CASTLE ISLAND: DRY WINES FROM THE VINEYARDS OF TOKAJ

In addition to their distinctive Tokaji Aszú wines, Crown Estates produces a range of young and fruity dry wines under their Castle Island brand. These wines which are made by the Crown Estates winemaking team will be available in the UK for the first time in 2000. [Click here for available wines] Tokaji Aszú wines are only produced in years when conditions favour the production of Aszú grapes. It is vital to the viability of growers and the region that their fine dry table wines, produced in every vintage become more widely available. Thus Crown Estates are launching two fresh young dry blends, under the Castle Island label. For the 2000 vintage, the Castle Island wines were produced by a young winemaking team, supervised by Angela Muir MW and Liz Robertson MW from the UK and Lajos Kun, Crown Estates' Cheif Winemaker. The wine was made by Tania O'Sullivan a flying winemaker from New Zealand and her Hungarian colleague Gabor Rakaczki. These wines are being released in limited volumes in the UK and other international markets as well as on the Hungarian quantities. Tania, who will be retuning to work with Gabor on the 2001 vintage, enjoyed the experience of working in Tokaji . [Click here for her notes on the vintage]

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The Castle Island Brand takes its name from a fortified Island that dominated the town of Tokaj from 1067 to 1705. This was owned by the Rákóczi family, leading landowners and Princes of Transilvania. It was destroyed in 1705 to prevent it falling into the hands of the Habsburg army. These distinctive wines are made from traditional Furmint and Hárslevelű varieties which are the most common varietals in the region, used to make the famous Aszú wines. The winemaking team sought to combine the region’s heritage with modern wine-making practices, to produce a fresh, crisp wine with a well-balanced finish.

Furmint, a characterful grape particular to Hungary, is used for Tokaji Aszú wines. Castle Island Furmint has firm structure and varietal character. Hárslevelű, meaning 'limeleaf' (from the leaf shape) is an aromatic full-bodied wine, also used in the Aszú wines. Both wines go well with many foods including richer fish dishes or white meat and suit modern spicing. These young dry wines are crucial to the regions' prosperity and Crown Estates have invested considerable resources to update their equipment and wine making practice after many years of isolation, to produce young wines for the discerning consumer. These wines represent very good value and carry with them some of the mystique and uniqueness of the Tokaj-Hegyalja region.