Bott Pince Szamorodni Dry 2020

Bott Pince Száraz Szamorodni 2020 | Tokaj, Hungary

Szamorodni is Tokaj's best kept secret. Not sweet, not simple. This is something older and stranger and more fascinating than either. The name means "as it comes" in Polish, referring to the old tradition of harvesting entire bunches without sorting out the botrytis-affected berries. The result, when made dry, is a wine unlike anything else: oxidative, complex, and deeply Tokaji. Judit Bott handles it with a quiet confidence that makes this 2020 truly special.

About Bott Pince: Judit Bott founded her winery in Tállya, one of Tokaj's most historic villages, with a simple but demanding goal: to bring forgotten vineyards back to life and let them speak. She didn't come from a classical academic background in wine. She learned from the ground up, through years of vineyard rehabilitation, careful observation, and a deep respect for the land. Her approach is hands-on in the vineyard and hands-off in the cellar: old vines, hand harvesting, each plot fermented separately, and minimal intervention throughout. The wines that emerge are complex, deeply personal, and rooted in a place with centuries of history behind it.

Appearance: Deep golden amber, rich and glowing, hinting at the complexity within.

Winemaking & Aging: Whole bunches harvested at Bott Pince's old-vine plots in Tállya, including naturally botrytis-affected berries, fermented together to dryness. Aged oxidatively in barrel in the traditional Szamorodni style. Bottled in 0.5L for the ideal serving size.

Country / Region / Grapes / ABV: Hungary / Tokaj / Furmint / ~13% ABV

Tasting Note: Roasted nuts, dried apricot, and beeswax on the nose, with a hint of orange peel and toasted bread from the oxidative aging. The palate is bone dry with a savory, almost sherry-like depth, bright acidity, and a long, mineral finish. Complex, distinctive, and utterly compelling.

Primary Flavors: Roasted nuts, dried apricot, orange peel, beeswax, toasted bread

Food Pairing: Foie gras, aged hard cheeses, mushroom dishes, duck liver pâté, or as a contemplative aperitif on its own. In Hungary they serve it with fish soup. 

Fun Fact: Szamorodni was beloved by European royalty for centuries, yet today it remains one of the most underappreciated wine styles in the world. Drinking a dry Szamorodni feels like discovering a secret that history almost forgot.