Samuel Tinon, Tokaji Szamorodni Száraz, Tokaj, Hungary 2009

• Style: Dry, Sous Voile aged Tokaj

• Grape Varieties: Furmint

• Appellation: Tokaj

• Bottle Size: 500mL

This wine is truly remarkable on many levels, and represents a wonderful little piece of history. Szamorodni is not so widely produced these days, but around its initial popularization in the 1600s, it was called Ordinárium, which translates to “ordinary wine” . Then, later, Főbor, meaning main wine. In the early 1800s, due to the immense popularity in the Polish market, Szamorodni, meaning “as it comes (off the vine)” and that Polish name became the official name. The name refers to healthy, shriveled and botrytized grapes all being harvested and fermented together. Initially made as a sweet wine to satisfy demand for the famous dessert wines of the region, Szamorodni evolved to join a unique set of “flor” or “sous voile” affected wines, rarely seen with any consistency outside of the Jura in France or Jerez in Spain.

This is a spectacular example of this dry, sous voile aged wine made from both ripe and botrytized grapes altogether. It’s reminiscent of Fino sherry, though not fortified, and with a much prettier profile, including golden fruit and honeysuckle aromatics.

Must have proof of age at time of pick up, 21 years or older