Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2017 – Dobogó (500ml)

The grapes to produce the Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos Dobogó were harvested by hand. After crushing, the sticky must was added to a sweet base wine for one night to macerate, in a ratio of one kilogram of Aszú grapes to one litre of base wine. After pressing, the wine was transferred to large 300-litre oak barrels, part new oak and part used, where it remained for 2-3 years before bottling. The wine spent three more years ageing in the Dobogó’s cellar before release. 

Dobogó only produce 6 Puttonyos Tokaj Aszú in the best vintages. Tokaj Aszú is made from grapes affected by “noble rot”, a form of botrytis which dehydrates the grapes and concentrates the sugars, aromas and acidity. The grapes are grown in the 30 year old Dobogó Pincészet, First-Growth vineyards in the volcanic subregion of Mád and Tállya. The vineyards are planted with 60% Furmint, 30% Hárslevelu and 10% Muscat Lunel. Yields for the 6 Puttonyos were restricted to an average of one kilogram of grapes per vine.

Dobogó is a small, family-run winery which operates on five hectares of first-growth vineyards in the volcanic heartland of Tokaj, near the village of Mád. Dobogó is co-owned by Izabella Zwack and winemaker Attila Domokos, who share the same vision of presenting to Hungary and the world their fresh, vibrant, exciting expression of Tokaji wines – both in the “aszú” style and the drier styles – while remaining faithful to Tokaj’s historic tradition of excellence. The vineyards, planted with Furmint, Hárslevelű and Muscat Lunel atop soils of volcanic origin, are farmed using biodynamic principles. Spur pruning is used to restrict yields. The different vineyard sites, including the 30-year-old Betsek and Szent Tamás vineyards, are situated around the village of Mád and are all classified ‘First Growth‘. Dobogó are best known for their botrytised Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos and “Mylitta” Noble Late Harvest, a more young and vibrant wine at around 120 g/l residual sugar. Their dry Furmint is also extraordinarily expressive and is a superb value alternative to white Burgundy, with a peach and pear fruit character and a solid backbone of acidity.