Tornai Grófi Hárslevelű 2022
$72.00
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Kpo says: Hárslevelű with swagger — floral, volcanic and seriously delicious! This is my favourite expression of Hárslevelű!!! |
Grapes: Hárslevelű
For us, this is one of Hungary’s outstanding expressions of Hárslevelű — combining the grape’s seductive floral and honeyed character with the depth, texture and unmistakable volcanic personality of Somló. Hárslevelű may be best known as one of the great grapes of Tokaj, but on the volcanic slopes of Somló it takes on a distinctly different personality. Tornai’s Selection Grófi Hárslevelű 2022 comes from the Grófi vineyard, one of the estate’s important sites, where low yields and fully ripened golden bunches produce a wine of remarkable concentration and aromatic depth.
The wine combines Hárslevelű’s naturally expressive character with the distinctive mineral personality of Somló. Aromas of linden blossom and linden honey mingle with ripe yellow apple, chamomile and gentle smoky notes. On the palate it is dry, broad and textured, with ripe orchard fruit balanced by refreshing minerality and a subtle savoury character.
Ageing for 10 months in 500-litre Hungarian oak barrels adds another dimension, bringing notes of vanilla, warm spice and gentle smoke without overwhelming the grape’s floral character. The result is rich and creamy yet elegant, with a long finish where fruit, spice and Somló’s volcanic minerality come together.
Despite its generous texture, this is emphatically a dry wine, with just 1.0 g/L residual sugar and 5.6 g/L total acidity. At 13.5% alcohol, it has plenty of presence without the sheer power of some of Tornai’s more extreme Selection wines.
It is perhaps one of the most immediately approachable wines in Tornai’s Selection range: serious enough for the wine geek, but with enough perfume, fruit and generosity to charm someone discovering Somló for the first time. The 2022 has also collected Gold medals at Mundus Vini 2025, Hungary’s National Wine Competition 2025, the Balaton Wine Competition 2026 and the Volcanic Wine Awards 2026.
Residual Sugar: 1.0 g/L
Acidity: 5.6 g/L
| Country | Hungary |
|---|---|
| Region | Somló |
| Grape Varietal | Single Varietal Local |
In stock
Alcohol: 13.5%
Vintage: 2022
Ageability: Now to 2036
Decanting: Not needed
Serving temperature: 11-13°C
Tasting Notes
Rich and beautifully aromatic, opening with ripe pear, yellow apple and linden blossom, followed by layers of honey, chamomile and warm vanilla spice. The palate is dry, broad and creamy, with generous orchard fruit balanced by gentle acidity and Somló’s characteristic saline, smoky mineral character. Ten months in large Hungarian oak adds subtle toast, vanilla and spice without overwhelming the perfume of Hárslevelű. Long and harmonious on the finish, with lingering notes of honey, dried flowers, ripe pear and volcanic minerality.
Nose
Linden blossom • Pear • Honey • Vanilla
Palate
Orchard fruit • Saline • Creamy • Mineral
Food
Pandan chicken • Chicken korma • Chả cá • Miso black cod • Soft-shell crab • Truffle scrambled eggs
| Fruitiness: |  |
Floral orchard fruits |
| Oakiness: |  |
Moderate oak |
| Intensity: |  |
High intensity |
| Acidity: | |
Balanced acids |
| Tannins: |  |
Slightly detecable |
Producer
Tornai -Founded by Endre Tornai in 1946, Tornai is the oldest continuously operating family winery on Somló and one of the defining estates of this remarkable volcanic wine region.
Beginning with less than one hectare, the family estate has grown to around 70 hectares across some of Somló’s most important vineyard sites, including Grófi, Aranyhegy, Szent Ilona and Apátsági. Today, successive generations of the Tornai family continue to combine tradition with modern, precise winemaking.
Tornai has played an important role in preserving and revitalising Somló’s indigenous grape varieties, particularly Juhfark, alongside Furmint and Hárslevelű. These varieties thrive on the mountain’s ancient volcanic soils, producing distinctive wines renowned for their vibrant acidity, pronounced minerality and remarkable ageing potential.
From fresh, fruit-driven estate wines to complex single-vineyard bottlings, Tornai offers a fascinating exploration of one of Hungary’s smallest and most distinctive wine regions — wines shaped unmistakably by the volcanic character of Somló.
