2005 Berrys' Tokaji Aszú (5 Puttonyos)

Of all the great sweet wines of the world, Tokaji must surely rank as the one of the very best. With its mysterious aura and colourful history going all the way back to the days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it is surely an essential part of the list of England’s oldest and most venerable Wine Merchant. And so it has always been and so it is still; our selection boasts wines from some of the great villages.

Yet for the last year and a half, we have been without the popular Berry’s Own Selection Tokaji; it seems that demand and supply for the very top wines is now a little out of kilter, given their burgeoning reputation and global popularity. In addition, we are keen to source the very best of the very best, which are, of course, rarer still.

The rewards of patience have been an up-grade from four to five puttonyos and a resulting wine which is an archetype of great Tokaii; from the seductive nose of apricots, butterscotch and quince through to the unctuous palate, intensely honied and rich, yet with a fine seam of balancing acidity, this wine is little short of ‘liquid gold’.

Lovely smashed apricots nose with strong pear juice streak. Masses of acidity.
(Jancis Robinson MW, Financial Times, 19-Dec-09 – Strength and sweetness - The best dessert wines, ports and sherries)