DESSERT WINES during the holidays

WINE TALK
21

Opened a Heitz Ink Grade port. Kids and Grand-kids loved it! Not too alcoholic, tasted and smelled of chocolate! And, at $30 for 750, the QPR is fabulous.

22

Brad,

Your tour was the last to be able to buy that wine in 750 ml. There’s so little left of the 1952 Dalva Golden White (Colheita) that they are only made in smaller bottles now … that sell for more than what you paid for the full bottle.

Nectar of the gods!

23

Eric Ifune wrote:
Quote:
and a 25 year old JM Fonseca Setubal.

I am familiar with two bottlings they’ve done of the 20 year old: Roxo and Alambre, but have not seen the 25 year old. Can you please tell us more about this Moscatel de Setubal?

Purchased at auction earlier this year.
75cl bottle with tee type cork closure. Jose Maria da Fonseca sweet Setubal bottled 1978. Neck label states aged 25 years in wood. Must’ve come from the UK since the back strip label states Imported by Atkinson, Baldwin & Co. LDA, London and Edinburgh.

24

We’re big dessert wine fans over here. This year, our two favorites were:

  • 1994 Ca’ Togni - Philip Togni - This was a figuey fruit loveliness with black cherry and prune. A real delight for $45 off WineBid
  • 2003 Pour Ma Gueule - Domaine Tissot - hands down my best purchase from Garagiste this year - Stephane Tissot’s PMG rocked our world. A nose of figs with a citrus twist on the finish.

We also picked up a number of Krachers this year that we will look forward to in desserts to come! [cheers.gif]

25

Paul wrote:

1961 Talijancich Julian James Reserve - Australia, Western Australia, Greater Perth, Swan Valley

I’ve gotta say, your tasting note was one of my favorites read here on WB in a LONG time!

Sounds like an amazing experience.

26

2001 Doisy Verdines on Christmas Eve- better than last time

1986 Climens on Christmas- wow, complex but still light on its feet

2001 Lafaurie-Peyraguey for after midnight on NYE.

It is hard to open a 750ml. of dessert wines unless there are several people. thank goodness for the holidays.

Happy New Year!

27

An 83 de Fargues (from half bottle) last night was wonderful. Starting to show some age but still a delight.

28

But they keep so well that I can drink them myself over a couple of days!

29

Taking tonight to Larry’s a Marzipan Stollen BreadPudding w/ an Amaretto hard sauce and to accompany
it will be the ShenandoahVnyds Black Muscat '81, one of LeeSobon’s first dessert wines.
Tom

30

We had a 55 Taylor for xmas dinner. Very good, but a bit hot on the finish, fruit fading. I have one left, and I think it needs to be enjoyed soon.

31

I was the ‘designated driver’ last night for the family, so I missed out on all the Champagne and wine at the party that we went to. After we returned home I opened my first bottle of Ferreira Duque de Braganca 20YR Tawny. What an impressive port! Very complex and full of toffee, hazelnut, cinammon, and orange. This is one of the best 20YR’s that I have tasted, along with the Sandeman. I am looking forward to having more of this tonight!

Thanks,
Ed.

32

Dipped into my stash of '70 Grahams (again…).

Just beautiful as usual, and so well balanced. really lovely, and everyone enjoyed it.

Drank the last sips over a few days myself, to sit back and savour them…

33

We opened a 2002 Inniskillin Vidal Icewine that was nothing short of spectacular. The color was a shiny gold. If this is what is possible when you let desset wines age, it is pretty special.

34

No mention of the 1908 D’Oliveira? Killer Madeira that gave the Dalva a run for its money and then some. Both were fabulous. Then last night an 86 Yquem after some excellent Champagne, White Burg and a trio of 80’s reds, then 2 vintages of Cristal for midnight. If only the skiing had been as good as the wine this holiday season!

35

Wow, amazing to see no mentions of dessert wines from Germany, the Loire, or Hungary…

36

Or Alsace.

On New Year’ Eve, I opened a 375ml bottle of 1989 Léon Beyer Tokay Pinot Gris Sélection de Grains Nobles - fantastic. Very dark amber, lifted aromatics, lovely unsulfured apricots and golden raisins tossed in brown butter, with a ton of PG spice and a strong acidic backbone. Sweet but just barely so. A real treat.

37

Split a half bottle of 1983 Château Doisy-Daëne with my brother. It was drinking great but time to drink up.

We also had a bottle of the 2003 Taylor Fladgate LBV port that everyone enjoyed.

As our Christmas party was wrapping up, we served a
1983 Château Guiraud which was amazingly youthful both in color and flavors.

38

Ed S.,

You are preaching to the choir. Ferreira is unquestionably my favorite 20 year old (Port that is ; ) and Sandeman isn’t too far behind that one. I do have a few in between’ers too.

39

Friend brought a 77 Dow’s for New Years at my house to go with flourless chocolate cake. Ruddy pale red in color. VERY hot (burns the throat) with lots of alcohol evident. By second glass, fruit emerges and and heat subsides. Popped and poured. Should have been decanted for several hours in advance.

40

Wow, amazing to see no mentions of dessert wines from Germany, the Loire, or Hungary…

I tend to like botrytized wines in warmer weather and fortified ones in colder. But never adverse for good examples at any time!