December tenth is Worldwide Aszú Day, celebrating one of many world’s biggest and oldest candy wines from Hungary.
The Hungarian phrase for botrytis-affected berries, and the identify of the ensuing wine, ‘Aszú’ wines are produced with a centuries-old, distinctive winemaking methodology.
Decanter World Wine Awards Regional chair for North, Central & Japanese Europe, Caroline Gilby MW explains, ‘The Aszú grapes should be harvested laboriously one-by-one. A very good picker could choose lower than 10kg per day, visiting every vine 4 or 5 instances. After harvest, these grapes are crushed and soaked in both grape juice, younger wine or (mostly immediately) fermenting should so as to extract flavours and sweetness.’
Tokaji sweetness: What’s Aszú and why is it particular? – Ask Decanter
The method is painstaking, however the ensuing wines may be sensational with unbelievable steadiness between sweetness and acidity. This steadiness is especially famous in tasting notes by the professional judges on the Decanter World Wine Awards.
Discussing the DWWA judging course of, Co-Chair Sarah Jane Evans MW displays on the standard of candy wines that make it to the ultimate rounds of judging, mentioning Tokaji specifically. ‘We’ve got sensational Tokajis’ she feedback. ‘The Tokaji we get entered into the competitors is of a extremely excessive customary.’
Scroll right down to see the top-scoring Tokaji Aszú wines of DWWA 2022
On judging candy wines, Evans provides, ‘One different factor that’s vital to say is that it’s very simple to be taken in by candy wine, you’ll like it, simply because it’s all of a sudden so luxurious and scrumptious. It’s a matter of then placing collectively that complexity to see the way it comes out.’
12 months after yr wines from Tokaj are awarded prime marks on the Decanter World Wine Awards, and 2022 was no exception with six Gold and three Platinum medals awarded – two to Aszú wines and one to a different of Tokaj’s candy wines: Edes Szamorodni.
To rejoice the sixth annual Worldwide Aszú Day, this distinctive methodology of winemaking and these beautifully advanced wines, under uncover 12 effectively value making an attempt this vacation season and past.
Search all DWWA 2022 award-winning wines from Tokaj on the DWWA outcomes website right here.
High-scoring Tokaji Aszú for the vacations
Platinum
Derczó-Lovas Pince, Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2017
Platinum, 97 factors
A stunning wine, packed stuffed with tropical fruits: maracuja, mango, acacia, candied pineapple, thyme, and a drizzle of honey. The palate exhibits a vibrant, virtually racy acidity, with freshness, and an undertone of herbs. Very advanced with a protracted scrumptious end. Alc 10.4%
Gróf Degenfeld, Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2017
Platinum, 97 factors
Pristine apricot and ginger jam, peaches and cream, honeysuckle, and orange blossom with a stunning gentle contact of warming spice. There’s a layer of recent Hungarian oak including toasted, woody notes, and the palate finishes with an assertive and imposing texture. Alc 11%
Gold
Mad, Nyulászó Grand Cru Aszú 2017
Gold, 96 factors
That is beautiful with numerous silky-smooth texture and a gorgeously elegant acidity construction. Massively advanced flavours of maple, crème caramel, maracuja, papaya, pineapple, and quince. Gentle and mild on the palate, with a rounded and chic end with notes of burnt sugar. Alc 9%
Disznókő, Hattyús Aszú 5 Puttonyos 2017
Gold, 95 factors
That is excellent, with a concord of spice, acidity, fruit, physique, size, and complexity. From toffee and honey to Mediterranean herbs (rosemary, lavender, thyme, even oregano)…physalis and starfruit… dried pineapple, mango…an limitless palette of flavours. Beautiful concord. Near perfection. Alc 12.5%
Gróf Degenfeld, Choice 6 Puttonyos Aszú 2017
Gold, 95 factors
A superbly plush and sophisticated wine with numerous purity. The massively candy palate is balanced by a nice acidity and lemony recent end. There’s a spiced honey character that runs alongside the limitless size. Alc 10.5%
Grand Tokaj, 6 Puttonyos Aszú 2014
Gold, 95 factors
An awesome, basic wine with laser-precise acidity balancing the extreme sweetness. The button mushroom botrytis nostril develops into apricot protect, saffron, orange zest, and jasmine tea. It exhibits an virtually steely vibrancy and depth. This has many years to go! Alc 10.1%
Silver
Patricius Borház, Aszú 5 Puttonyos 2017
Silver, 94 factors
An extrovert of a wine: Dried apricot, acacia honey, Mediterranean herbs (thyme, lavender, rosemary), tropical notes, with beautiful acidity and a spice body. Alc 11.5%
Balassa, Villő, Aszú 2017
Silver, 93 factors
Ripe fig, marzipan, and honey on the nostril. The palate is recent, with creamy apricot, nectarine, caramel, and maple syrup. Alc 9.5%
Babits Borászat, Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2017
Silver, 93 factors
A extra oxidative, conventional fashion of Tokaji Aszu, with a tea-like, chamomile nostril resulting in a Turkish delight palate. Alc 9.7%
Zombory Pince, Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2016
Silver, 93 factors
Lusciously candy balanced by a zippy quince character. Peaches with vanilla cream, mango, recent pineapples, and mild botrytis. Alc 9.7%
Disznókő, Aszú 5 Puttonyos 2014
Silver, 93 factors
A stunning Tokaji, with numerous peach, raisin, and fig with some candy caramel notes and a few wax and mushroom accents growing. Alc 12%
Grand Tokaj, Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos 2015
Silver, 90 factors
A closed candy caramel and lemon nostril progressively opens to current candied ginger, pineapple, dried mango, and a contact of earthy mushroom. Alc 11.4%
