2002 Oremus Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos (500ml)

According to legend, in 1650 the manager of the Oremus estate, fearing an attack by the Turks, delayed the harvest for two months. The resulting wine, made from shriveled (aszu) grapes, was recognized as exceptional and Tokaji became known for its sweet wines, two centuries before botrytised wines were made at Chateau d'Yquem in Sauternes. Vega Sicilia, indisputably Spain's greatest estate, saw the exceptional potential of this area, and bought the Oremus estate located in the heart of Tokaji, in 1993.

The grapes are grown on hillside vineyards, which rise steeply above the village of Tolscva and have excellent South and South-West exposures. The nearby River Bodrog provides optimal noble rot climatic conditions, and all of the Oremus vineyards are classified as 'First Growths.' Oremus features the traditonal grape varieties, primarily the spicy Furmint, Harslevelu and Muskat Lunel and Zeta; these flavors roughly correspond to the Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle of Sauternes. Aszu (meaning Botrytis in Hungarian) wines are the specialty here.

The Oremus winery is proud to have an ancient tunnel/cellar system extending for multiple kilometers. This system dates back to the 13th century, and in 2002, it became a World Heritage Site These tunnels house Oremus' gonci (136-liter oak) barrels during the aging process.