Tokaji Essencia, Royal Tokaji Wine Company 2009

The 2009 Tokaji Essencia is a production of 1,356 bottles. It contains 581 g/l residual sugar and 11.8 g/l acidity. Very complex, it's quite profound on a nose that is still just a little timid coming after the 2016. Seville orange marmalade, quince jus, honeycomb and butterscotch gradually unfold in the glass. It conveys a sense of precision unlike any other vintage. The palate is just pure bliss, with incredible balance and poise, ineffable purity and panache, velvety texture with perhaps a soupçon more sustain on the finish compared to the 2016 and 2017. This is a perfect Essencia. 2025 - 2200

Wine does not get more concentrated, dense and viscous than this Tokaji Essencia, but alongside the unctuous sweetness, it also has extraordinary freshness. The fruit aromas range from blood to quince jelly, but there’s also a slew of spices and notes of flowers and forest honey. Although it barely has 2% alcohol, it is much more vinous than that figure suggests. Titanic brulee character at the huge finish. Just 1,386 half-bottles were made. Should live longer than any of us! Drink or hold.