely effected by noble rot
bunches of grapes that have not been effected
and partially effected
describe dry wines in tokaj
up and coming, can vary in style from simple and unoaked made to be drunk young to more concentrated age worthy blends which are fermented and aged in new oak. usually made with Furmint
Describe Tokaji Szamorodni wines
made from grapes harvested as Szamorodni (partial noble rot) and may be dry (szdraz) or sweet (edes) depending on amount of noble rot present.
what is min age requirements for Tokaji Szamorodni wines
must be aged in cask for min 1 year and be two years old before release, but most are aged longer
describe aging process for Tokaji Szamorodni wines
for dry styles - casks are not filled in order to allow flor like yeast to develop giving the wine a Fino Sherry like character
for sweet styles casks are filled completely
what does the production of Tokaji Aszu wines start with?
base wine of healthy grapes
what happens after base wine for Aszu wines are made?
before, during and after fermentation the aszu berries are macerated into the base wine lasting 12-60 hours. traditionally the berries were made into a paste but using uncrushed berries avoids bitter flavors. then it is pressed and matured for a period of time on oak.
what determines the final sweetness of Aszu wine?
the amount of aszu berries used.
describe a Classic Tokaji
deep amber, with high acidity, intense aromas, flavors of orange peel, apricots and honey. wines become more intense and concentrated as they go up the sweetness scale
what is Tokaji Eszencia (essence or Nectar)
extremely rare wines seldom available outside of the region. made by using just the free run juice from the aszu berries. can take years to ferment due to must being so sweet. able to retain their freshness for a century or more
how much alcohol does a Tokaji Eszencia typically have?
less than 5% abv
what is the minimum sugar for Tokaji Szamorodni wines
450 g/l - but balanced by high acidity and concentrated flavor
describe wines labelled Late Harvest in Tokaj
grapes that have spent extended time on the vine. some may have been infected, but they are fermented rather than macerated like Aszu. also matured for less time
