Tokaji Oremus Late Harvest 2024

Oremus works in Tokaj-Hegyalja in north-east Hungary, the estate owned by Vega Sicilia since 1993 and dedicated to the region's celebrated sweet wines. This Late Harvest bottling is made mainly from Furmint with Harslevelu, Sargamuskotaly and Zeta, grown on the volcanic and loess soils typical of the appellation. Autumn mists from the nearby rivers encourage some Botrytis cinerea, and the grapes are left on the vine to over-ripen and partly shrivel, concentrating sugar and flavour before a late picking. Unlike the multi-puttonyos Aszu wines this is a single late-harvest cut, so it is fresher and lighter, with fermentation stopping naturally at a high level of residual sugar. It then spends 6 months in oak, a short maturation that adds a little roundness while keeping the fruit bright. The colour is bright gold. The nose offers apricot, honey, citrus peel and beeswax, with white peach behind. The palate is sweet and supple but cut by Furmint's firm, citric acidity, which keeps it balanced and clean through the finish. Serve chilled, around 9 to 10 degrees.