2006 Alana-Tokaj, Tokaji Aszueszencia, Dessert Wine, Hungary. (375ml)
This utterly amazing sweet wine is hand made from whole clusters of Zéta, Muscat, Hárslevelű and Furmint grapes from the best hillside vines available to Alana-Tokaj, a small artisan producer coming off some impressive awards, including Best Sweet Wine Gold Medal in Hong Kong 2011. Words have little meaning when you taste a wine this profound and stunning, I can say this might be the best ever sweet wine I’ve had, equalling the 1983 Chateau D’ Yquem, and well if I’m honest, it might truly be better. This is a wine that gives sensations and emotion in waves with a striking nose of fresh apricots, mineral and orange flowers and clove honey with layers of pineapple, passionfruit, apples, pears and the mentioned apricots and honey with fresh tangerine, lemon and fig as well. This pure and balanced Tojaji is as good as it gets and should drink for another 20-40 years with joyous magic, this golden nectar is the stuff of legends and dreams, totally fantastic. This naturally made Tokaji Aszueszencia was fermented using only local native yeasts was aged 40 months in new Kadar Hungarian oak barriques with a light toast and a cuvee blend from 11 unique lots, and has bottled by hand, then aged a further 17 months before release. No question this is one of the top wines I’ve tried this year, and a huge Thank You to Alana-Tokaj for the sample, I’m grateful indeed.
($150 Est.) 98+ Points, grapelive

 

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