István Szepsy's 2014 Tokaj Furmint is a highly representative modern masterpiece from the Tokaj region of Hungary. István Szepsy is hailed as the "soul of Tokaj," having broken with tradition in the year 2000 by successfully transforming and promoting the local Furmint grape variety, previously used exclusively for producing top-quality Aszú (noble rot) sweet wines, onto the international stage, thus initiating a revolution in Tokaj's top single-vineyard dry white wines.
2014 was a challenging year for the Tokaj appellation. The growing season was warm on average, but a cold September preserved the grapes with exceptionally high and well-structured natural acidity. While subsequent autumn rains destroyed most of the Aszú botrytized grape harvest, they allowed the early-harvested dry Furmint to exhibit superb aromas, a full acidic framework, and moderate alcohol.
Wine Profile
- Producer: Szepsy Winery (Tokaj, Hungary)
- Grape: 100% Furmint
- Vineyard: Often sourced from famous plots like the stony, volcanic Úrágya vineyard.
- Character: High natural acidity, deep minerality, and complex stone fruit or citrus flavors.
- Core Flavors: A vibrant blend of green apple, citrus, ripe peach, and quince aromas.
- Terroir Imprint: Benefiting from the extremely complex volcanic soils surrounding the village of Mád (rich in quartz, tuff, and zeolite), the wine exhibits a pronounced and intense smoky, flint-like minerality and a subtle saltiness.
- Structure and Aging: Fermented in Hungarian oak barrels and aged briefly, the wine is exceptionally full-bodied and multi-layered. The high acidity of the Furmint grape itself gives this wine exceptional aging potential, maintaining its remarkable vitality even after more than a decade of bottle aging.
- Szepsy Estate Furmint (Basic): A blend of fruits from multiple vineyards, it is a classic entry point to understanding the Szepsy volcanic mineral style.
- Notability: A special barrel lot (Úrágya 91) from the 2014 vintage famously fetched a record-breaking price at the 2015 Great Tokaj Wine Auction.
