Tokaji Essencia Istvan Szepsy 1999

Lot presentation

Tokaji Essencia Istvan Szepsy 1999

The wine

Planted in the year 290 upon orders from the Roman emperor Probus, the Tokay vineyard has since produced rare, sweet, delicious wines. Enchanted by this precious nectar, Louis XIV proclaimed it "the Wine of Kings, the King of Wines". Thus, Tokay wines began to conquer the European market, becoming the favourite beverage of Peter the Great, Frederick II of Prussia, Voltaire, Goethe and Schubert. Tokay's defining characteristic resides in the fact that its grapes are not immediately processed. The botrytised grapes, known as aszú grapes, are picked one by one as the vines are successively combed. Stored in isolation, they are reincorporated into a dry wine harvested and produced earlier in the season. This peculiar blend triggers a second fermentation process. The number of baskets (known as puttonyos) of aszú grapes added to each barrel determines the degree of concentration and quality of the wine: three, four, five, six puttonyos or ultimately the richest and most highly concentrated version: aszú eszencia. Characterised by an amber colour, Tokay develops intense aromas of raisin, honey and sweet chestnut, with added notes of prune and even chocolate on the palate. Boasting exceptional aftertaste, these rare wines feature incredible ageing capacities.

Detailed characteristics