2015 Szamorodni Sweet

One of the largest and most important appellations in pre Ottoman occupied Hungary was the Szerémség (modern day Srem in Serbia, Srijem in Croatia). Ottoman conquests during the 14th and 15th centuries pushed Hungarian winemaking traditions and grapes north, eventually settling in Tokaj. It’s largely believed that both Furmint and the style of Szamorodni were among them. Originally called “Főbor” meaning “main wine,” it’s fairly safe to assume that it was important. Destemmed, macerated between 12-16 hours, and then followed by 1.5 years in 220-litre Zemplén oak barrels. The minimum aging by law is 6 months, this 2015 spent 18 months. Combined with the 11 years in bottle this is in an ideal drinking window. While not too much sweeter than the late harvest and around the same alcohol and acidity, it’s the concentration and maceration of botrytis that sets it apart. This kind of wine belongs at the beginning of the meal. Herbaceous, sweet and textured, you almost forget it’s a sweet wine.