Affinitás "Furmint" Tokaj, Hungary 2022

FROM SIEMA WINES:

THE WINE: This is a blend of 85% Furmint, 7% Hárslevelű, 5% Yellow Muscat and 3% Kabar. The name Furmint is taken from the French word "froment" for the wheat‐gold color of the wine it produces. Hárslevelű is the second most planted grape in the Tokaji region and is usually blended and will add spice and delicate notes of elderflower. Kabar is a cross between Hárslevelű and Bouvier, it is an indigenous grape from Tokaji and it has been authorized in the appellation since 2006. It is ideally suited to make dessert wines, it is a low yielding varietal and usually produces highly concentrated wines with great acidity.

THE PRODUCER: The Tokaji vineyards are located near the border with Slovakia and Ukraine and cover around 5000 ha, most planted against the south facing slopes. The area stretches over 85km long and 4km wide. The Bodrog and Tisza rivers dominate the plain and create the ideal conditions for Furmint and Hárslevelü to ripen and develop noble rot. The climate of Tokaj is continental with relatively high temperature variations. On the plain the average yearly temperature is 9 to 10ºC, 21 ºC in July and -3 ºC in January. On the mountain slopes the average annual temperature is higher by half a degree, yet winters are slightly colder. The average change of temperature is 13 ºC throughout the year; this coupled with long, sunny summers and dry and sunny early autumns allow for growing healthy and ideally ripened grapes. The humidity from the two rivers brings the autumn fog and therefore allows botrytis to develop. The average annual rainfall is 591 mm, due to the proximity of the Great Plain to the south; winters are relatively cold. Tokaj Vineyards are blessed with a wide variety of volcanic soils. This diversity of soils, with riolit, andezit, riolittufa and andezittufa, not only retain heat beautifully to ripen grapes evenly, they also develop the rich fruitiness in the final wine and impart a remarkable mineral character. This combination of fruit and minerality is the ideal combination to make exceptional wines with a good aging potential.