2013 Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos

From a particularly successful vintage. Glowing amber colour. Rich apricot compote followed by mahogany flavours and a dry finish. Very acceptable without being utterly thrilling. (JR)

2013 was a great vintage in Tokaj – classic with lots of botrytis, lots of concentration. Quite similar to 2019, just slightly cooler and botrytis arrived slightly earlier. This is a blend of 75% Furmint, about 10% Hárslevelű and 15% Zéta. RS 156 g/l, pH 3.2, TA 7.6 g/l. Disznókö's general manager László Mészáros says that 10 years old is about the time that Aszú wines start to hit their stride: 'They're impressive when young, powerful, but at 10 years old they are a bit more settled and serious and complex.' This wine just doesn't seem to age! It's astoundingly concentrated, an extravagance of pineapple, mango, honey and quince. It hums with electric energy, tiny pops of lime-green voltage arcing through the luscious sweetness of the fruit. It has the weight and feel of brocaded silk, glimmering in the mouth, and yet the finish is soaringly fresh and clean. Minty and startlingly bright. Stunning. (TC)

The 2013 Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos, aged for 20 months in oak barrels, has a perfumed, honeyed bouquet with mango and yellow plum. It doesn't quite have the complexity of the 2014. The palate is well balanced with a pure entry, a keen line of acidity, orange zest-tinged honeyed fruit and nougat and hazelnut notes on the finish. The palate has a tad more complexity than the aromatics, but overall, it is very fine, if not the long-term prospect of other vintages.