Tokaji: how sweet is it?
The number of puttonyos indicates the level of sweetness. For Tokaj Aszú, the measurement is generally between three to six puttonyos.
Tokaji wine is made in several styles, ranging from dry to sweet.
The sweeter variety like Aszú is made from late-ripened grapes that are affected by noble rot. These grapes lose their hydration and become shriveled and raisin-like which concentrates the sugar.
In this case, the sweetness in Tokaj Aszú wines is based on the level of residual sugar in the finished wine. This is referred to as puttonyos.
Generally these wines range from three to six puttonyos. Wine with six puttonyos is highly prized while wine with one or two puttonyos is rarely bottled.
The following is a list of the sweetness range for Tokaj Aszú wines. Keep in mind this is an estimate as some wineries may exceed the degree of sweetness required for their wines.
3 puttonyos = 60 grams per litre
4 puttonyos = 90 grams per litre
5 puttonyos = 120 grams per litre
6 puttonyos = 150 grams per litre
Aszú Eszencia = over 180 grams per litre
Eszencia = over 240 grams per litre
Related posts:
- Tokaji: Hungary’s Golden Wine
- Tokaji Aszú
- Interview with Gergely Somogyi from The Tokaji Journal
- Tokaji Wine Festival 2009
- Noble rot: Hungary’s unlikely discovery
Category: Wine
About the Author (Author Profile)
Suzanne Urpecz, creator and editor of The Hungarian Girl. Click on my About page for more info.
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