VINTAGE INFORMATION

TOKAJ-HEGYALJA

VINTAGE INFORMATION

1972 is regarded as the vintage of the century, due to both the size and the quality of the Aszú harvest, across the region. The perfect climatic conditions: the long warm autumn combined with the early morning mists, ensured the early onset of botrytis and a plentiful supply of Aszú grapes.

Few subsequent vintages have been as good although individual vineyards have had excellent vintages since then. There is however great optimism for the 2000 vintage and it is anticipated that it will be the best vintage for over 100 years. A full vintage list, which summarises the relative quality from the past 100 years is also available.

The classification used is as follows:

*** Excellent Quality Aszú Vintage, Aszú berries throughout region.

** Good Quality Aszú Vintage, with good Aszú berries in some areas.

* Moderate Quality Aszú Vintage, limited or localised Aszú berries.

Vintage & star rating Climatic Factors affecting Growth Period and Aszú Harvest Impact on - Aszú Berries and Vintage Quality

1968
***
Rains after a warm summer brought the early outset of heavy botrytis infection on head trained vines. This was followed by a long, sunny spell Due to the long hot autumn, there was a plentiful supply of very high quality Aszú berries. Some wine in the Museum Cellar

1972
***
The long warm and favourable autumn helped the widespread development of noble rot and made it possible to fully harvest the Aszú berry crop. The Aszú vintage of the century in terms of quantity and also with excellent quality. The Museum Cellar contains good supplies of these prize-winning wines.

1975
***
A more humid spell set in directly before the start of the harvest. At the start of the harvest there were only a few Aszú berries but a dry warm October followed this and resulted in persistent formation of Aszú berries. In the Szarvas vineyard, mainly young vines had a moderate load. An exceptionally aromatic and high quality crop was produced, with superior yield of good Aszú berries. Some Szarvas wine remains in the Museum Cellar

Modern Vintages

1988
***
After a warm July, rain in August initiated the botrytis. The bulk of the Aszú berry harvest took place between 15 October and 5 November. By the end of October 80 to 90% of bunches were affected by noble rot. After low yields in the previous year, the rested vines produced a good quality crop. A delayed harvest resulted in a superior base wine, with high quality Aszú berries. This wine will be entering the Museum Cellar.

Vintage & star rating Climatic Factors affecting
Growth Period and

Aszú Harvest
Impact on -
Aszú Berries and

Vintage Quality

1989
**
Following a wet, cold spring and summer, disease was prevalent throughout growing season. However, alternating dry and humid spells in August and September induced some Aszú berry formation. It was a good quality vintage, in the region’s middle and western section with some good Aszú berry formation..

1990
**
The dry and warm summer was followed by a rainy and cold autumn. The harvest started late with only limited botrytis development. Medium quantity vintage. High quality only obtained from late harvested vines. Despite limited volumes, some good quality Aszú berries were picked.

1991
**
The cold spring was followed by wet summer months and a dry August and September. With the onset of botrytis, good quality Aszú berries were picked until mid-October. 113mm of rain in mid-October "bleached" the Aszú berries still on the vine. Good quality, medium quantity vintage ,with low yield of good quality Aszú. However the Szarvas vineyard yielded a small, but good quality harvest of Aszú berries.

1992
**
Rain at the beginning of summer was followed by hot and dry weather, with some rain in middle and at the end of September. After onset of Botrytis, the harvest started in mid October but this was accompanied by a rainy spell. The sound grapes and the small amount of Aszú berries harvested before the end of October were good quality. The delay to the harvest in November resulted in loss of quantity and quality.

1993
***
The summer was milder than average and dry. The long warm Autumn, combined with rolling mists ensured the early onset and development of botrytis. Some rain during the harvest period prevented late Aszú formation. Medium yields of outstanding quality of Aszú berries, resulted in the most successful vintage in both quality and quantity since the legendary 1972 harvest.

1994
*
The rainy spring, with a warm and dry summer and autumn, produced slow sugar accumulation. Some onset of botrytis was evident in late September. Rain in early October produced grey rot and patchy Aszú development. This produced a good quality vintage with low volumes. Thus the harvest was small but with some high quality Aszú berries. The vintage was good in the Szarvas vineyard and some excellent wines were produced.

1995
**
An average spring was followed by dry, warm summer. September was cold and rainy prior to a pleasant dry October. In some areas, a favourable microclimate for Aszu formation. Some vineyards had a good quality vintage. But with limited volume of Aszú berries, not an exceptional year.

1996
**
A warm spring preceded a poor summer and a rainy cold autumn. Thus botrytis set in while the sugar content was still low. Many growers did not wait for Aszú berry formation. Low yields with medium quality at the beginning of the harvest. However there was some quality improved towards the end of the harvest is some areas.

Only the very best wines from the finest vintages enter the Museum Cellar. As they mature further selection takes place under the strict supervision of the Cellarmaster and only wines that meet the highest standards are released in limited quantities from the Museum Cellar, with the appropriate certification. These excellent wines are only available from the Crown Estates of Hungary Museum Collection.

Other Notes

Essencia is only available in very limited quantities from finest vintages

Aszú Essencia is also very rare and restricted to the very best vintages

Puttonyos, from 3 to 6, indicates the number of puttony on Aszú grapes used Szamorodni (Edes/sweet or Szaraz/dry) is made from whole bunches.

Szarvas: Finest vineyard in the region: designated ‘Great First Growth’ in 1737.

Kincsem: Top vineyard in the region: designated ‘First Growth’.

Gyoparos: Top vineyard in the region: designated ‘First Growth’.

[close page]

Vintage & star rating	Climatic Factors affecting Growth Period and Aszú Harvest	Impact on - Aszú Berries and Vintage Quality
1968 *******	Rains after a warm summer brought the early outset of heavy botrytis infection on head trained vines. This was followed by a long, sunny spell	Due to the long hot autumn, there was a plentiful supply of very high quality Aszú berries. Some wine in the Museum Cellar
1972 *******	The long warm and favourable autumn helped the widespread development of noble rot and made it possible to fully harvest the Aszú berry crop.	The Aszú vintage of the century in terms of quantity and also with excellent quality. The Museum Cellar contains good supplies of these prize-winning wines.
1975 *******	A more humid spell set in directly before the start of the harvest. At the start of the harvest there were only a few Aszú berries but a dry warm October followed this and resulted in persistent formation of Aszú berries.	In the Szarvas vineyard, mainly young vines had a moderate load. An exceptionally aromatic and high quality crop was produced, with superior yield of good Aszú berries. Some Szarvas wine remains in the Museum Cellar
	Modern Vintages
1988 *******	After a warm July, rain in August initiated the botrytis. The bulk of the Aszú berry harvest took place between 15 October and 5 November. By the end of October 80 to 90% of bunches were affected by noble rot.	After low yields in the previous year, the rested vines produced a good quality crop. A delayed harvest resulted in a superior base wine, with high quality Aszú berries. This wine will be entering the Museum Cellar.
Vintage & star rating	Climatic Factors affecting Growth Period and Aszú Harvest	Impact on - Aszú Berries and Vintage Quality
1989 **	Following a wet, cold spring and summer, disease was prevalent throughout growing season. However, alternating dry and humid spells in August and September induced some Aszú berry formation.	It was a good quality vintage, in the region’s middle and western section with some good Aszú berry formation..
1990 **	The dry and warm summer was followed by a rainy and cold autumn. The harvest started late with only limited botrytis development.	Medium quantity vintage. High quality only obtained from late harvested vines. Despite limited volumes, some good quality Aszú berries were picked.
1991 **	The cold spring was followed by wet summer months and a dry August and September. With the onset of botrytis, good quality Aszú berries were picked until mid-October. 113mm of rain in mid-October "bleached" the Aszú berries still on the vine.	Good quality, medium quantity vintage ,with low yield of good quality Aszú. However the Szarvas vineyard yielded a small, but good quality harvest of Aszú berries.
1992 **	Rain at the beginning of summer was followed by hot and dry weather, with some rain in middle and at the end of September. After onset of Botrytis, the harvest started in mid October but this was accompanied by a rainy spell.	The sound grapes and the small amount of Aszú berries harvested before the end of October were good quality. The delay to the harvest in November resulted in loss of quantity and quality.
1993 *******	The summer was milder than average and dry. The long warm Autumn, combined with rolling mists ensured the early onset and development of botrytis. Some rain during the harvest period prevented late Aszú formation.	Medium yields of outstanding quality of Aszú berries, resulted in the most successful vintage in both quality and quantity since the legendary 1972 harvest.
1994 *	The rainy spring, with a warm and dry summer and autumn, produced slow sugar accumulation. Some onset of botrytis was evident in late September. Rain in early October produced grey rot and patchy Aszú development.	This produced a good quality vintage with low volumes. Thus the harvest was small but with some high quality Aszú berries. The vintage was good in the Szarvas vineyard and some excellent wines were produced.
1995 **	An average spring was followed by dry, warm summer. September was cold and rainy prior to a pleasant dry October. In some areas, a favourable microclimate for Aszu formation.	Some vineyards had a good quality vintage. But with limited volume of Aszú berries, not an exceptional year.
1996 **	A warm spring preceded a poor summer and a rainy cold autumn. Thus botrytis set in while the sugar content was still low. Many growers did not wait for Aszú berry formation.	Low yields with medium quality at the beginning of the harvest. However there was some quality improved towards the end of the harvest is some areas.