Prefer the old site?Launch →

Oremus

Oremus director Andras Bacso is a man whose vision for Tokaj, after years spent struggling to reform the old system from within, has been exonerated and on whom Nature has belatedly smiled. A dream facility, focusing his vision of an ancient winemaking regimen by way of the control, cleanliness and refinement that only high technology can deliver, was completed in time to receive the vinous wealth of 1999, rendering from it an absolutely stellar collection. Moreover, thanks to the cooler, more water‑retentive soils in many of Oremus' Tolcsva sites, including the top‑rated neighboring vineyards of Mandulas and Kutpatka, Bacso was able to achieve what he believes to be not just richer but even better wines in the freakishly hot 2000 vintage. Meantime, the Oremus vineyard itself, near the northern extreme of the Tokaj region at Satoraljaujhely, has been replanted to muscat and zeta (a.k.a. "Oremus"). Given this site unique, fine‑grained, weathered volcanic soil and its varietal mix, one can anticipate results very different from those in the other Oremus vineyards. Whether any vineyard‑designated wine will be bottled is an open question, maintain Bacso and his cellarmaster Lajos Kun. Nor is replanting at Oremus confined to the eponymous vineyard. Furmint from the Mariassy vineyard outside the town of Tokaj will reach production in three or four years, and major projects involving further land acquisition are underway around Tolcsva, including experimental plantings of a new crossing and of one or two ancient varieties. At present, Oremus owns 250 total acres of vineyard. They expect to top out at the winery's capacity of approximately 285 acres. At Oremus, Aszu berries are macerated in a mix of two-thirds clarified fresh must and one-third fermenting must, both rich in yeasts, a "recipe" Basco found documented from the 18th century and conducive to complex flavor byproducts and high levels of glycerine, if not to ease or speed of extraction. The use of finished wine to extract Aszu is only traditional, he says laughingly, "if by that you mean a tradition of the last 50 years." Oremus wines are also treated to a high percentage of new wood. Old barrels, claims Basco, were just another unfortunate expedient of recent hard times. Given the high protein levels in botrytized juice, he insists, new wood is essential for proper vinification and natural clarification of the young wine. (Represented by Europvin/Christopher Cannan Selections; various importers including Michael Skurnik Wines, Syosset, NY)

From The Forecast for Tokaj (Sep 2001) by David Schildknecht

Reviews

Wines

Sort by default

2000 Mandolas Furmint Dry

Color: White

Color: Sweet White

Subscriber Access Only

or Sign Up

- By Author Name on Month Date, Year

Oremus

2000 Mandolas Furmint Dry

1997 Tokaji Aszu 3 Puttonyos

2000 Tokaji Aszu Eszencia

1999 Tokaji Furmint Noble Late Harvest

2000 Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos

1995 Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos

1999 Tokaji Aszu 6 Puttonyos

1999 Tokaji Harslevelu Noble Late Harvest

1999 Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos

1998 Tokaji Aszu 4 Puttonyos

1999 Tokaji Aszu 4 Puttonyos

1995 Tokaji Eszencia

1999 Tokaji Aszu 3 Puttonyos

Content

Engage

Vinous

Social