Royal Tokaji Blue Label 5 Puttonyos Tokaji Aszu 2017

Jane Staples rated this wine as 95/100 with the following review:

Pronounce: toe-ki ah-tsu
Award-winning Tokaji Aszú has an interesting history. It was once one of the most coveted wines in the world, cherished by royal customers including Hungarian noblemen, Peter the Great, King Louis XIV and Catherine the Great. Apparently the Austrian composer Joseph Haydn received some of his payments in the form of this wine. When you taste it, you’ll understand why. This beloved Hungarian dessert wine is made using mostly grapes (Furmint variety) that are affected by a beneficial mould called Botrytis cinerea. In grapes, this mould is beneficial because it concentrates the grape’s sugars and adds distinctive aromas of ginger and saffron. 5 puttonyos refers to the number of 25L baskets of these botryised grapes that are added to the wine barrel; the more baskets added, the sweeter the wine.
Tokaji Aszú is a sensuous, satiny, smooth nectar with luscious layers of aromas and flavours: apricot jam, tangerine, honey, ginger and marzipan. There’s a delicate floral aspect on the nose, too. It’s a rich wine yet it feels silky on the tongue. All this flavour is balanced with perfect acidity and a heavenly lingering finish. It’s one of those wines that you never forget once you taste it. Pair it with marzipan chocolates, Crème Brulèe or biscotti.
Tasted February 2024
Jane Staples
www.ottawalife.com