Tokay Essence--Vintage 1834
1 50 cl bottle per lot
THE HANS JORISSEN COLLECTION OF RARE TOKAJI The late Hans Jorissen was a good client of Christie's and long standing personal friend. We shared two passions, old Madeira and Tokaji; and I shall long remember his outstanding Vinum Tokayens tasting in Leiden in November 1981, his oldest vintage and last remaining bottle, the 1834 Essence is featured in this sale. The least known, until its recent renaissance, of all the great classic European wine districts, Tokay, or more correctly Tokaj, is situated in the far east of Hungary. Here, since well before the 18th century, the wines were highly esteemed by the courts and royalty of Russia and Poland; indeed Catherine the Great owned a major vineyard which was protected by her own Russian troops! The wealth, power and wine estates of the Hungarian nobility were decimated by World War I. However, in the 1920s the enterprising London wine merchants Berry Bros almost literally unearthed a number of old vintages from abandoned aristocratic cellars. Even so quality wines were made throughout the 1920s and 1930s. In the mid 1970s Berry Bros were once again responsible for re-introducing Tokay Essence. Happily, once more good wines are being made, though the older vintages are not scarce, virtually unobtainable. The following terms are important to know: all Aszús are sweet, the degrees of sweetness indicated by the number of Puttonyos: 3 putts are medium sweet, 4 putts - sweet like a Barsac, 5 putts the level of a top Sauternes; 6 putts sweeter still; and Tokaji Essence (Esszencia, Eszencia or Essencia) the richest and sweetest of all. 'Ausbruch' is from late-picked grapes, roughly of 4 putts sweetness. Szamorodni can be dry or moderately sweet. The great vintages of Tokaji are the longest-living of all wines and have the extra advantage of keeping well after opening. The distinctive half-litre bottles are customarily stored upright. Michael Broadbent M.W. Tokay Essence--Vintage 1834 Fürst Bretzenheim. Berry Bros label. Wax capsule. Damage label. Level mid-shoulder Tasting note: The greatest mid nineteenth century vintage. Lemon-amber colour; high-toned, raisiny bouquet; very rich with high sustaining acidity. June and October 1972 **** Michael Broadbent 1 50 cl bottle per lot
Tokay Essence--Vintage 1834
1 50 cl bottle per lot
THE HANS JORISSEN COLLECTION OF RARE TOKAJI The late Hans Jorissen was a good client of Christie's and long standing personal friend. We shared two passions, old Madeira and Tokaji; and I shall long remember his outstanding Vinum Tokayens tasting in Leiden in November 1981, his oldest vintage and last remaining bottle, the 1834 Essence is featured in this sale. The least known, until its recent renaissance, of all the great classic European wine districts, Tokay, or more correctly Tokaj, is situated in the far east of Hungary. Here, since well before the 18th century, the wines were highly esteemed by the courts and royalty of Russia and Poland; indeed Catherine the Great owned a major vineyard which was protected by her own Russian troops! The wealth, power and wine estates of the Hungarian nobility were decimated by World War I. However, in the 1920s the enterprising London wine merchants Berry Bros almost literally unearthed a number of old vintages from abandoned aristocratic cellars. Even so quality wines were made throughout the 1920s and 1930s. In the mid 1970s Berry Bros were once again responsible for re-introducing Tokay Essence. Happily, once more good wines are being made, though the older vintages are not scarce, virtually unobtainable. The following terms are important to know: all Aszús are sweet, the degrees of sweetness indicated by the number of Puttonyos: 3 putts are medium sweet, 4 putts - sweet like a Barsac, 5 putts the level of a top Sauternes; 6 putts sweeter still; and Tokaji Essence (Esszencia, Eszencia or Essencia) the richest and sweetest of all. 'Ausbruch' is from late-picked grapes, roughly of 4 putts sweetness. Szamorodni can be dry or moderately sweet. The great vintages of Tokaji are the longest-living of all wines and have the extra advantage of keeping well after opening. The distinctive half-litre bottles are customarily stored upright. Michael Broadbent M.W. Tokay Essence--Vintage 1834 Fürst Bretzenheim. Berry Bros label. Wax capsule. Damage label. Level mid-shoulder Tasting note: The greatest mid nineteenth century vintage. Lemon-amber colour; high-toned, raisiny bouquet; very rich with high sustaining acidity. June and October 1972 **** Michael Broadbent 1 50 cl bottle per lot
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
