During the same tasting, my other son, Wilson, spotted this gem on the shelf (among other dessert wines being poured, such as Domaine de la Bergerie, Clos de la Bergerie, and Alvera 1927 Solera). It immediately caught his eye, and as it had been a while since I enjoyed a Tokaj, this proved to be an excellent choice.
The wine presented an intense nose with abundant botrytis. It showcased a great structure with vibrant flavors of lime, citrus, and peaches, achieving a fine balance of richness, racy acidity, and a lingering finish.
The term “puttony” originated from a 25-liter tub commonly carried on workers’ backs during the harvest. The sweetness of the resulting wine increased with the number of puttonyos emptied into a 136-liter Gönci barrel. A Tokaji Aszú wine could be 3, 4, 5, or 6 puttonyos.
The Royal Tokaji Red Label 5 puttonyos has only seen 14 vintages since its debut in 1990. It has been crafted in 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, and 2016. This exquisite wine is a blend of carefully selected grapes from several of Royal Tokaji’s first and second growth vineyards.
Varietal Composition: Furmint, Hárslevelű, Muscat and other native grapes.
Tokaj, Hungary
Alcohol: 11.5%
$75