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Hungarian Tokajis were historically among the most highly prized wines in the world. Long before Sauternes, they graced the tables of European elites and connoisseurs. In the summer of 1991, the late Jean-Michael Arcaute and Jean-Louis Laborde launched the Renaissance of Tokaji. They led a group of 12 wine lovers and acquired Château Pajzos, carrying out the same year the first “private enterprise” harvest and vinification. Today, the Domaine is under the sole ownership of the Laborde family, who also owns Château Clinet in Pomerol.

For the Tokaji Aszú wines, a base dry white wine is first made (Château Pajzos uses the Dry Furmint they produce), then mixed with Aszú berries - botrytized, shriveled grapes that were originally picked from bunches into 20-liter wooden tubs called puttony. During harvest, it can take up to 30 passages in the vineyards to pick them at the perfect time, as Château Pajzos only selects fully botrytized -not just passerillé- grapes. Traditionally, the concentration of the Tokaji was defined by the number of puttony added to the base. Nowadays, the "Puttonyos" is based on the content of residual sugar in the final wine. It takes about 44 pounds of Azsú berries mixed with 100 liters of base wine to reach 1 Puttonyos - and an experienced picker a full day to harvest that quantity. The sweet wines are aged in 1.5km of underground galleries that offer constant humidity and temperature; they are only produced in the best vintages. Since 2013, Château Pajzos focused its range on Azsú wines from 4 to 6 Puttonyos. Their approach is to highlight freshness when other houses promote a more oxidative style.

Aging: 2 years in 220 liters, 30% new Hungarian oak casks followed by two years in stainless-steel tanks.

75% Furmint and 25% Harslevelu. Lusciously sweet with electric acidity, a great concentration of apricot, honey, and marmalade flavors, and incredible length, power and finesse. You can age this wine for another 20 years, although it drinks beautifully now. Incredible!

NYR

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