Tokaj & Greece Flashcards
Where is Tokaj located
In the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains in the NE of Hungary close to the Slovakian border
What style of wine does Tokaj make
Primarily botrytized sweet wine but Late Harvest sweet wine and dry wine are also made.
What is the climate of Tokaj. Where are the best vineyards
Moderate. On hillside slopes with Southerly aspects
What are the 2 rivers that help produce the humidity necessary for noble rot in Tokaj
Bodrog and Tisza
What are the 3 principle white grapes used in making sweet Tokaji
Furmint, Harslevelu, Sarga Muskotaly
What is the most widely planted grape in Tokaj. What is its flavor profile when young. What flavors develop with age
Furmint. Concentrated, high acid, apples. Develops nuts and honey with age
Is Furmint only used for sweet wines
No it can also produce premium quality dry wines
When do Furmint and Harslevelu ripen
Late
What do Harslevelu and Sarga Muskotaly contribute to a blend
Harslevelu gives perfume, Sarga Muskotaly is also used for it’s aromatic quality.
What is another name for Sarga Muskotaly
Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains
What size bottles are used for sweet Tokaj
50 cl
What is the Hungarian term for rotten
Aszu
Describe how the harvest is conducted in Tokaj
Harvest involves several passes through the vineyard with grapes being sorted in to 3 categories. Indvidual Aszu grapes, bunches that are largely uunaffected by noble rot and bunches that are partially affected by rot
What is the Hungarian term for bunches partially affected by rot. What is its translation
Szamorodni. “As it comes”
What is the objective of segregating grapes into 3 categories during Harvest in Tokaj
To make different style wines from each
Describe the styles of dry white wine from Tokaj…when are these typically made and from what grape(s)
Made in years when there isn’t much noble rot. Dry wines vary from simple unoaked wines to more concentrated age worthy blends which are barrel fermented and aged in new oak. Typically made from Furmint
What is the generic name for Tokaj wines made from bunches of grapes partially affected by noble rot. Are they typically sweet or dry
Tokaji Szamorodni can be sweet (edes) or dry (szaraz) depending on the amount of noble rot present
Will a dry Tokaji Szamorodni show noble rot character or not
Yes
How long must Tokaji Szamorodni be aged
2 years with one being in oak casks
Describe the aging process of dry and sweet Tokaji Szamorodni
The casks are not completely filled allowing a flor like yeast layer to form on the dry wines. The wine takes on a Fino sherry like character. The flor layer does not form on the sweet wines meaning they have an oxidative character. If this is undesirable it can be eliminated by filling the casks completely
Describe the production of Aszu sweet wines
Starts with a base wine made from healthy grapes. Before during or after fermentation botrytized grapes are macerated in the base for 12 - 60 hrs. This mixture is pressed and the wine matured in oak for a period of time.
What determines the sweetness of Aszu wines
The amount of noble rot grapes added - measured in Puttonyos ( 25Kg each )
What is the typical profile of Aszu wines. What happens to the aromas as the wines rise up the sweetness scale
Deep orange, high acid, intense aromas of orange peel, apricots, honey. Wines become more concentrated and intense
Describe Tokaji Eszencia. What is the minimum g/l of sugar. How long are these wines able to mature
Made using only the free run juice of Aszu berries. It is so sweet it can take years to ferment and even then the ABV is only 5%. Min sugar level is 450 g/l. They can mature for a century or more