Hungarian Wines

Hungary’s quality wine reputation is arguably built on the esteemed dessert wines of Tokaj. These rich and mellifluous wines, which are referred to as Tokaji, are the product of botrytis cinerea, or noble rot, a beneficial mold that concentrates the natural sugar levels in grapes. The two principle grapes of the Tokaj region are Furmint and Hárslevelü, with Sárga Muskotály (Muscat Blanc á Petite Grains), Zéta, Kabar and Kövérszolo also authorized, but generally used in smaller proportions. While Tokaj is considered to be Hungary’s most famous wine region, 21 other regions of production exist. These regions are divided among three major zones of production: North Hungary, Transdanubia and the Southern Great Plain. For more information about the wines of Hungary, visit our Wine Reviews.

Sort By:

points

Royal Tokaji 2000 Essencia (Tokaji)

Editors' Choice

Price $544

This famed Hungarian dessert wine never disappoints. An elegant nose of honey, apricot, butterscotch and spice is followed by a luxuriant, mouth-coating wave of satiny honey and apricot flavors, balanced by citrusy acidity. Complex, perfectly poised, it’s a wine with both pedigree and charm—delicious when sipped alone or paired with a mild Roquefort or fruit. — S.K. (5/1/2009)

points

Royal Tokaji 2000 Aszú 5 Puttonyos (Tokaji)

Editors' Choice

Price $32

An amazing wine that is a benchmark for its class. Pure scents of dried apricot, citrus, jasmine and melon are coated with Asian spices, while the mouth is honeyed but nuanced, with flavors of dried spices, apricot marmalade and citrus fruits. What sets this wine apart is its mouthwatering acidity. A blend of grapes from multiple vineyards, this 26,000-case… — W.E. (6/1/2006)

points

Royal Tokaji 1999 Mézes Mály Aszú 6 Puttonyos (Tokaji)

Price $175

This exuberant Tokaji starts with an enticing nose of orange peel, honey, flowers and toast, and explodes in the mouth with intense, delicious waves of lemon, orange and honey flavors. A perfect balance of acid and fruit keeps the wine fresh without losing its luscious appeal. A memorable wine loaded with personality and excitement. — S.K. (5/1/2009)

points

Royal Tokaji 2003 Essencia Furmint (Tokaji)

Price $764

Surprisingly subtle, yet maddeningly complex, this is a rare treat to unravel slowly, sip by sip. Sweet and honeyed on the nose with scents of freesia, orange peel and stone fruit, but accented with just a hint of sun-dried hay. The palate is deeply concentrated with undulating waves of honey, beeswax and fruit, but balanced with striking tangerine acidity… — A.I. (5/1/2012)

points

Királyudvar 2007 Cuvée Ilona Tokaji (Tokaj)

Online Exclusive

Price $50

Bursting with flower and tropical fruit aromas, the nose on this Tokaj is intoxicating. Luxurious and creamy on the palate, it offers penetrating honey and stone fruit flavors, intensified by prickles of sea salt, mineral and tea leaf astringency. — A.I. (4/1/2013)

points

Patricius 2000 Aszú Bendecz Dúló 6 Puttonyos Tokaji (Tokaj)

Editors' Choice

Price $105

This Tokaji strikes the perfect balance of lush, creamy opulence and elegant, lively acidity. Honey, spice and lemon on the nose and in the mouth unfold triumphantly, offering a fresh but full character. On the palate, the wine is viscous and full, but with a strain of liveliness that gives it lift. Delicious and decadent. — S.K. (5/1/2008)

points

Royal Tokaji 1999 Betsek Aszú 6 Puttonyos (Tokaji)

Price $67

Made with 50% Furmint, 45% Háslevelu and 5% Muscat, this vintage weathered two hailstorms during the summer. The surviving grapes benefited from greater concentration, leading to a more intense wine. Already developing toffee and coffee notes, this wine still shows plenty of citrus, honey, dried apricot and fig, with a hint of nuttiness on the nose. Syrupy and… — W.E. (6/1/2006)

points

Szepsy 2002 Aszú 6 Puttonyos Tokaji (Tokaj)

Online Exclusive

Though this dessert wine is already excellent, it’s quite exciting to imagine how good it will be as its delicate flavors mingle over time. Made by the Szepsy family, whose roots go centuries (perhaps 1,000 years) deep in Hungary, the wine starts with a dense, slightly musky but floral nose. On the tongue, apricot, honey and spice mingle in a rich, opulent union… — S.K. (12/1/2007)

Most Reviewed Varietals

Bordeaux-style Red Blend Cabernet Franc Cabernet Sauvignon Chardonnay Grüner Veltliner Merlot Other Red Other White Pinot Grigio/Gris Red Blend Sparkling White Blend

Most Reviewed Wineries

Bock Craftsman Disznókö Dobogó Gere Attila Királyudvar Oremus Patricius Royal Tokaji Sauska Szoke Matyás Törley

2010 Pence Ranch Westslope

This is sourced from the winery's steepest and most wind-exposed blocks…

(Sponsored)