DESSERT WINE

Undoubtedly the best Brachetto Passito wine made in Italy, magically combining not just sweetness and lusciousness but also grace and refinement, not to mention uncommon depth, length and complexity. IAN D'AGATA

This is a highly unusual wine, Brachetto itself isn't well known and most are made in to lightly frizzante sweet wines. Like Moscato d'Asti. This is a traditional style, still not sparkling, that has to be drunk to be understood. Brachetto smells and tastes of strawberries, the colour is the same in young wines. Floral and alluring. I always forget it's there until I see it on the shelf. One of those wines every one of our customers should try and least three or four times, a year. It is remarkably graceful and so digestible. ROSCOE

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The Blue Label is the producer's best-known classic Aszú wine, sold as Red Label in the USA. A refreshing nose of citrus blossom, elderflower, marmalade and ginger spices. Refreshing acidity balances a comparatively light palate of apricot, bruised yellow apple, tangerine peel and white pepper. The sugar level sits at 158 g/l, which is well-balanced by the crisp mineral acidity (7.9g/l). SYLVIA WU, Decanter

The 2017 Tokaji Blue Label 5-Puttonyos is a selection of the finest Aszú berries from across the region. This is the cuvée where I was expecting more on the nose, which seems a little taciturn at the moment and, despite my allowing the sample to aerate, never quite clicks into gear. The palate is a different matter: poised, intense and lightly spiced, with a gorgeous viscous texture. But surprisingly, of the six cuvées that I tasted from Royal Tokaji this vintage, the Blue Label is the one where I wanted more. NEAL MARTIN, Vinous

Intense nose of candied fig, dried pineapple, ginger, spice, candied lemon, honeysuckle and acacia honey. Sweet and luscious with zesty acidity. Lingering honey and lemon notes. Dense and tight center-palate. Blend of single vineyards. 100% furmint. Give it time to open, but already so impressive. JAMES SUCKLING

The 2017 Tokaji Gold Label 6-Puttonyos, a selection of barrels from Royal Tokaji's single vineyards, has a very well-defined bouquet featuring pure Aszú scents, energetic and citrus-driven, with lemon peel, clementine and a touch of smoke emerging with time. The zesty palate is very well balanced with a wonderful line of acidity and, like the nose, full of energy. There is a sense of linearity toward the finish and an underlying bitter edge on the aftertaste that draws you back for another sip. Excellent. NEAL MARTIN

Made with only Furmint, the 2017 Aszú berries were selected from some of the producer's top single vineyard sites. A more vinous nose than the Blue Label, featuring honey, apricot, marmalade and pollen, plus a tiny pinch of earthy notes. Richer and more viscous, the Gold Label has a pure and intense palate of dried apricot, acacia honey and ginger spices, with great mineral acidity (8.2g/l) to refresh the hefty residual sugar (189 g/l). Dried fruit and raisin flavours follow to the long and mellow finish. DECANTER

Regarded as one of the premier producers in Jurançon, Clos Joliette was founded in 1929, when the Migne family cleared forest in a natural southeast-facing amphitheater to plant a hectare of vines.
The result has been an incredible selection of complex and aromatic off-dry wines, reflecting the reputation Antoine Gerbelle bestowed on the domaine as “the Romanee Conti of the South-West France”.

What makes these wines so sought after is the combination of three unique aspects. First, its location. With only 1.85 hectares Clos Joliette sits at 300m altitude, on the slopes of the hill of Beauvallon (Commune of Jurancon). The vines were planted in 1929 by Madame Migné and exposed to the East and South-East in a natural amphitheater, allowing the grapes to capture the gentle morning sun, rather than afternoon heat.

Second, an atypical terroir made of clay-silica, pudding stones, Ponto-Pliocene pebbles and crossed through by a vein of iron.

Third, the wine itself - a single varietal 100% Petit Manseng, treated with minimal intervention throughout vinification, no fining or filtration, and long aging in oak barrels for 4 to 6 years.

The 2015 Filhot has a rather Germanic, oily bouquet that lacks the definition and purity of its peers. It needs more lift from the glass. The palate is balanced with a viscous opening, more complex and focused than the aromatics suggest with a citrus-fresh, honeyed finish that feels pure and persistent. This could be excellent if the bouquet improved with bottle age and my score gives it the benefit of the doubt. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting. NEAL MARTIN, Vinous

Shimmers medium gold. Vibrant notes of toffee, ginger and baked pineapple aromas waft from the glass. It's still incredibly youthful with touches of honey starting to emerge adding another layer to the luscious palate. Spiced nectarines mix with subtle hints of marmalade and umami notes of white button mushrooms in the mouth, alongside ginger, toffee and apple tarte tatin flavours - it's intriguing and incredibly delicious. The finish is mouthwatering, a trickle of acidity cleanses on its way out. This generously sized bottle of Sauternes should be shared lavishly with friends and a plate of cheese. Don't hesitate here. GABRIELLE POY, PWS

 

This is really something. I have never tasted a Guiraud like this. This is full-bodied yet so fresh and incredibly crisp and lively. Spicy and energetic. Fantastic acidity! (97) JAMES SUCKLING

The 2015 Guiraud, tasted in two occasions, has a sumptuous bouquet with scents of wild honey, apricot and a faint smear of marmalade. The palate is fresh and tensile on the entry, brimming with energy with impressive energy towards the blood orange and quince-tinged finish. This is a stylish, suave Guiraud that should age beautifully in bottle. (96) NEAL MARTIN

One of the few Sauternes I was able to taste, the 2015 Château Guiraud is well worth spending money on. Boasting tons of tangerine, caramelized citrus, honeyed peach and white flowers, this full-bodied beauty has good acidity, ample concentration, and a clean, balanced style on the palate that's going to allow it to age gracefully. JEB DUNNUCK

The 2015 Guiraud is classy, nuanced and understated. Scents of orange peel, crème brulee, pineapple, mint and sweet spices give the 2015 much of its aromatic lift and intrigue. Deceptively medium in body, the 2015 has quite a bit of depth, but avoids being heavy. There is so much to like here. ANTONIO GALLONI

The de Fargues 2007 delivers 13.9% alcohol and 134 grams of residual sugar. Picking commenced on September 11, with slow botrytis formation and recommenced October 2-24, the picking ale to be conducted at a relatively leisurely pace. It has a very typical de Fargues nose that has lost its tongue at first, but it opens up to reveal a slightly spirituous bouquet with clear honey, pressed flowers, almond and a distant scent of the sea. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins and outstanding delineation. It is utterly harmonious with a thrilling, edgy finish that expresses the terroir with great clarity. There is an effervescent quality that really takes the 2007 to another level, while the marmalade and white pepper finish is powerful and leaves a lasting impression. This is a fabulous 2007, one of the wines of the vintage. (97) NEAL MARTIN

One of the top sweet wines in this report is the 2016 Château Coutet, which has the vintage's plush, opulent style as well as thrilling purity and good acids. Pineapple, white flowers, sugared peach, and honeyed notes all emerge from this full-bodied, layered, balanced Barsac that's already impossible to resist yet will evolve gracefully 2+ decades. (97) JEB DUNNUCK

The vibrant, tropical fruit-coulis character draws you into this concentrated and elegant Barsac. Then the crisp acidity and a wave of lemon and mineral character comes through, driving the finish out in the direction of the horizon. (95) JAMES SUCKLING

Oh that's lovely. Ginger and sumac spice, and a gorgeous richness with the perfect balance of minerality. Rich but pure botrytis character and gently curling smoky notes leap out of the glass. Amazing persistency, easily one of the best wines in the tasting. This is excellent; succulent and mouthwatering. (96) DECANTER

With coaxing, the pale lemon colored 2016 Coutet slowly unfurls to give a myriad of preserved lemons, pineapple pastry, almond croissant, fresh ginger and lime blossoms scents with nuances of chalk dust, white pepper, star anise and cedar. Rich, seductive and yet exquisitely balanced, the satiny-textured palate has layer upon layer of citrus and savory notions, finishing very long and spicy. (97) WINE ADVOCATE

Served from an ex-chateau bottle. The 2009 Chateau d’Yquem is one showstopper of a wine and perhaps it is only in a vertical that you realize this is up there among the legendary wines of the past – the 2001 included. It has a wonderful nose that expresses the Semillon component majestically: heady aromas of lemon curd, nectarine, jasmine and honeysuckle that all gain momentum in the glass. The oak is supremely well-integrated. The palate is extremely well-balanced with an unctuous entry. You are immediately knocked sideways by the palpable weight and volume in the mouth, which is almost “bulbous,” with layer upon layer of heavily botrytized fruit. It builds to a spicy finish with hints of marzipan and pralines in the background that lend it an untrammeled sense of exoticism. The 2009 is utterly fabulous and decadent, a star that will blaze brightly and undimmed for many years. Drink now-2060+. Tasted March 2014. (100) NEAL MARTIN

A warm to hot vintage ideal for producing outstanding reds does not necessarily make for a great Sauternes vintage, but in the case of 1990 it did. Dry, warm winds in the autumn contributed to the level of concentration that this wine exhibits. Fortunately, a little rain in late September and early October ensured that botrytis flourished well in the end, the final factor necessary to achieve this extraordinary expression.

Medium to deep golden colored, the 1990 d'Yquem opens with unabashed opulence, giving expressive notes of dried apricots, toffee, candied walnut, tree bark and sandalwood with nuances of preserved mandarin peel, lemongrass and fallen leaves. The palate is entering that stage where it still has bags of fruit and yet appears quite dry, with a lively line contributing jaw-dropping tension and finishing with epically long-lingering honey nut and earth-inspired notes. Pure. Hedonism. The multilayered intensity perhaps makes this appear a much bigger, sweeter Yquem than it is, and yet it possesses a relatively modest 12.7% alcohol and 126 grams per liter of residual sugar with 3.9 grams per liter of total acidity (H2SO4). Well into its ideal drinking window, there is no real rush to drink this beauty, as it should remain suspended at the heavenly plateau for another 25+ years. (98) LISA PERROTTI-BROWN, robert parker

A highly risky and complex process, the making of this wine is very much about seat-of-pants decision making and this is where the experience of 30 vintages certainly helps!” says Stephanie.

The high-risk part comes after the canes that feed the fruit are cut – causing that fruit to concentrate – effectively using the vine as a drying rack for the fruit. Much depends on the weather conditions that follow – sunny and dry conditions work wonders; wet, cold or windy conditions all bring challenges. Stephanie uses intuition to decide the day to harvest.

This is a unique, delicious, concentrated wine that delivers all the hallmarks of riesling – citrus, florals and spice; beautifully expressed through an intense yet perfectly balanced palate and a pristine, clean finish.

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

Amber color. Complex and evolved, with notes of apricot jam, celery, dried figs, candied orange zest, nail polish and a hint of rancio. Zesty and lifted acidity balances the dense sweetness, with a full body and a long, super-savory finish of dried apricots. Not an easy wine, strictly for connoisseurs, yet very good. Drinkable now, but it will last for decades." - James Suckling

Based on the Malvasia of the Venetians, which was made with both red and white grapes. Sun-dried for 4–6 days: 85% is Assyrtiko, Vidiano, Liatiko, plus 15% Muscat of Spina and Malvasia Aromatica. Bottled in 2023 after two years in barrel and then time in tank. RS 156 g/l, TA 7.8 g/l.

Deep, browny gold. Intense aroma of dried and caramelised apricots. Honeyed dried fruits. Immense freshness in a sweet wine and the merest hint of tannins. Candied and bitter orange. Long, delicious finish. JancisRobinson.com

The 2015 Chateau de Fargues delivers 153 grams per liter of residual sugar at 13.8% alcohol. It has a complex bouquet with honey, marmalade and quince aromas that are beautifully defined, but will clearly take a few years to reach their full potential. The palate is very sensual on the entry, honeyed and lavish at the beginning, but retaining wonderful precision and persistence on the lightly spiced finish. This is a seriously good de Fargues that should age effortlessly over the next 30-40 years. As usual, this is one for the serious Sauternes-lovers who know that good things come to those that wait. (98) WINE ADVOCATE

The 2015 de Fargues feels a little reduced on the nose at the moment, although it seems clean and pure underneath that SO2, with honeycomb and crème brûlée notes emerging with time. The palate is fresh and well balanced with quite a high-toned entry, lively orange zest and marmalade notes with veins of quince jam toward the finish. This Sauternes improves in the glass and has great potential. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting. (96+) NEAL MARTIN

Marked by a fairly prominent oakiness now, this is rich and creamy, very concentrated, with sumptuous apricot fruit. There's just the right balance between opulence and precision, so this has great potential, with admirable persistence. (95) DECANTER

DUE LATE JUNE
The 2015 Coutet comes with 153 grams per liter of residual sugar at 13.8% alcohol. It has a fragrant bouquet with acacia honey, citrus scents and a touch of melted butter, all very well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with impressive purity, those limestone soils imparting the acidity that defined this Barsac, and lending great precision and tension on the live-wire finish. This is a wonderful Coutet that feels energetic - a compressed spring coil that will drink earlier than the likes of Climens or de Fargues, but has the DNA to age gracefully over 25-30 years. (94-96) NEAL MARTIN

The 2015 Coutet is nicely lifted, gracious and understated. Candied apple, Jolly Rancher and exotic flowers are all nicely balanced in this attractive, mid-weight Sauternes. This is a very pretty Barsac built on aromatic nuance and bright, salivating acidity. (90-93) ANTONIO GALLONI

The wine is pale gold in colour. Aromas of intense honeysuckle, musk and vanilla with notes of lemon thyme and ginger. The palate, with high residual sugar, is long and luscious with opulent flavours of stone fruit and spice. The balance is perfect, delicately poised between sweetness and acidity with a memorable, lingering finish.  - Yalumba Family Winemakers

2023 Vintage - plentiful rain in spring and temperate conditions ensured the Viognier bunches had ample leaf cover during the growing season. Mild conditions in January and February allowed even ripening and development of typical Viognier flavours. Intermittent rain during vintage enabled excellent infection and growth of Botrytis cinerea, reaching full flavour in mid April.

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

Notes on previous release:

Castellares dessert wine matures for five long years in chestnut wood caratelli, with just 3,500 bottles going on sale each year. Deep honey yellow in colour. The bouquet is reminiscent of wild porcini mushrooms, candied fruit with honey and caramel. Seductive and soft on the palate, the well-developed acidity not only ensures a wonderfully fresh drinking flow, but also gives this fine wine a great future. SUPERIORE.DE

A light, agile style, featuring caramel, roasted walnut, brown butter and candied orange peel. This is defined by vibrant acidity, which offsets the light sweetness and keeps this fresh and long. WINE SPECTATOR

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Vinsanto production in Tuscany and in the Chianti Classico region dates back to the Middle Ages. Observing traditional methods and strict production regulations, Vinsanto Tenute Marchese Antinori is produced from selected Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes that are left to dry in a completely natural process requiring time and patience. The resulting wine is intense and pleasing for its generous aromas and soft palate.

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!