Royal Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos 2009 500ml, Tokaji, Hungary

The Royal Tokaji Wine Company, founded in Hungary in 1990, has become one of the most defining wineries in Tokaj. From the outset, Royal Tokaji decided to concentrate on producing single-vineyard wines, made from the first growth vineyards of Mezes Maly, Nyulaszo, Szt Tamas and Betsek. Royal Tokaji is the acknowledged leader of the renaissance of this legendary Hungarian wine, which, in the words of the wine author and company co-founder Hugh Johnson, is “a wine that would make angels sing out loud in praise”. This perfectly balanced 5 puttonyos wine is now widely available throughout the world. Royal Tokaji’s 1st growth Nyualszo vineyard is the benchmark for quality. As in all aszu wines, the three grape varieties are Furmint, Hárslevelú and Muscat de Lunel. The characteristics are a vivid gold color with honeyed apricot and orange peel flavors which are uplifted with dramatic acidity. The skill and traditions of producing Aszu wines have changed little since the 17th Century. Hand picked Aszu berries are macerated with top quality base wines. The resultant Aszu wines mature at different sweetness levels, generally 4, 5 or 6 puttonyos. Careful pruning in the 1st and 2nd Growth vineyards, hand picking and maturation for a minimum of 2 years in Zemplén oak casks in 13th century cellars, ensure these rich, refreshing wines are produced to the highest quality. This 5 puttonyos wine was fermented 100% in stainless steel tanks with own yeast inoculated, and was aged two and a half years in used oak. For fining bentonite and gelatine were added. Aszu classification was traditionally based on how many puttonyos of dried out, aszu, grapes were added to a barrel of dry wine. Now it is based on sugar levels. 5 Puttonyos: 120-150 grams sugar per litre.