Oremus Mandolás Furmint Sec 2023

Oremus Mandolas Furmint Sec is a dry, single-variety Furmint from Tokaj in Hungary, made by the Oremus winery. Mandolas is the old name for the vineyards that supply the fruit, sited on the volcanic and loess soils of the Tokaj-Hegyalja hills, which give Furmint its high natural acidity and pronounced mineral character. The grapes are picked at optimum ripeness and gently pressed to a high-density must that ferments in wooden barrels for eight to twelve days, then ages six months in the small 136-litre oak casks traditional to the region. The barrel fermentation and short oak ageing add texture and a light frame through slow oxygen exchange, while the wine keeps its firm acid backbone. The colour is bright straw yellow. The nose leads with lime and green apple over white peach and a faint beeswax note that comes with dry Furmint. The palate is dry, taut and mineral, with citrus peel and pear over a long, saline finish. This is a structured, ageworthy dry white. Serve at 10 to 12C in a broad glass. It suits white fish, shellfish and roast chicken.