December 10th is International Aszú Day, celebrating one of the world’s greatest and oldest sweet wines from Hungary.
The Hungarian word for botrytis-affected berries, and the name of the resulting wine, ‘Aszú’ wines are produced with a centuries-old, unique winemaking method.
Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) regional chair for CEE, Balkans, Croatia & Slovenia, Caroline Gilby MW says, ‘The Aszú grapes must be harvested laboriously one-by-one. A good picker may pick less than 10kg per day, visiting each vine four or five times. After harvest, these grapes are crushed and soaked in either grape juice, young wine or (most commonly today) fermenting must in order to extract flavours and sweetness.’
The process is painstaking, but the resulting wines can be sensational with incredible balance between sweetness and acidity: This balance is particularly noted in tasting notes by the expert judges at DWWA.
Discussing the DWWA judging process, Co-Chair Sarah Jane Evans MW reflects on the quality of sweet wines that make it to the final rounds of judging, mentioning Tokaji in particular. ‘We have sensational Tokajis’ she says. ‘The Tokaji we get entered into the competition is of a really high standard.’
Scroll down to see the top-scoring Tokaji Aszú wines of DWWA 2024
On judging sweet wines, Evans adds, ‘One other thing that’s important to say is that it’s very easy to be taken in by sweet wine, you’ll love it, just because it’s suddenly so sumptuous and delicious. It’s a matter of then putting together that complexity to see how it comes out.’
Year after year sweet wines from Tokaj are awarded top marks at Decanter World Wine Awards, and 2024 was no exception with one Best in Show awarded to Gizella, Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2019, one Platinum and four Gold medals.
To celebrate the 8th annual International Aszú Day, this unique method of winemaking and these superbly complex wines, below discover 10 well worth trying this holiday season and beyond.
Search all DWWA 2024 award-winning wines from Tokaj at awards.decanter.com
Top-scoring Tokaji Aszú for the holidays
Gizella, Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2019
Best in Show, 97 points
The 2019 vintage wasn’t an easy one in Tokaji – after a wet spring, flowering passed off well and summer was hot. It was also, though, intermittently wet, and downy mildew was unusually severe in the vines. It was a short crop as a result, but analytically excellent, as this 5 puttonyos wine shows. It’s bright gold in colour, with ample honeyed fruits lent complexity by the intrigue of botrytis. On the palate, it is thick-textured and sweet, with a delicate grape-acid balance but with those botrytis notes bringing both structure and complexity all the way through the palate to a long, crème-anglaise-rich finish. It will doubtless age well but also serves as a toothsomely rich Tokaji to enjoy before too long. Alcohol 9.5%
Balassa, Villő, Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2019
Platinum, 97 points
A spectacular harmony of clover blossom, lavender and rosemary aroma, so delicate and ethereal, with a distinctive unctuosity of honeyed apricot and candied lemon which oozes over the palate. Silky and voluptuous with racy pink grapefruit acidity. Alc 9%
Maison Aux Pois, Aszú 2019
Gold, 96 points
Staggering quince, honeyed peach and marmalade perfume is emboldened by a fabulous purity and searing seam of acidity. Utterly bewitching with an enduring length. Textbook. Alc 9.5%
Pajzos, Aszú 5 Puttonyos 2017
Gold, 96 points
Sumptuously sweet apricot compote, candied ginger and honeyed saffron flavours interplay exquisitely with the electric core of pink grapefruit acidity and lengthy toasted almond finish. Alc 9.5%
Disznoko, Hattyus Aszú 5 Puttonyos 2019
Gold, 95 points
Mellow apricot preserve, lemon curd and vanilla spice billow and thrive in a blanket of caramel sweetness with an intoxicating freshness and cleansing acidity to boot! Alc 12.5%
Oremus, Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2017
Gold, 95 points
Fantastic aromatics of acacia blossom, honeyed peach and pear with clusters of fragrant lavender and rosemary to lift and swirl. Unctuously sweet with a beautifully contrasting zesty acidity. Alc 10.6%
Harsányi, Aszú 2019
Silver, 94 points
Fantastic apricot aromas with notes of lemon, caramel, toasted almonds, candied ginger, rosemary and juniper. Sophisticated palate with seductive acidity. Alc 11%
Royal Tokaji, Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2018
Silver, 93 points
Toasty nose with aromas of brown sugar, caramel, maple syrup, acacia honey and mandarin. Fresh and zesty on the palate. Alc 11%
Chateau Dereszla Aszú 5 Puttonyos 2019
Silver, 92 points
Aromas of saffron, apricot jam, juicy apple and tropical notes of papaya, with mouthwatering acidity. Well made and long. Alc 11.5%
Disznoko, Sarga Borhaz Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2019
Silver, 92 points
Rich on the nose, with notes of caramel, beeswax, golden apple, hay, apricots, acacia honey and meadow flowers. Very appealing palate. Alc 10.3%
