Disznókö Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2017

Disznókö is a noted Tokaj-Hegyalja estate in northeast Hungary, working old vines planted in plots of volcanic clay. This Aszú 6 Puttonyos blends Furmint, Hárslevelü and Zéta from those volcanic soils, where slope, altitude and the autumn river mists encourage Botrytis cinerea. The noble rot shrivels the berries and concentrates their sugar, acid and aroma. The Aszú grapes are picked by hand at optimum ripeness and kept separate by plot, with pickers passing through the vines two to four times a day to select only the botrytised fruit. The dried berries are steeped in base wine, fermented slowly and aged in barrel, the six puttonyos level marking the highest concentration of Aszú and so the greatest sweetness. The colour is bright golden. The nose is expressive, with dried peach and mango, orange blossom and candied citrus peel. The palate is lush and concentrated yet driven by Furmint's keen acidity, which keeps it fresh, balanced and long. Serve chilled at around 10C in a small glass. It pairs with blue cheese and fruit desserts.