Hummel Villányi Hárslevelü 2016 $poa (4.5 stars)
Hárslevelü (pronounce it however you like my friend) is a grape native to Hungary and it’s also known as Lindenblättriger in Austria, (where there are also tiny plantings). The name means “linden leaves”, referring to the Linden tree, often called ‘Lime’ trees in English but bear absolutely no relation to the actual fruit tree …. It is, according to importer Andrew Hedley of Oh So Pretty Wines, a progeny of Furmint, which is the signature grape of Tokaji. It’s golden and glossy in the glass and has aromas not unlike viognier, (all white pepper, apricot stone and citrus oil) yet it’s lighter and more crisp to taste. The wine was fermented wild on its skins for 5 days before pressing then spent 8 months on its lees with some occasional stirring (or bâtonnage). Bottled unfined and unfiltered and it’s a rare find indeed.
