1996 Aszu Tokaji, 5 Puttonyos, Disznoko

Shimmering amber in the glass, the 1996 Disznókő Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos is an elegant expression of Tokaj’s rebirth in the modern era, a wine that marries opulence with perfect poise. The nose unfurls layers of dried apricot, orange marmalade, honey and chamomile, accented by hints of caramel, saffron and toasted hazelnut. The palate is rich yet finely balanced, luscious sweetness supported by racy acidity and a subtle minerality drawn from Tokaj’s volcanic soils. Notes of citrus peel and spiced honey linger on a finish that is both long and luminous. Mature, harmonious, and beautifully alive.

For when: dessert is over, but you’re not ready for the night to end.
Pairs with: foie gras, blue cheese, or baked fruit with vanilla cream.
If this wine were: a texture, it’d be silk embroidered with gold thread - detailed, delicate, and enduringly beautiful.

Disznókő, one of Tokaj’s grandest estates, is synonymous with the revival of Hungary’s most iconic wine. Its history stretches back to 1413, but its modern chapter began in the early 1990s when the AXA Millésimes group (owners of Pichon Baron and Quinta do Noval) invested heavily in restoring the vineyards and historic cellars to their former glory.

Set on the southern slopes of Tokaj-Hegyalja, the estate’s name means “pig rock,” a nod to a distinctive limestone outcrop that dominates the landscape. The vineyards, planted primarily to Furmint, Hárslevelű, and Zéta, benefit from loess and volcanic tuff soils that lend the wines their signature balance of richness and minerality. The 1996 vintage, among the first of the modern Disznókő era, was a triumph, marked by ideal autumn mists and long hang time, producing Aszú berries of exquisite concentration and purity. Aged in small Hungarian oak casks deep within Disznókő’s labyrinthine cellars, it remains a benchmark for Tokaji’s renaissance: golden, graceful, and eternally compelling.