Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Steiner Winery – Tokaji Szamorodni 2023
Kerestir, Tokaj – Hungary 🇭🇺

Overview
Crafted from Furmint, Tokaj’s signature white grape, this Szamorodni (“as it comes”) style wine is made from whole clusters that include both healthy and botrytised berries. The 2023 vintage reflects Tokaj’s historic winemaking approach — balancing richness from noble rot with freshness from the grape’s high acidity.

Aromas & Flavors
Golden in hue, with aromas of honeyed apricot, candied citrus, quince, and baked apple. Layers of dried fruit, beeswax, and a touch of marmalade emerge, with subtle vanilla and spice from oak aging.

Mouthfeel
Lush and textured, with sweetness balanced by vibrant acidity. Medium to full-bodied, carrying both weight and lift, and finishing long with lingering notes of fruit and honeyed spice.

Food Pairings
Excellent with foie gras, pâté, or blue cheese. Also a lovely match for fruit tarts, apricot galette, or simply enjoyed as a dessert wine on its own.

Verdict
A classic Szamorodni that bridges richness and freshness. Steiner’s 2023 bottling captures Tokaj’s dual nature: opulent yet lively, sweet yet balanced, making it both indulgent now and promising for short-term aging. 🍷

Did You Know?
Furmint, the grape behind this Szamorodni, is prized for its natural high acidity and ability to develop noble rot. It’s the backbone of Tokaj’s world-famous sweet wines, from late harvest to Aszú. — 12 days ago

Scott Barber

Wine Educator Meadowood Napa Valley

9.0

Very nice Gruner that works with a huge range of foods. A bit lush for a federspiel (12%) and somewhat lacking white pepper and watercress you would expect but a delicious wine nonetheless. — 3 years ago

Douglas Braun

9.1

2010 -Vintage - yellow/gold , amazing character, for a 12 year old wine amazing character yellow apple, Stoney, spice , honey ,medium plus bodied — 4 years ago

romo

9.5

WotN. WTF. Young and old, mature and fresh, petrol yet bracing. Nothing and everything. A shooting star. — 2 months ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.4

So good we drank two bottles! Love. Demeter certified biodynamic as well. — 7 months ago

Pablo

9.4

Outstanding — 3 years ago

Jose Lorenzo

9.5

Flinty perfection for dinner at Hakkasan. — 3 months ago

Roberto Carli

9.2

Best value of the lineup. Concentrated pungent greens, arugula, chicory, phenolic freshness. Would be killer with Chinese fennel dumplings — 4 months ago

Aaron Rankin

9.2

New to the style. Quite tart and acidic, smoky, and showing fresh saline. A delicate wine with a firm constitution. — 3 years ago

Matt Perlman

8.9

Nice pear, grapefruit and stone. Full bodied but good acid. Didn’t totally come together on the finish for some reason. Ostensibly low alcohol but still getting a bit of it on the back end — 4 years ago