I hear a lot about how Tokaj (or Tokay) wines were considered quite highly by European royalty beginning in the 17th century, but how did it stack up in terms of esteem and reputation compared to other highly regarded wines?
Edit: Follow up question - how accessible would a Tokaj have been to the middle and lower class wine drinkers in Europe? Was it more or less exclusively a wine for the upper classes, or were there varieties that were more affordable?
As you have noted, it was highly regarded of and popular amongst nobility. Royals from the area sent bottles of Tokaji wine as gifts, such as Emperor Franz Josef sending her age in months in the number of bottles to Queen Victoria each year for her birthday. Likewise, the wine was regarded as "Vinum regum, rex vinorum" ("Wine of kings, king of wines") by Louis XV of France, which nonetheless made it to be more popular amongst the noble.¹
The Tokaji region had been strictly regulated (in regards to agricultural practices) from around the 1700s to the present day and the taste of the wine has been consistent since then as well.²
¹ http://www.royal-tokaji.com/wine_of_kings.php
² http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1063
And on a side note, Tokaji wine is definitely one of my preferred wines. I've had Royal Tokaji, dry furmint and I can't wait to see how the red wine is.