"Fine gray mold threads penetrate deep into the flesh of the grapes through the skin and leave behind small holes through which the water inside the flesh evaporates. Don't underestimate these molds, their formation conditions are not only unique but also very valuable. After a series of complex brewing processes, the world's favorite noble rot wine has the name "liquid gold"."

In the world of wine, God has given many gifts to the earth, but one of the greatest gifts is the title of "liquid gold", noble rot wine. A lot of molds make grapes die, but if there is a kind of grapes "encounter" noble rot mold, then the grapes can really meet the "noble man".

A war to achieve noble status

As people remember and the reality of cheap domestic sweet wine for some by sugar, alcohol and different amounts of wine blended into the half juice wine, coupled with the traditional Chinese food is not like the Western food as a special dessert with wine, so people do not know much about sweet wine.

In fact, sweet wines can be called the best of wines, and now more and more people know that ice wine is a kind of sweet wine, but the real sweet wine can be called the best of sweet wines is not the noble rot wine.

Anyone with some knowledge of alcohol knows that the process of making wine is to ferment the sugar in the grape juice into alcohol and make it into wine. The alcohol content of wines, on the other hand, ranges from 11% to 13%, and generally does not exceed 15%. That is to say, in order to get a sweeter wine under the same alcohol content, you need to have a higher sugar content of the grape juice, noble rot wine is the use of physical methods of high quality sweet grapes to squeeze out more concentrated grape juice as raw materials.

The process of making noble rot is quite complicated, and it is one of the most noble of the sweet white wines. The most recognized regions for noble rot wines worldwide are Bordeaux, Alsace and Loire in France, and Tokaji in Hungary. Sauternes (Sauternes) and Barsac (Barsac) in Bordeaux and Tokaji (Hungary) are more famous. Take the Tokaji region for example, the Tokaji Osu (Tokaji aszu) noble rot wine produced here is the French King Louis XIV said "the king of wine, the king of wine."

There is an interesting story about the origin of noble rot. Legend has it that in 1650 AD, the Turkish army invaded Hungary. When the Turkish army approached Tokaj when the grape harvest season, in order to prevent the Turkish army looting, Tokaj a Christian Reformed pastor called on the vineyard owners to postpone picking, until the beginning of November before the freeze people began to harvest. The grapes were already wilting due to moisture contraction, and their skins were not only thin and wrinkled, but also covered with a layer of unsightly mold. Looking at the dried grapes like raisins, people have no choice but to take it to brew the wine of the year. However, it was never expected that the wine made in this year would be much more flavorful than the wine made from the grapes picked in the normal season. The accidental postponement of the harvest accidentally brought Tokaj wines to the world.

The original raw material for Tokaj-Osso was the high quality white grapes grown in the Tokaj region, with excellent varieties such as Folmin, Hasleville, Salgaux-Mescautay and Muscat. Due to the special soil and water of the Tokaj region, the white grapes here contain a variety of unique nutrients and medicinal ingredients, resulting in a wine with natural penicillin. This is why the nourishing properties of Tokaj-Oszú have been included in the Hungarian pharmacopoeia since ancient times.

Liquid gold

Tokaj's high quality sweet grapes are infected with a gray mold called "BOTRYTISCINEREA" due to the late harvest. This mold, which often makes its home on the skins of the fruit, forms a thin layer of grey fuzz that is harmless to the human body, but it does not have a pleasant appearance. It puts the thin mycelium through the skin deep into the flesh, thousands of mycelium in the skin left a small hole, and the internal water will be evaporated through these small holes small holes out. So the water in the grapes is decreasing, the grapes become dry grapes, these dry grapes in the qualified will be a grain of selected and low-pressure method (i.e., with the weight of the grapes themselves will be very few very thick grape juice out of the juice) pressed Osu thick juice.

Depending on the grade, 3, 4, 5 or 6 baskets of Auslese must are poured into small oak casks containing 135 liters of fine Tokaji wine that has been aged for two years. (The basket, or "putton", is the container in which the grapes are picked and measured. 25 liters of concentrated must are produced from each putton of Auschwitz grapes.)

These liquids, a blend of Auschwitz and fine Tokaj wines, are then put back into the large, purpose-built oak barrels after a fermentation period of about 48 hours. They are hidden in the depths of the cellars among the foothills of the Tokaj Mountains. If you enter a noble rot cellar, you can see that the roof is covered with green mold, which is good for air purification and insulation. Since each additional PUTTON of Ausu juice requires an additional year of cellaring, 6 baskets of the finest Ausu are cellared for up to 8 years. Tokaj Oso wine has been included in the Hungarian pharmacopoeia since ancient times, and it is recorded that Pope Pius I followed the doctor's advice to drink a glass of this precious wine every day in order to preserve his health.

Noble rot has a distinctive feature: because the grapes are infested with gray mold, the wine also has the smell of gray mold, which is not pleasant at the time of pressing, but once the wine is made, it turns into a pleasant aroma like blistered rotten wood. Gray mold in noble rot wine is like a natural flavor enhancer of grapes, adding complexity to the wine, so that the richness of noble rot wine is like the flavorful young woman.

Noble rot wines have a dense, rich style that is persistent, delicate and warm. Fruity notes of honey, dried apricots and peaches wrap around that little bit of noble rot from the nose to the mouth, and the balanced acidity makes the wine strong but not cloying. It has been labeled first and foremost as a "honey wine" because it is the perfect wine to drink on a honeymoon. Of course, it is also suitable for lovers in love. Traditionally paired with foie gras or blue mold cheeses, noble rot is also great with dessert, but avoid chocolate and coffee flavors. In fact, it is a great dessert in its own right, and is also delicious on its own.

Because of its high sugar content, noble rot can be aged for a very long time, and some of them even need to be aged for more than one or two decades before they reach their drinking age. A good quality noble rot can be aged for half a century and still be very drinkable, and in addition to the color it looks like, the price is also similar. Because it is loved by the world and not easy to produce, the price is naturally not too cheap when demand exceeds supply. This is why it has the name "liquid gold".

4. Diesweilerin Sauternes Appellation Sweet White Wine (1999)

This wine comes from the Sauternes Appellation in Bordeaux, France, and is made from 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc grapes. The liquid is a pale golden yellow color with a slight greenish tint. The nose is light, with aromas of dried apricots, marmalade, and vanilla. On the palate it is soft, light-bodied and balanced between sweet and sour.

5. De Martino, Chile (2003)

The wines are full-bodied, concentrated and very elegant, each with its own character. The clever use of oak adds to the complexity of the wine. The color is golden, the aromas are intense and elegant. Aromas of apricot, honey and papaya. The palate is rich and supple, with moderate acidity, making it very easy to drink. The finish is long and smooth, with a lingering aftertaste. Serve at 6-8°C. This sweet wine goes well with foie gras, blue cheese, especially feta, and desserts.

6. Chateau d'Yquem sweet white wine (1999)

This wine comes from the Sauternes appellation of Bordeaux, France, and is made from 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc grapes. The beautiful golden body offers a rich and expressive bouquet with hints of plum, marmalade, ripe fruit and honey. The wine is lively, with flavors of banana, dried apricot and spice. Serve with fish, pork and cheese.