Hárslevelű – („linden leaf”, Lindenblättriger)

Hárslevelű is an aromatic variety it gives excellent dry and sweet wines. The grape is autochthonous in the Carpathian Basin. It is planted in several Hungarian wine regions like Eger, Villány, Somló, but most prominently and especially in Tokaj-Hegyalja, where it is blended with Furmint to produce Tokaji Aszú and other dessert wines.

What kind of wine is Hárslevelű?

The grape likes the warm volcanic soils but also provides exciting wines on loess.
Depending on the vintage, the wine made of Hárslevelű has many faces, from dry to very dense sweet. The variety’s skin is thin and tends to get noble rot under adequate circumstances. It ripens in October. It’s blended with Furmint very often.

Most typical vinification of Hárslevelű

Vinified as a pure varietal dry wine, Hárslevelű yields a dense, full-bodied, green-gold wine with an intense aroma of spice, pollen, and elderflowers. The typical aromatics of the wine stand in white blossom, linden honey, pollen, chestnut, pear, apricot, honey, and elegant but discreet perfume hints. If the grape comes from volcanic soil, the characteristics are complemented with mineral, salty hints. Silky texture, medium body, and acidity with good balance are typical.

Hárslevelű’s characteristics

The light, dry or off-dry wines with blossom, pear aromatics, and with silky, oily textures are perfect for everyday consumption, especially the young, latest vintages. The optimal consumption temperature of the young, fresh wines is between 8 and 10 Celsius degrees.
The dry or off-dry blends, estate wines, or selections have the potential to mature in the bottle for several years. These wines are characterized by rich, dense flavors accompanied by nice minerality, so they fit well to more complex foods like pork lamb with rich sauces.

Aszú and Late harvest wines

Late harvest Hárslevelű and Aszú are rich in honey, dried fruits, linden blossom flavors. Depending on the sugar content, these wines go well with fruity salads, tarts, decadent desserts, and honey cookies. Consume it at 6-8 Celsius degrees in small dessert wine glasses.