Only 15 vintages of the Royal Tokaji Red Label 5 puttonyos have been produced since its premier release of the 1990 vintage, 30 years ago. Since then, the Red Label has been made in 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2016 and 2017. This wine is a blend of carefully selected grapes from several of Royal Tokaji’s first and second growth vineyards.

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. 2017 was such a year, just the eighth this century, showing exceptional richness, structure and backbone balanced by lively acidity – a truly volcanic vintage.

Summer was hot, so we began the aszú berry harvest in early September and continued to pick steadily through the ideal autumn weather. In particular, October provided three textbook weeks for fine quality aszú, with day after day of early morning mists, afternoon sunshine and drying winds. 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. The aszú wines show great structure, plenty of botrytis, depth and freshness with excellent complexity, all attributes of long ageing potential.

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 then transferred into 300L and 500L Hungarian Zemplen oak barrels for over two years maturation in Royal Tokaji’s 13th century cellars. The final blends were crafted in the spring of 2020.

Intense nose with lots of fruitiness and spice. Great structure and vibrant freshness with flavors of white peach and ripe plums, a perfect balance of richness, crisp acidity and a long finish.