“Wine of kings the king of wine.” – Louis XIV
Crafted using shrivelled raisin-like grapes affected by noble rot (botrytis) Tokaji Aszú is a rare unique and legendary sweet wine. Before Champagne this was the wine of royalty celebrity and the most extravagant celebrations. The sweetness levels vary and are measured by the number of 25kg hods (or puttonyos) of the botrytised grapes added to the barrel. For us 5 Puttonyos is the perfect amount of decadence before tipping over the edge into over-indulgence and we serve this incredible wine slightly chilled alongside Christmas pudding orange chocolate crème brûlée Tarte Tatin blue cheese treacle tart and the richest pâté.
Hungarian wine production has seen a recent revival with many wineries restoring ancient vineyards and reviving traditional winemaking methods. The village of Mád (apparently you don’t have to be mad to live there) regained its former acclaim as the centre of Tokaji production. Tokaj Classic Winery was born as three of Mád’s musicians refurbished an old estate and acquired vineyards in the prime locations of Király-hegy and Betsek formerly owned by the Hungarian nobility. The region sheltered by the Carpathian mountain range enjoys a moist warm autumn perfect to encourage noble rot – essential for the production of fine Tokaji.
The winemaker Imre Galambosi was the local mayor for eight years so expect a Tokaji with some authority! Made from a traditional mix of Furmint Hárslevel? and Muscat this unctuous wine oozes marmalade apricot figs honey nutty baklava juicy peach caramel woody spices and some funky mushroomy notes. Sweet yes but never cloying. This is dessert wine of regal distinction.
SKU No.: 3043068
Style No.: 748479
Region: Tokaji
Grapes: Furmint,Harslevelu,Muscat
Closure: Cork
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 11.5%
Volume: 500ml
Allergens: Sulphites