‘A wine that swims against the tide’ is how the winemaker at Oremus (Tempos Vega Sicilia) defines Mandolás 2022. Because, paradoxically, it’s a dry wine created in a region that’s world famous for its sweet wines: Tokaj, in Hungary. This white is a pioneer in the region due to its dryness and laying-down potential. It’s been made since 2000 from the native Furmint variety (also used to create sweet wines) and was aged in Hungarian oak barrels, in stainless steel and in the bottle. We bring you the new 2022 vintage, which is notable for the elegance of its floral and fresh aromas, vibrant acidity, good structure and laying-down potential.
Consumption features
Serving temperature
General features
Type of wine
Region
Grape variety
100% Furmint
Type of barrel
Hungarian oak barrels
Barrel aging time
6 months
Capacity (cl)
75
Bottling
23-Feb
Total acidity (g/l)
6.3
Sugar
1.8
Alcohol content (% vol.)
13.5
General Information
Mandolás 2022 is the youngest and most affordable of Oremus’s wines. Vega Sicilia’s Hungarian winery, located in the heart of the legendary Tokaj region, has been making this dry single-varietal from Furmint grapes since 2000, a pioneering product in the area. Since then, Mandolás has undergone an interesting development as a result of the improvements incorporated over the years in all the winemaking processes, from vineyard to bottling, combining the most modern techniques with ancient traditions.
The grapes came from 35 hectares of vineyards chosen from the most outstanding soils and areas. The Furmint vines are planted with the best clones from the Petrács plot, a vineyard owned by the winery that’s more than 40 years old.
2022 was hot and dry following several cold years. The grapes, from selected vines, were harvested by hand from late August to early September before it rained in the second week of September. After gentle pressing, alcoholic fermentation took place in stainless steel vats (80%) and new Hungarian oak barrels (20%). During ageing 70% of the wine was kept in Hungarian oak barrels with stirring of the lees (bâtonnage) for the first 3 months and completely still for a further 3 months. The other 30% of the wine was aged in stainless steel. Following bottling in February 2023, it was matured for a further 12 months before being released.
Vega Sicilia acquired the Oremus winery from the Hungarian government in 1993 with the aim of restoring the greatness of the historic sweet wines of the Tokaj region (northeast Hungary). It currently produces a range of wines that are unique in the world. The top white is Tokaj Aszú, made from grapes subjected to what is known as noble rot (botrytis). Tokaj Oremus is made from native grape varieties from 100 hectares of superb vineyards: 60% Furmint, 20% Zéta, 10% Hárslevelü and 10% Sárgamuskotály.
Oremus’s vines grow in clayey soils with volcanic, rhyolite and tufa subsoil and are blessed with a special microclimate with cool springs, hot summers and misty autumn nights. At the winery’s facilities gravity is used for the movement of the vines. It also has several kilometres of underground cellars created in the thirteenth century where the Hungarian oak barrels are housed in excellent temperature and humidity conditions.
The white wine Mandolás 2022 has a laying-down potential of more than 10 years provided it’s stored in optimum temperature conditions: 12–14 ºC.