1 half-litre per lot
Details
A FABULOUS RANGE OF RARE TOKAY
Tokay is undoubtedly the greatest classic wine region in Eastern Europe and equally undoubtedly the least well-known of all the great wines of the world. There is a good - and a less good reason - for this. First of all it has always been a remote area, situated as it is on the east side of Hungary only a short distance from the Russian border. Historically the best vineyards were owned by members of the Hungarian nobility who kept their finest wines for themselves and their East European peers. Tokay Essence was rarely exported and then only to the Royal Courts of Russia and Poland. It was hardly ever shipped to England although records of the wine being sold at Christie's date back to 1770. After the first world war and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire only small quantities were made. Through the enterprise of Berry Bros. & Rudd, stocks of very old Essence were unearthed and shipped to London but mainly sold for medicinal and restorative purposes.
The first comprehensive post-war tasting of Hungarian wines was held at Christie's in 1970, and the first major auction of Tokay, also at Christie's, in 1985.
Now lying in Twickenham, Middlesex (EHD)
Tokaji Aszú Esszencia--Vintage 1942
1 half-litre per lot
Tokay is undoubtedly the greatest classic wine region in Eastern Europe and equally undoubtedly the least well-known of all the great wines of the world. There is a good - and a less good reason - for this. First of all it has always been a remote area, situated as it is on the east side of Hungary only a short distance from the Russian border. Historically the best vineyards were owned by members of the Hungarian nobility who kept their finest wines for themselves and their East European peers. Tokay Essence was rarely exported and then only to the Royal Courts of Russia and Poland. It was hardly ever shipped to England although records of the wine being sold at Christie's date back to 1770. After the first world war and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire only small quantities were made. Through the enterprise of Berry Bros. & Rudd, stocks of very old Essence were unearthed and shipped to London but mainly sold for medicinal and restorative purposes.
The first comprehensive post-war tasting of Hungarian wines was held at Christie's in 1970, and the first major auction of Tokay, also at Christie's, in 1985.
Now lying in Twickenham, Middlesex (EHD)
Tokaji Aszú Esszencia--Vintage 1942
1 half-litre per lot
Special notice
ParcelWineNo VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.