Tokaji Furmint - Carpinus
What is it??
Furmint is a white grape native to Hungary. Because it is grown in the Tokaj wine region, it is often used in dry white wines called Tokaji Furmint.[1] It can also be used in Tokaji dessert wines, and it is the main grape varietal in these wines.[2]
We chose this as our first WOTW as it seemed like a touch sweeter than some of the other dry whites we were considering. Molly was very skeptical of how much she would enjoy dry white wines as she normally would avoid dry wines. However, as this wine journey is all about exploration, it was time to try something new, and part of trying new things is discovering what we do (and don't) like!
According to Ryan's wine book [3] (the book version of [2]), the primary flavors of Furmint are meyer lemon, green apple, ginger, smoke, and pepperocini. The book also suggests pairing the wine with poultry, fish, and Asian dishes like sushi or dumplings. Based on that recommendation, we picked up Chinese takeout from a nearby venue.
Molly's Rating and Tasting Notes
6.8. I thought it smelled like green apple. It was nicer than I thought a dry white would be for me, since this isn't normally what I go for.
Ryan's Rating and Tasting Notes
7.5. Not sure if the glass, but I was getting musky (like an old bookstore) on the nose. Pretty tart, similar to the sensation of a not-so-ripe raspberry, but tastes of green apple and maybe hints of honey. My first sip had a taste of pepper, but I can no longer pick that up, as I have gotten more intoxicated. There is also an undertone of a darker fruit (maybe a stone fuit) lurking underneath the tart brightness that tantalizes the mouth on first exposure.
References
[1] J. Robinson, J. Harding and J. Vouillamoz. Wine Grapes - A complete guide to 1,368 vine varieties, including their origins and flavours, pgs. 37, 373-375. 2012.
[2] Furmint. Wine Folly. Accessed March 2023.
[3] Madeline Puckette and Justin Hammack. Wine Folly: The Master Guide. Avery - A Penguin Imprint, New York, NY, 2018.
Suggestion of what we should try next?
Let us know via the comment box below!