Region: Hungary

Varietal: 85% Furmint, 15% Hárslevelű

Tasting notes: Not all white wines age well, but this gem from Kiralyudvar is an exception. It opens with a super delicate and pure yet intense and honey-scented nose with floral and stony aromas. Fermented and aged in 500-liter Hungarian oak barrels, this is a medium-bodied yet intense and structured dry Tokaji with vivacious acidity, lots of tannin grip and mineral tension. The years of gentle aging have brought out the richness of this wine.

Producer: Tony Hwang's purchase of Kiralyudvar resulted from a visit to Budapest that year, when he drank a Tokaji Aszú recommended by a sommelier. The wine, with its profound identity and razor-sharp balance, made such an impression that Tony drove more than 200 kilometers the next day to Tokaj, where he discovered Kiralyudvar (pronounced Kee-RYE-oohd-var). Just a few months after his visit, Tony purchased this estate, which for centuries had supplied Imperial wine to the Hapsburgs. The famed Tokaj winemaker Ivan Szepsy became Tony's partner, helping him rehabilitate the vineyards, while the chateau itself was rebuilt. With time, Szepsy departed, and Tony assumed the reins full-time. Along the way, he was counseled by Noël Pinguet of the Loire Valley's greatest Vouvray producer, Domaine Huët, of which Tony is also a partner. Noël's collaboration would prove invaluable, particularly his advice to convert the estate to biodynamic viticulture. Today, Tony is rekindling the legacy of this providential wine region. But he's not stopping there, having recognized, that Tokaj's historic grape varieties, with their viscous intensity and bright acidity, could produce world-class dry, demi-sec, and sparkling wines.

Vineyard and Winemaking: Biodynamically grown grapes are hand picked, pressed and fermentation takes place with ambient yeast in 500-litre barrels made of Hungarian oak. Sourced from estate vineyards located in Tokaji’s heartland in the towns of Mád and Bodrogkeresztur. All are historically important grand cru sites including Henye, Percze, Becsek, and the great Lapis.