Monyok Tokaji 3 Puttonyos Aszu 0.5L 2008

Hungary, one of the Central European nations with the oldest winemaking traditions, boasts among its wines the Monyok Tokaji 3 Puttonyos Aszu, one of the most prized in Europe. Its name originates from the famous Tokaji region where it is produced and where its vines affected by noble rot are grown. The success of this wine undoubtedly stems from the characteristics of its production area. The sandy and clayey soil rests on a volcanic subsoil rich in minerals, capable of enhancing the properties of the vines. Furthermore, the very humid microclimate, characterized by frequent rain and fog, favors the development of botrytis. This wine is the result of a long and complex production process. The harvest is delayed compared to other wines and is hand-picked. Production can be divided into two phases: - in the first phase, only the grapes affected by noble rot are gradually harvested, while the others are left to dry until the end of November; - from the botrytized grapes, a sort of paste is obtained, placed in a 25 kg basket called a puttony. This paste is then added to the dry base wine, causing further fermentation that will impart a certain sugar content to the wine, expressed in puttonyos. Up to 6 puttonyos can be added to 136 liters of wine. This Tokaji, having 3 puttonyos, does not have a high sugar content, unlike a 6 puttonyos Tokaji, which instead is characterized by a much more decisive sweet taste. The vines grown for the production of this fine wine are Furmint and Hásrlevelü, to which, over time, Moscato bianco and Zéta have been added.