Pajzos, Furmint, Esszencia, Tokaji, Hungary 2016 (375ml)

Chateau Pajzos Essencia 2016
Comes From Tokaj in Northeastern Hungary, about 2.5 hours from the country’s capital, Budapest.

Louis 14 called it the King of wine and wine of kings as they were enjoyed kings and nobles throughout Europe.
Tokaj was the first region to be legally demarcated in 1737.
Situated around the village of Mád where the Tisza and Bodrog Rivers provide humidity, encouraging the growth of Aszú, as is known in Hungary, aka botrytis or noble rot.

Botrytis Affects the grapes, shrivels them on the vine, resulting in rich and luscious dessert wines.

Main grape in Tokaj is Furmint, dry examples remind of Riesling, but less aromatic.
Furmint retains acidity, offering balance. Sárgamuskotály, aka Muscat á Petits Grains and Hárslevelű are also important.

Tokaj, during communism was rather forgotten, but in 1991, after communism fell, there was an influx of foreign investment. Wine writer, Hugh Johnson started Royal Tokaji, Oremus was started by Vega Sicilia, one of Spain’s most important producers and Pajzos was started by a French investment firm, who also owned Chateau Clinet in Pomerol.

Esszencia is Tokaji’s rarest wine, made only in minuscule quantities, hand-harvested berry by berry, made only with the free run juice. It takes years to ferment to a mere 5% alcohol or so. Legally, minimum is 1.2ABV with 450 g/l of RS. This one has 590 g/l or 59% sugar. Despite the sweetness, it is incredibly balanced and long.

These are some of the richest, most complex and age-worthy wines, once reserved only for Nobility, now available to commoners like you and I.