The Royal Tokaji winery is located on the central square in the village of Mád, approximately 240 kilometers northeast of Budapest in the Tokaj wine region. To celebrate Royal Tokaji's 20th anniversary, the winery has been completely renovated. Designed by leading Hungarian architect Csaba Bodonyi, it houses over 1,000 oak barrels for aging and has a stainless steel tank capacity of 2,700 hectoliters. It has already been hailed as the most important in the Tokaj region for its environmental credentials.
Rather than selecting individual berries shrivelled by botrytis, Late Harvest relies on partial cluster selection, which includes naturally ripe, overripe, and botrytis-affected berries. This combination of different stages of ripeness within the cluster gives the berries a distinctive Tokaji character, but doesn't require the long aging of aszú wines. The harvested clusters are then pressed, and the rich must is fermented in the same way as the dry wines, maintaining a balance of sugar and natural acidity. Late Harvest spends approximately three months in barrels, using some new barrels. As with all Royal Tokaji wines, quality, house style, and balance are paramount.
The Late Harvest has a light golden color with delicate citrus and spicy aromas. The nose is fresh, revealing notes of dried tropical fruits like peach and apricot. This fruit is also evident in the refined flavor. Light and refreshing on the palate, with hints of white peach and honey. It has excellent acidity, a smooth, silky texture, and a clean, long, crisp finish.
