Tokaj Aszú on the table
For although it is one of our most noble wines, Aszú is first and foremost made for pleasure: to crown our festive evenings and to accompany our most beautiful moments. It feels good to know it is resting on the shelf, but its true value is revealed when we pour it and taste it.
Even today, many people still think that Tokaji Aszú should be served exclusively at the end of a meal—paired with dessert, or even instead of it. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that this exceptional wine also works beautifully alongside carefully chosen starters and main courses, revealing a new side of itself through food pairings.
The great keeper of secrets of Tokaji Aszú
Whether young, mature, or of almost mythical age, Aszú is always a great keeper of secrets. Its sweetness is undeniable, yet that is not what truly matters; what matters is the sense of completeness it carries: perfect harmony, concentration, and an exceptionally beautiful balance between acidity and sugar.
When young, its colour resembles flowing acacia honey, while its aroma and flavour profile are defined by notes of citrus, quince, apricot, vanilla, dill, and mint. With age, it turns amber, and instead of fresh fruitiness, dried fruits take over: fig, date, dried apricot, ginger, and butterscotch rise from the glass. After a few more years, the wine deepens further, glowing with old-gold or bronze hues in the bottle, and its taste is dominated by associations of tobacco, dark chocolate, coffee, forest floor, walnut, and herbs—though faint memories of fruit still linger beneath them.
“Aszú is a wonderful gift; it deserves respect,” said Tokaj winemaker Károly Áts in an interview published on bor.hu. Let us honour it by opening it, and by paying attention to it. Whether served at a grand celebration, an important birthday, an engagement, or Christmas, it will undoubtedly help make the moment more intimate and memorable.
It must be tasted!
Whatever wine we plan to use in cooking, a basic rule is that it should always be tasted before we start preparing the dish. This is even more true for Tokaji Aszú, as we aim for perfect harmony and know that its flavour profile can span a very wide spectrum.
