BALASSA Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 'Villő' 2019

Balassa Villő Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2019 is a limited 948-bottle dessert wine with apricot, marmalade, saffron and finely balanced volcanic freshness.

A Limited 6 Puttonyos Tokaji Aszú

Made from the exceptional 2019 vintage, Villő is a small-production Tokaji Aszú with only 948 individually numbered bottles, making it a distinctive choice for collectors, hosts and lovers of fine sweet wine. Villő also offers a compelling volcanic alternative for drinkers who enjoy premium French Sauternes.

Six Puttonyos signals a deeply concentrated Aszú style, but Villő is defined as much by its freshness as its sweetness. The wine’s 100% Furmint base brings bright citrus lift and mineral detail to its generous, honeyed palate.

Villő: A Family Name

Villő is named after István Balassa’s daughter, giving this limited wine an important place within the winery’s range. It is a finely detailed expression of the more luxurious side of Tokaji dessert wine, made for contemplative drinking, landmark celebrations and thoughtful gifting.

Betsek: A Historical First Cru Vineyard

The fruit comes from Betsek in Mád, a Historical First Cru, or Első Osztály, vineyard within one of the world’s earliest formally classified wine regions. Balassa’s parcel combines clay-rich soils with rhyolite, quartz and andesite, helping give Villő its distinctive balance of deep fruit, botrytis richness and stony freshness.

Individually selected botrytised berries are macerated with Furmint wine from the same vintage. Spontaneous oak-barrel fermentation and two years of maturation in barrel add further depth, while Betsek’s volcanic character keeps the palate focused and energetic.

97 Points and a Platinum Medal at Decanter

Balassa Villő Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2019 received 97 points and a Platinum Medal at the 2024 Decanter World Wine Awards. The judging panel praised its luxurious texture and vibrant acidity.

View the official Decanter award listing.

94 Points from John Szabo MS

Balassa Villő Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2019 received an outstanding 94 points from Master Sommelier and wine critic John Szabo in WineAlign’s Hungarian Uprising & Wine Buyer’s Guide to Northern Hungary. Praising its intensity and deep concentration, Szabo compared it to "a spoonful of apricot jam with vanilla and cacao", highlighting its "Superb length and depth" and potential for further development in the cellar.

Read John Szabo’s original 94-point review of Balassa Villő 2019 on WineAlign.

Tasting Notes

Villő opens with marmalade, peach compote, saffron and walnut, followed by clover blossom, lavender and rosemary. The palate is silky, deep and layered, with honeyed apricot, candied citrus and a finely integrated botrytis character.

Its sweetness is generous but never heavy. Bright, pink-grapefruit-like acidity and a subtle mineral edge carry the wine into a long, poised finish.

Food Pairing

Villő is satisfying on its own as an after-dinner wine, but it is especially memorable with dishes that bring salt, richness or gentle bitterness. Try it with:

• Blue cheeses such as Stilton, Roquefort or Gorgonzola, with walnuts, apricot or honey.
• Goose liver, pâté or a few slices of air-dried Mangalitza ham.
• Gerbeaud, dark chocolate tart, walnut cake or apricot dessert.
• A composed dessert course with almond biscuits, dried fruit and a small glass of the wine.

Serving and Keeping

Serve at 12–14°C in a small tulip-shaped white-wine or dessert-wine glass. Its aromas develop gradually, so there is no need to rush it.

Once opened, reseal carefully and keep refrigerated. This wine is made for small, unhurried servings over multiple occasions.

Technical Details

Balassa Winery, Tokaj

Founded in 2005 by István Balassa, Balassa Winery is a boutique Tokaj producer with a strong focus on site-specific wines. Careful vineyard work, small-scale production and patient barrel ageing allow the character of individual vineyards to remain clear in the finished wine.

From dry single-vineyard whites to rare, traditional sweet wines, the range offers a detailed perspective on the region. Explore more exceptional bottles in our Tokaji wine collection.