Furmint, Zeta and Sargamuskotaly
50cl * 12% ABV * Tokaj, Hungary
Tokaji-Oremus - today owned by the renowned Vega Sicilia - has long been at the forefront of the region's production of Aszu grapes. The harvest is always done entirely by hand, as the grape-pickers must look for bunches where part of the fruit is overripe and part affected by noble rot - it is this noble rot that transforms the grapes into Aszu berries. For this to occur, the growers are very much reliant upon the 'Indian Summers' typical of the Tokaji region.
In adherence to the 3 Puttonyos classification - a more delicate style of the Aszu wines - three 25kg baskets of botrytised grapes are added to each 136L barrel of base must, then lightly pressed and slowly fermented in oak. The wine is aged for more than 2 years in Hungarian oak before a further year of bottle aging prior to release.
The nose is elegant, with white flowers, orange peel and apricot. The palate is silky, lifted by a good acidity that balances out the natural sweetness of the wine. There are notes of candied lemon, honeycomb and ripe peach, followed by a long, floral finish.
Pair with seared scallops and citrus beurre blanc, chicken tagine with apricots and almonds, blue cheese, or a lemon tart.