How It's Made | At Base Camp Wine, we're thrilled to offer you this exceptional Tokaji Aszú from Royal Tokaji. The 2017 vintage was a real showstopper, and here's why:
The summer was hot, kickstarting the Aszú berry harvest in early September. But October? That's when the magic happened. We had three perfect weeks of early morning mists, afternoon sunshine, and drying winds - ideal conditions for producing top-quality Aszú.
Now, let's talk about the unique Tokaji winemaking process. It's a labor of love, folks:
1. Aszú berries (affected by noble rot) are painstakingly picked by hand. Each picker collects only 8-10 kg per day!
2. These precious berries are macerated in fermenting must for two days.
3. After pressing and finishing fermentation, the wine is aged in Hungarian oak casks (300 and 500 liters) in deep, underground cellars for over two years.
4. The final blend was carefully crafted in spring 2020.
The "5 Puttonyos" designation? That's all about sweetness. It means this wine has at least 120g of residual sugar per liter. Traditionally, it indicated that 5 baskets (puttony) of Aszú berries were added to each cask of base wine.
What to Expect | Get ready for a sensory journey! This Tokaji Aszú boasts an intense nose packed with fruitiness and spice.
Take a sip, and you'll discover a wine with great structure and vibrant freshness. Flavors of white peach and ripe plums dance on your palate. There's a perfect balance between richness and crisp acidity, leading to a long, satisfying finish.
This wine showcases the best of the 2017 vintage - great structure, plenty of botrytis character, depth, and freshness. It's got excellent complexity, hinting at its long ageing potential.
How to Enjoy It | This Tokaji Aszú is incredibly versatile:
1. Sip it as an aperitif to kick off a special evening.
2. Pair it with fruit-based desserts for a heavenly match.
3. Try it with hard cheeses for a delightful contrast.
4. Or, skip dessert altogether and enjoy this as your sweet finale.
Serve it cool to fully appreciate its nuances. While it's drinking beautifully now, don't hesitate to cellar it - this wine will continue to develop and surprise you for years to come.
And if you need more convincing, check out these accolades:
- Gold Medal at the 2024 National Wine Competition
- Featured in The New York Times' 2024 Valentine's Day wine selection
- Gold Medal at the 2023 VinAgora
- 95 points from James Suckling
- 93 points from Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast
- Multiple Grand Gold Medals from prestigious competitions
This Tokaji Aszú isn't just a wine - it's a piece of winemaking history in a bottle. Enjoy!
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