WSET 3（2）

Which Tokaji wine category is solely made with the free-run juice of botrytised grapes?
Tokaji Eszencia (essence)

Why are noble rot sweet wines expensive?

1. low production. Noble rot may not develop when the conditions are not right. Therefore, winemakers will not
make sweet wines in certain years or just make small quantities which may not meet the demands of
consumers.
2. hand picked and labor intensive. Botrytised grapes can only be picked and selected by hand, thus increasing
labor forces working in the vineyards.
3. extended harvest time. For noble rot wines, harvest time will be late than normal wines, pickers may pass
through the vineyards several times to choose the suitable grapes, thus extending the whole time of winemaking.
4. new oak barrels. Especially for those high quality wines, high cost new oak barrels or at least part of new oak
will be used to mature wines to enhance in
tense and concentrated flavors. Some may even m ature much longer than usual, thus return on invest ment may
be protracted.
5. high risk of spoilage. Sweet wines with higher a mount of residual sugar are more susceptible to mi
crobes and bacteria.