| Crown Estates makes the following Aszú wine styles, all of which
are available on the UK market, from Pol Roger.
Click here for the current list of available wines.
Tokaji Aszú
 The result of the unique Aszú winemaking process is a unique and
splendid wine. The number of Puttonyos of Aszú grapes added to
the base wine indicate not only the fine and sumptuous quality
of each Tokaji Aszú wine but also, in the finest vintages, will
determine the keeping quality of the wines which will keep for
generations.
In the past decade, the best vintages are the outstanding 1993
and also 1999. Crown Estates 5 puttonyos Tokaji Aszú from 1993
was awarded a 5 star rating in a Decanter tasting in 1999. By
the end of 2000 only Crown Estates of Hungary, among leading Tokaji
producers, will still retain significant stock from this outstanding
vintage.
1972 was the vintage of the Century in the region and the Museum Wines from this vintage have won a number of international competitions.
Top vintages only occur two or three times a decade. Often efforts
to produce an Aszú vintage in poor years do not yield the best
results.
Tokaji Aszú Essencia
 This rare variety of Aszú, only available in very small quantities,
cannot be named according to the number of Puttony, since sugar
content and sugar free extract surpass those of the otherwise
rare 6 Puttonyos Aszú wine. To develop its flavour, bouquet, fragrance
and taste, maturing takes place in wooden casks for a legal minimum
of 5 years. Ideally, it needs at least a further 5 years maturation
in bottle but will improve in bottle for many years thereafter.
Aszú Essencia is only produced in the best vintages, such as 1972,
1993, 1999 or 2000.
Tokaji Essencia
 Essencia is the most precious liquid obtained from Aszú grapes.
Prior to making the Aszú wine, harvested berries picked individually
from the bunch are stored in wooden casks, with a false bottom
made up of loose-fitting slats. 'Essence' or juice, pressed out
by the weight of the grapes, is collected and then matured in
Gönci casks or demi-johns. With such a high sugar content, Tokaji
Essencia ferments very slowly to about 3-4% alcohol and is a great
rarity - a phenomenal nectar rather than a true wine. Due to its
intensity it will mature for decades in cask and bottle before
it reaches its peek. For instance, Essencia from 1972 stored in
the Crown Estates Museum Cellar has the potential to improved for many years to come.
Tokaji Szamarodni
Crown Estates also produce the less well known Szamarodni wines.
Unlike Tokaji Aszú wines, where the botrytis affected Aszú grapes
are individually hand-picked, these wines are made from grapes
pressed without selective picking (ie bunches with sound ripe
grapes and botrytis infected ones). The style of Szamarodni depends
on the proportion of Aszú grapes present at harvest. Before pressing,
the bunches are immersed in the young wine for 12 hours to extract
the sugar content.
Two categories of Szamarodni wine are available from Crown Estates:
 Édes (sweet) is made from bunches with a higher proportion of Aszú
grapes. Natural sweetness is balanced with firm acidity and a
nuttiness through ageing in oak casks for two years. |
