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Tag Archives: dessert wine

Chateau d’Yquem 2010, Sauternes, France

15 Sunday May 2022

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5 stars, 96 points, bordeaux, dessert wine, france, sauternes, Sauvignon blanc, semillon


There’s dessert wines and then there is Chateau d’Yquem.  Head and shoulders above the rest it is the only Supérieur Premier Cru in the region.  This botrytised wine was still very young but we got exactly what we wanted out of it-

Deep gold colored. Honey, apricot, lemon marmalade, orange preserves, white blossom, nuts, super sweet with medium (+) acidity.  Full bodied. Youthful, long finish. 96 points

A pretty basic write up, but when you are sipping this stunner with chocolate lava cake it’s hard to divert too much attention to making assessments.  An amazing wine to savor with friends for the next 30 years or so.  I have to agree with the pros, this is at least a 96 point wine that gets 5 stars.  Salut….

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Fonseca Reserve Porto Bin 27 NV, Portugal

06 Wednesday Apr 2022

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$16, 5 stars, 90 points, dessert wine, port, portugal


Deep ruby color.  The nose has a unique greeness to it on first whiff.  With a bit of air I am able to coax dried blueberry, cola, mint(?) and sultanas.  It’s not what I was expecting tbh.  The palate is semi-sweet, warm (from the 20%ABV) and inviting.  The wine is tannic and has gobs of acidity.  Full bodied for sure it has more classical Port flavors than what I got on the nose.  Dried black and blue berries, nuts, cola, prunes, sultanas and a richness of stewed black fruit.  It leaves a tannic impression on my gums well after the medium length finish fades.  What started out as a questionable Port wine turned into a delicious effort that gets 90 points from me.  These are meant to be drunk on release, so don’t waste any time!  Widely available for $16 it’s worth stashing a bottle or two for a late night treat with some warm chocolate gateaux.  5 stars.  Salut….

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Castello di Meleto Vin Santo del Chianti Classico 2009, Tuscany, Italy

06 Wednesday Apr 2022

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$25, 5 stars, 92 points, dessert wine, Italy, malvasia, sangiovese, trebbiano, tuscany


This is a new one for me- Vin Santo (not to be confused with Vinsanto) is a technique of drying the grapes in the rafters of a shed and pressing the dried grapes later in the season.  The must is then sealed in small barrels and left for several years to ferment, slowly, integrating with the barrel and it’s oxygen.  Mainly Trebbianno, they also add Sangiovese and Malvasia to the blend.  These small barrels are called Carati and are sealed once 70% filled, creating ample air space.  This one is now 13 years old and is medium amber colored.  The liquid slides down the glass in a watery sheen, versus the traditional legs, which imply a viscous texture is to be expected.

The nose has pronounced aromas of dried apricot, honey, walnuts, hazelnuts, orange marmalade, a touch of bread dough and cream.  The palate is medium sweet with medium acidity and full body.  Medium alcohol and a mouth coating richness make for a beautiful mouthfeel.  The flavors are pronounced- honey, dried apricot and nuts with much less bread/yeast notes.  The marmalade is less intense but adds depth.  This delicious dessert wine has a decently long finish and gets 92 points from me.  I would love some sharp cheese to pair with it and can see it aging nicely till 2030 at the least.  I paid $25 for this 5 star sticky and would do it again for the cellar.  Yummy stuff.  Salut….

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Achaia Cellars Muscat of Patras NV, Greece

03 Sunday Apr 2022

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$13, 4 stars, 88 points, dessert wine, greece, muscat


Medium gold in the glass, this dessert style wine from Greece has pronounced aromas of honey, orange marmalade, blossom, a hint of lychee, some rose water and soursop. On the palate it is medium sweet with medium acidity, a full body and medium (-) intensity flavors.  The mouthfeel is really pleasant, not cloying- more like a refreshing sticky.  The finish is medium length and accentuates the honey component with orange  notes.  This wine retails for $13.  That’s a steal IMO.  88 points from me makes it a 4 star effort to have laying around in case you need something sweet after dinner.  Stock up.  Salut….

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Boschendal Reserve Collection Vin d’Or 2016, Paarl, South Africa

02 Saturday Apr 2022

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dessert wine, viognier, South Africa, paarl, 5 stars, 93 points, riesling, $20


I’m on a sweet wine roll, two in one day.  This South African blend of Riesling/Viognier is a stunning deep gold color.  The nose is right up my alley- rich aromas of dried apricot, honey, blood orange marmalade, candied pineapple, peach and a touch of lychee.  Amazing, complex and very enticing.  The palate is very sweet, unctuous and full bodied.  Medium (+) acidity keeps this wine very balanced and I love the pronounced flavors.  The honey component is taking center stage but I also get lively fresh fruit even though the Botrytis driven flavors are very present.  At 163g/l of residual sugar, this is considered a luscious wine- and it is just that!  At $20 for 375ml, it is a great dessert wine to have a few bottles of.  93 points from me for this 5 star wine to serve with a warm tart and ice cream.  Salut….

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Domaine Pecheur Vin de Paille 2009, Cotes du Jura, France

02 Saturday Apr 2022

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$63, 5 stars, 93 points, dessert wine, france, jura


Vin de Paille is a new one to me- basically a sweet wine made from grapes that have been dried on straw mats and then pressed.  The resultant must being very high in sugar, hence a sweet wine once it has fermented to over 14% ABV by law.  This one is medium amber in the glass.  The nose reminds me of sherry- loads of nuts, caramel, orange marmalade, toffee, stewed apricot and marzipan.  Quite complex and exciting. The palate is medium dry, not as sweet as I was expecting.  It is a touch bitter, like orange rind.  Juicy acidity and a full body with great delivery of the tertiary notes that this developed wine has gained.  My mouth is watering, either from the acid or the sheer desirability to take another taste- not sure which.  It is quite buoyant even though it’s full bodied.  A very slippery wine that is easy to fall for.  I love a good Botrytised wine, but this style of dessert wine is catching on with me.  It retails for $63 and gets 93 points from me.  It will drink well for another decade and gets 5 stars.  Try something different in the sweet whites!  It begs for a creamy Cambozola with some nuts and dry crackers.  Salut….

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Chateau du Cros 2015, Loupiac, France

28 Monday Mar 2022

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$28, 5 stars, 92 points, bordeaux, dessert wine, france, loupiac, Sauvignon blanc, semillon


This dessert style Bordeaux wine is pale gold in the glass- a stunning shade imho.  The nose is chock full of Botrytis-driven goodness.  Dried apricots, honey, marzipan, orange marmalade, candied ginger.  The palate is sweet, luscious and silky- yet full bodied.  It’s hard to tell that there is much acidity, but if it lacked that key component this wine would be out of balance, which it’s not.  Unctuous flavors of apricot, honey, marmalade and candied ginger caress my palate so beautifully.  The worst part of the finish on this wine is the the fact that it ends, after a decently long time lingering on my palate.  Still young, this blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc will further evolve and be delicious until 2033.  92 points from me for this $ $28 stunner makes it a 5 star effort.  Salut….

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Weingut Turk Eiswein vom Gruner Veltliner 2018, Niederosterreich, Austria

27 Sunday Mar 2022

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$50, 5 stars, 98 points, austria, dessert wine, grüner veltliner, Ice wine, niederosterreich


Grüner Veltliner Eiswein is a new one for me.  This one is deep gold in the glass with a watery sheen highlighting the relatively low 8% ABV.  The nose is exquisite- pronounced aromas of stewed apricots, grilled honey, mango, geranium, almond slivers, white peach, mandarin orange peel and bananas foster.  Stunning.  The palate is lusciously sweet.  Low acidity, full bodied, unctuous and simply delicious.  The primary flavor I get is stewed stone fruit, with honey in abundance.  Floral notes, nutty nuance and a hint of mango and orange citrus makes for a yummy experience.  This is spectacular.  98 points was awarded by one pro.  I have to agree.  This $50 sticky is amazing and gets 5 stars.  I feel it will drink well till 2035.  #blownaway.  Salut….

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Dominio del Plata Susana Balbo Torrontes Late Harvest 2016, Mendoza, Argentina

16 Wednesday Mar 2022

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$30, 5 stars, 91 points, Argentina, dessert wine, Mendoza, Torrontes


Torrontes is a very intriguing aromatic varietal that I really enjoy, so when I saw a Late Harvest (ie. sweet ) I could not resist.  It is medium lemon in color and has a watery sheen in the glass as expected for a 12% ABV wine.  The nose is incredible- pronounced aromas of honeysuckle, jasmine, lemon curd and rosewater.  The palate is sweet- full bodied and of medium (-) acidity.  The flavors are pronounced on the palate.  Florals, ripe citrus curd, rose and honeysuckle caress the mouth with a richness.  Served chilled, this wine is actually very refreshing and dare I say- easy to drink!  As a dessert wine I am thinking it would pair with poached stone fruit and vanilla ice cream.  For $30 it’s a great intro to something unique that gets 91 points from me and 5 stars.  Ps.  I am drinking it as an aperitif.  Salut….

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Beaulieu Vineyard Muscat de Beaulieu NV, California

10 Thursday Feb 2022

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$20, 2 stars, 86 points, california, dessert wine, muscat


Medium gold in color this dessert wine has medium intensity aromas of honey, stewed apricot, cooked red apple and orange peel- not overly complex.  The palate is very slippery.  Medium (-) acidity, full body, medium intensity flavors of honey, orange pith, stewed apricot, and that orange peel.  I didn’t get the apple note btw.  It’s got weight  and a nice mouthfeel but the depth of fruit flavor is lacking.  I like it for a basic after-dinner treat on a weekday that runs $20 per half bottle that gets 86 points from me and 2 stars.  18% ABV btw.  Salut….

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