Szt. Tamás 6 Puttonyos 2003 Tasting Notes

2003 Vineyard Profile

Sharing its microclimate with Nyulaszó, which is virtually on “the next hill” and on the same ridge, Szt Tamas is south facing and can be seen on the right hand side of the road as one enters Mád. Nearly all the 22 parcels, which forms the company’s holding in this vineyard are in the top league. Classed 1st growth in 1700, the old knew what they were doing. Today Szt Tamas is the most expensive vineyard in its commune - if one can buy any land there at all! Size of Royal Tokaji holding: 11ha, 22 parcels. Soil: rich clay

2003 Vintage Report

Winter was very long in 2003. Weather even cited winter at the beginning of April here. There were even frosty nights at the beginning of April so budding started a bit late. However this time-lag was compensated soon because of the sudden and remarkable warming up at the end of April beginning of May. This warm accompanied the whole season. Season was very dry in spite of the annual rainfall above the average level because there was heavy atmospherical drought during the vegetative cycle. It was not a serious problem in vineyard with volcanic clay top soil but could cause significant damage by the drought in some of the loess vineyards. Harvest started quite early in the region thanks for the above mentioned. There was top quality aszú berry picked up to the beginning of October when we had two inches of rain. Following of this period we could mainly pick second class berries because there were no long enough dry periods to provide ideal conditions to continuous development of the berries. Frosts coming in at the end of October cut the chance of any further producing of sugar. We can declare that the vintage is good from aszú berry quality and quantity point of view however it was an excellent one for base-wine, dry wines, szamorodni and late harvest wines.

2003 Tasting Notes

Medium amber in colour. Dried orange peel and smoky spices, pot-pourri, particularly rich and finely balanced with the pronounced acidity. It is typified by a spicy note of dried orange peel. The aftertaste has a minty character.

2003 Technical Information