The OHMS Connoisseur's Choice: The Imperial Essence of a Legendary Vintage - Château Dereszla Tokaji Aszú Eszencia Imperium 2000! We are honored to present a monumental wine that is as rare as it is historic: a bottle of Château Dereszla Tokaji Aszú Eszencia Imperium 2000. This is not just a wine; it is a profound expression of a legendary vintage and a testament to centuries of winemaking tradition. The Vintage: A Year of "Legendary" Quality The year 2000 was an exceptional, five-star vintage for the Tokaj region, earning the status of "legendary" among critics and winemakers. A short winter and warm, dry summer created the perfect conditions for the grapes to achieve optimal ripeness early in the season. The dry conditions were followed by well-timed rain in September, which triggered the development of Botrytis cinerea or "noble rot." This perfect sequence of events led to an unprecedented concentration of sugar, flavor, and acidity in the aszú berries, the essential building blocks of this extraordinary wine. The resulting wines from this vintage are known for their complexity, longevity, and impeccable balance. The Estate: A Storied History of Resilience and Excellence The history of Château Dereszla is inextricably linked with the history of Hungary itself. The estate's origins are traced back to the early 15th century, with the first mention in 1406 as a cellar used for collecting wine taxes for the Hungarian King. For centuries, the estate changed hands between Hungarian, Turkish, and Austrian rulers, eventually becoming a part of a Hungarian Cooperative after World War II. In a pivotal moment for the estate, it was acquired in the year 2000 by the French d'Aulan family from Champagne. They recognized the immense potential of this historic property and its labyrinth of multi-level, centuries-old cellars. The family initiated a comprehensive modernization and renovation project, bringing state-of-the-art technology to this ancient site while honoring its heritage. This bottle of Aszú Eszencia Imperium is a direct result of that historic moment, representing the very first vintage produced under this new, visionary ownership, which would go on to achieve international acclaim. What is "Aszú Eszencia Imperium"? This designation signifies a wine of ultimate rarity and concentration. Unlike Tokaji Aszú wines, which are graded by puttonyos, an Aszú Eszencia is made from the precious "free-run" juice of meticulously hand-picked, botrytized grapes. The sheer sugar content of these berries is so high that they slowly release a syrupy liquid under their own weight. This elixir ferments over a period of years, creating a wine with extremely high residual sugar (up to 252 g/L) and a surprisingly low alcohol content. The result is a wine of profound intensity and eternal character. Wine Critic Scores & Provenance This remarkable wine has received high praise, with a consensus score of 94 points from a variety of critics, including a 94 point score from Wine Spectator. One review from CellarTracker notes it is "Rich and mouthcoating, with apricot, orange and vanilla cream aromas and flavors. The underlying acidity keeps this lively and stretches the flavors out on the long finish." The drinking window is considered to be exceptionally long, with some critics suggesting it will drink well through 2029 and beyond, and others noting its potential to last for many more decades. This bottle is in pristine condition, with its label and metal capsule perfectly intact, as shown in the images. Its superb provenance is guaranteed: the wine was acquired directly from the winery and has been meticulously stored in our professional, humidity- and temperature-controlled cellar since its acquisition. This is a rare opportunity to own a piece of history—a bottle that embodies the resurgence of a historic estate and the perfection of a legendary vintage. An OHMS Connoisseur's Choice very special offer.