Mézes Mály, 6 Puttonyos, Tokaj — 2016
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Introduction
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Mézes Mály Great First Growth Single Vineyard
Mézes Mály (MAIZE-esh my) is arguably the world’s original “superstar” vineyard. The first classification of the already legendary vineyards of Tokaji took place in the 1730’s, the earliest of any wine region, and Mézes Mály was designated as a “Great First Growth” – one of only two vineyards with that classification. Royal Tokaji and Hugh Johnson jointly own this vineyard, which is the winery’s only vineyard with deep loess topsoil over volcanic bedrock. Vine age ranges from 19 to 60 years old.
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Vineyard Profile
- Vineyards: Royal Tokaji’s parcels of Great 1st Growth Mézes Mály (100% Estate)
- Appellation: Tokaj, Hungary
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Vintage Report
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In truly exceptional years Royal Tokaji selects the finest berries from its classed vineyards and carefully produces a few barrels of single vineyard aszú wine. 2016 is such a year, just the seventh this century, and the quality was so exceptional that we are releasing the widest range of aszú wines since 2008.
After a mild and dry winter, we had a long spring with warm days and cool nights. The flowering season was unusually long and there was an uneven fruit set in many vineyards due to some late spring frosts. Throughout the summer, the weather was almost perfect. In July and August, the region was hit by hail, but there was no serious damage. From the middle of August, botrytis started to spread all over the region. We hand-harvested each intensely flavored aszú berry from the bunches on the vines. The aszú harvest required multiple passes through each block over many weeks!
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Vinification
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Excellent quality aszú berries with good structure and perfect botrytis were macerated in fermenting must for two days. After pressing and fermentation the wines were transferred into two 300-liter neutral Hungarian Zemplen oak casks for maturation over two years in Royal Tokaji’s 13th century cellars.
- Bottled: May 2019
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Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: Furmint, Hárslevelű and a small percent of other indigenous varieties
- Cases Imported: 50
- Alcohol: 10.5%
- TA: 10.7 g/L
- RS: 180.9 g/L
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Tasting Notes
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This wine has a lovely nose, honey-like (Mézes Mály translates as “honey-place”), delicate yet persistent. The palate is graceful and intense, precisely balanced with white fruits, hints of chamomile, crisp acidity and a powerful finish.
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Images
Reviews
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Royal Tokaji Mézes Mály, 6 Puttonyos, Tokaj — 2016 – Wine Enthusiast – 97 Points
Aromas of white freesia, lanolin, honeysuckle and beeswax prepares the palate for flavors of apricot, orange zest and white-peach juice. Made from grapes grown on the Mézes Mály single vineyard, this has heft on the palate and pleasant mouthfeel. The finish offers fruit sweetness with balanced acidity.
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Royal Tokaji Mézes Mály, 6 Puttonyos, Tokaj — 2016 – Wine & Spirits – 97 Points
The 2016 vintage is the first since 2008 in which Royal Tokaji has released the full range of its aszú wines, including single-vineyard bottlings from its top parcels. The season's warm, humid summer allowed for ample botrytis to develop on the grapes the Royal Tokaji team then made multiple passes through the vineyards over the course of several weeks, picking the fruit a berry at a time to ensure only healthy botrytis. This bottling comes from one of the region's most hallowed vineyards, where the volcanic subsoil is covered with a deep layer of loess. the wine is as complex...
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Royal Tokaji Mézes Mály, 6 Puttonyos, Tokaj — 2016 – Jancis Robinson – 18.5++ Points
Mid gold colour. Honey, honeysuckle and candied apricots on the nose. Massive concentration with fleshy, sweet fruit on the palate. So youthful, with a sweeter, rounder mouthfeel than the other single-vineyard wines. Unctuous until the inevitable acidity cuts through, but this still finishes with a sweet kick. Honey, marmalade and blood orange. Superb!
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Royal Tokaji Mézes Mály, 6 Puttonyos, Tokaj — 2016 – Vinous – 92 Points
The 2016 Mézes Mály Great First Growth Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos, which contains 180.9g/L residual sugar, is the one cuvée whose nose I could not quite work out at first. It needs a few minutes to really coalesce, eventually offering toffee apple, adhesive, lanolin and wood resin scents. Personally, I prefer the Betsek and then the Nyulászó on the nose. The harmonious palate is business as usual, featuring pure botrytized fruit, a superb bed of acidity, and orange peel, marmalade and a touch of lemon sherbet toward the persistent finish, where a welcome touch of bitterness lingers in the mouth.