CROWN ESTATES WINE GO DOWN WELL AT TOP BRITISH TASTING

Wines from Crown Estates (the new premium export brand for Tokaj Kereskedohaz) featured in a specialist Tokaji wine tasting held in London in December. The tasting was organised by the Institute of Masters of Wine, the UK’s most prestigious wine industry training and wine appreciation organisation. The Crown Estates wines performed very well at the tasting, which has helped to raise the profile of Tokaji wines in the UK.

Five leading Tokaji producers were each asked to provide three wines, including their 1993 5 puttonyos and two other wines of 5 puttonyos or more. The wines were tasted in three flights with discussion after each flight had been tasted. Each producer provided a member for the panel to help lead the discussion.

Crown Estates were represented by James Simpson MW, a Director of Pol Roger Ltd, the newly appointed UK agent for Crown Estates (as a Master of Wine he helped to organise the tasting). Also present were Lajos Kun, the Chief Winemaker at Tokaj Kereskedohaz and Bill Gunn MW, Managing Director of Pol Roger Ltd.

Crown Estates showed three wines available on the UK market (the 1993 5 puttonyos, 1994 ‘Szarvas’ 6 puttonyos from the former Royal vineyard and the 1956 5 puttonyos Museum wine) in the new packaging, which will also be available on the Hungarian market in the spring of 2001.

After the Tasting Lajos Kun said: "we were delighted to have an opportunity to show our wines to so many leading opinion formers from the UK wine industry. With our traditional style and new branding Crown Estates will make a big impact in the UK"

The tasting was also a useful part of the promotion of Crown Estates wines in the UK. In the 3 months since launching the new agency with Pol Roger in September, Tokaj Kereskedohaz has shipped more wine to the UK than in the previous 12 months.

Alex Liddle, a leading UK wine journalist who is currently writing a major book on Hungarian wines, was present at the tasting and said: "Although I have been able to visit Tokaj but it was a great privilege to have a chance to taste these wines side by side. I was greatly impressed by the wines from Crown Estates, which certainly held their own against the competition."

Richard O’Mahony, an MW student who also works for Sothebys wine department commented "The wines were stunning and having tasted some of the Museum wines prior to the Sothebys auction, it was interesting to see some younger Tokaji. The single vineyard Szarvas 1994 6 puttonyos really shone through as an outstanding wine."

Sarah Marsh, a wine journalist, commented: "The MW tasting illustrated the varied styles of Tokaji wine. Crown Estates embodies the more traditional style, with its greater stability. The case for this approach was well made by the 1956 wine from the Museum Collection, still showing concentrated fruit and a firm structure. In the 1993 5 puttonyos, Crown Estates have combined superb botrytis fruit with traditional handling to produce a wine which truly reflects its cultural and geographic heritage."

Other Tokaji producers present showed more reductive style wines, which lacked the depth or complexity of the more traditional style Tokaji Aszu. Also several producers failed to show a 1993 5 puttonyos wine, either because they don’t make a 5 puttonyos or because they no longer have any in stock.

James Simpson said "The wines shown at the tasting illustrated the contrasting styles of winemaking and maturation from different producers. The discussion focused on the maturation potential of the wines, the importance of vineyard development, the use of traditional techniques and the future commercial potential of Tokaji wines."

The viability of growers in years when, unlike 2000, there is not a good Aszu harvest was also discussed. James Simpson stressed the importance to Crown Estates and Pol Roger of new young dry wines being developed under the Castle Island label brand. He indicated that their success is vital to the commercial future of the region and that Crown Estates, as the leading producer in the region, is committed to maintaining the viability of the region and its growers by promoting all the wines of Tokaj. Other Tokaj companies present made it clear that they had no interest in making dry wines.

For more information on Crown Estates and Castle Island wines please contact Lajos Kun, Chief Winemaker, on 06 47 322 133, or Richard Gueterbock on 00 44 1264 810 966.

Notes For Editors

• The institute of Masters of Wine is the leading wine industry training body with a very prestigious reputation. It has just over 200 members, all of whom have to pass a very demanding exam prior to being admitted to membership
• The Institute organises a number of events each year including several tastings which are open to the wine trade and leading wine consumers. The Tokaji tasting, the first of its kind in the UK was held in London on 4^th December 2000.
• The leading Tokaji producers invited to participate in the tasting included Crown Estates of Hungary, Disznoko (French owned), Istvan Szepsy, Oremus (Spanish owned) and Royal Tokaji (British owned). They were all asked to provide their 93 5 putts and 2 other Aszu wines.