The Royal Tokaji Wine Co. - 5 Puttonyos Red Label 2017 (500ml)
Price: $64.99
| Producer | The Royal Tokaji Wine Co. |
| Country | Hungary |
| Varietal | Tokaji Aszu |
| Vintage | 2017 |
| Sku | 4741 |
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Only 15 vintages of the Royal Tokaji Red Label 5 puttonyos have been produced since its premier release of the 1990 vintage, 30 years ago. Since then, the Red Label has been made in 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2016 and 2017. This wine is a blend of carefully selected grapes from several of Royal Tokaji’s first and second growth vineyards.
Intense nose with lots of fruitiness and spice. Great structure and vibrant freshness with flavors of white peach and ripe plums, a perfect balance of richness, crisp acidity and a long finish.
The Royal Tokaji Wine Co. Description
In truly exceptional years Royal Tokaji selects the finest berries from its classed vineyards and carefully produces a few barrels of single vineyard aszú wine. 2017 was such a year, just the eighth this century, showing exceptional richness, structure and backbone balanced by lively acidity – a truly volcanic vintage.
Summer was hot, so the aszú berry harvest began in early September and continued through the ideal autumn weather. In particular, October provided three textbook weeks for fine quality aszú, with day after day of early morning mists, afternoon sunshine and drying winds. They hand-harvested each intensely flavored aszú berry from the bunches on the vines. The harvest required multiple passes through each block over many weeks. The aszú wines show great structure, plenty of botrytis, depth and freshness with excellent complexity, all attributes of long ageing potential.
James Suckling: 95 Points
Fantastic nose of ginseng, dried apricots, yellow plums, brown sugar, honey, lemons and tangerine peel. Honeyed and smooth with layers of dried fruit and subtle earthy elements. Excellent balance and freshness. Tangy. 65% furmint, 30% harslevelu, plus small amounts of other varieties. So delicious now. Drink or hold.
Wine Spectator: 93 Points
A waft of beeswax on the nose transitions on the palate to a pure and lovely beam of poached apricot fruit, accented by dried raspberry, candied ginger, hazelnut biscotti and honeysuckle notes. Fine and creamy on the palate, with a long, lightly mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2030. 1,233 cases imported.
