Wines and Beyond

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Royal Tokaji Wine Company from Hungary, European. The first perfect, 100-point score ever bestowed by Wine & Spirits Magazine. New, it has whiplash flavors and off-the-chart acidity that can catch in your throat. As it mellows, it casts an almighty deposit, it turns a wonderful bright mahogany color and weaves an astonishing tapestry of flavors - of apricots, quinces, marmalade, butterscotch... 'So different from other wines' said one critic, 'that it is like seeing a new primary color'. The first vintage of the true Royal Tokaji Essencia since the celebrated 1993, the 1999 Essencia is offered in a stately brass-hinged wooden box carved from Hungarian oak, lined with velvet and containing a hedonistic first - the indulgent Royal Tokaji Hungarian crystal sipping spoon. The spoon was designed exclusively for Royal Tokaji, enabling 33 sips per bottle - or 66 if you share your spoonful with a loved one. The back label bears the number of each bottle produced. 500ml bottle 2.9% Alcohol

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Chambers Rosewood from Victoria, Australia. My notes essentially read the same every year, even though the bottlings are non-vintage and I taste the most recent releases. Consistency and greatness are the norm at this Rutherglen winery. The average age is 7-10 years for the regular cuvees, about 70 years for the grand cuvees, and the ancient rare cuvees date back to soleras from 1890. It is redundant to keep repeating the same tasting notes, so readers will have to take my word for it ... this is one of the world's most remarkable dessert wines, and is worth every effort to latch on to a half bottle or so. - Wine Advocate

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Ch?teau Rieussec from Sauternes and Barsac, France - Bordeaux. Fruity, with lemon, apricot and lilac on the nose. Full-bodied, with a lovely intensity and bright acidity. Long and elegant. The palate builds on the finish. Not the 2001 (Wine of the Year), but very good indeed. Wine Spectator Barrel Sample. Score range: 92-94

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Graham's from Portugal. W. & J. Graham's Classic Vintage Ports are produced in years when the harvest and the resulting wines are found to be exceptional. This occurs, on average, about 3 times per decade. After aging for 18 months in cask, the best wines of some the finest Quintas in the Douro, especially Graham's Quinta dos Malvedos, are blended to produce a rich, exquisite wine. Violets, roses, spices, and candied dark fruits emanate from the glass of the murky black/purple colored 2003 Graham Vintage Port. After four days of air, this wine's aromatics sweetened further, displaying jammy blackberry and blueberry scents. Bold, full-bodied, and expansive, the Graham benefited the most from extensive contact with air of all the 2003s tasted for this report. This opulently jammy wine assaults the palate with powerful yet soft layers of oily, candied red fruits as well as notes of tar and hints of mocha. A highly concentrated effort, it is creamy textured, suave, and reveals an admirably long finish filled with additional layers of dark fruits intermingled with spices. Projected maturity: 2030-2055. -Wine Advocate

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Quinta do Noval from Portugal. What a nose. Ripe fruit, with chocolate, blackberries and raisins. Full-bodied and medium sweet, with velvety tannins. Finish goes on and on. Layered and wonderful. Best after 2014. -Wine Spectator

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Dow's from Portugal. Very dark opaque purple colour, with a typically spicy nose and intense underlying aromas of blackberries and blackcurrants. On the palate enormous weight and structure with a marvellous balance of dense black fruit flavours and firm tannins.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Dow's from Portugal. Only produced or 'declared' in years of exceptional quality and represent a very small percentage (2 - 3%) of total Port production. The backbone of Dow's Vintage Ports are drawn from the companies' finest vineyards, Quinta do Bomfim and Senhora da Riberia. Each property contributing to the wines unique character and class. Aged in wood for approximately 2 years and bottled unfiltered, Dow Vintage Ports are considered to be amongst the finest Vintage Ports produced. These fine wines can be enjoyed young and vibrant or allowed to aged for many years in bottle, developing their very own style, very different from all wood aged Ports. 2003 follows the traditional Dow's Vintage Port style; drier than the other leading houses while retaining the traditional richness that is characteristic of all great Vintage Port. A wine with immense power and structure.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Cockburn from Portugal. Consistently hot and dry, with no surprises and an optimal level of rain during the different seasons of the year. The vines grew with a low but steady level of water, allowing them to classically develop. A fine picking season in September lead to a harvest with above average quantity and excellent quality, mainly due to the consistency of the weather. He added, It was a good year especially for Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional, allowing a strong maturation of these leading Douro varieties. -- Miguel Corte-Real, Cockburn's Viticultural & Commercial Director Our blenders have been tasting, categorizing and identifying the wines that might go into the final vintage blend for the best part of two years now. Only after the most rigorous selection was the final decision taken; it's been a long, focused, process. This wine is intensely purple in color, with aromas of blackberries and mature plums; full and firm on palate, with a long fruity finish resonating with chocolate overtones. Try with a Stilton Blue and hazelnuts -- Jim Reader, Cockburn's Head of Wine Making and General Manager

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Ch. Coutet from Sauternes and Barsac, France - Bordeaux. Spice, dried pineapple, honey and light apricot aromas, like freshly crushed grapes. Full-bodied and very sweet, with masses of crushed fruit character and a long finish. Best after 2010. -Wine Spectator Medium yellow. Deeply pitched aromas of honey, orange and fresh apricot, with a suggestion of candied sweetness and some spicy oak. Rich, sweet and wonderfully pure, with a nectar-like quality to its flavors of overripe peach, orange and spices. Plenty of botrytis character here. This boasts an exhilarating chewy texture and superb aromatic persistence. Today this is a fruit bomb, but it's still an infant. Its superb inner-palate energy suggests that it will evolve very slowly and last well. Promises to be a great vintage for this chateau. -International Wine Cellar 91-94

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Broadbent from Portugal. A balanced, silky red with serious grip. Full-bodied and chewy yet refined, with excellent fruit and a sweet finish. This is a Vintage Port made for importer Bart Broadbent by Niepoort. Always good stuff. -Wine Spectator

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Inniskillin from Canada. Sublime aromatics of fresh lime, apricot, grapefruit and peach blossoms with a slight mineral edge. A racy interplay of sweet and tart offer up echoing flavors of lemon, lime and candied apricot. Food pairing suggestions: Fruit based desserts - tropical, stone, red, citrus, pear, and apple; sorbets, strudels, almond cream tarts and bread pudding. Pairs beautifully with foie gras - pan seared or terrine, spicy Asian cuisine, and creamy cheeses, such as semi-soft Le Brin, soft Civray, or traditional Brie or Camembert de Normandie. Just as exquisite on its own at the end of a fine meal.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Croft from Portugal. The 2003 Croft Vintage Port reveals an opaque, black-colored core with notes of dark ruby on the rim. Its gorgeously creamy, profound nose displays sweet dark cherries, black plums, pepper, raisin jam, and blueberries. Thick, satin-textured, and immensely rich, this opulent yet elegant wine is engagingly warm, concentrated, and harmonious. Copious quantities of plums, black cherries, jammy blackberries and spices are found throughout its personality as well as in its prolonged, spirit-tinged, finish. Projected maturity: 2020-2045. -Wine Advocate This is incredible on the nose and palate. It shows masses of wild black fruits with an almost exotic undertone. Full-bodied, medium-sweet and supervelvety. It goes on and on. No doubt one of the best of the vintage. Great Croft here; its single quinta Roeda must have delivered in 2003. This could be the best Port from here since 1945. Score range: 95-100 -Wine Spectator Barrel Sample

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Ch?teau Guiraud from Sauternes and Barsac, France - Bordeaux. Spicy, with dried apricot and lemon character. Full, yet tight and long. Medium sweet, with a spicy finish. An impressive racy style. Best after 2009. Wine Spectator 92 Points

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Two Hands from Barossa Valley, Australia. Color: Golden. Aroma: An intensely perfumed nose of star jasmine, sweet musk and glace fruits. At first, a rush of tropical fruits and a hint of sweet spice, these give way to dense stone fruit characters. Palate: The mouthfeel is velvety then finishes like cool tea; with refreshing acidity and persistence. Food suggestions: Traditionally this style of wine is a classic match to foie gras or Roquefort cheese.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Two Hands from South Australia, Australia.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Ch. LaFaurie Peyraguey from Sauternes and Barsac, Bordeaux. Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2006 - #6! LaFaurie-Peyraguey has produced some of Sauternes' most powerful wines for more than two decades. The 2003 is no exception-Bordeaux's hottest summer on record produced a full-bodied dessert wine with incredibly intense apricot and honey aromas. To achieve that concentration, the chateau uses more than 90 percent Semillon, planted on 100 acres of gravel. -Wine Spectator

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Taylor Fladgate from Portugal. Another magnificent and finely-balanced old tawny blend of outstanding richness and complexity. This rare Port is traditionally enjoyed as a dessert wine or at the end of the meal. Ideal for summer drinking, Taylor's 20 Year Old Tawny may bc scrvcd cool.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Inniskillin from Canada. Inniskillan Icewine is a gift from winter to wine lovers. Harvested at the pinnacle of Canada's crisp winter, the grapes are naturally frozen on the vine and picked when the temperature drops below -10 degrees Celsius. The removal of ice crystals, separated from the frozen grapes during pressing, concentrates the juice into a delicate nectar to achieve the rich and alluring specialty known as Icewine. This vintage shines with an alluring assortment of fresh nectarine, papaya, lychee, tangerine and orange blossoms. These exquisite fruit flavors, combined with invigorating acidity, offer multiple layers of balanced pleasure. Food pairing suggestions: Fruit-based desserts based on tropical or stone fruits, citrus, pear, and apple. Pairs beautifully with Foie Gras - pan seared or terrine - and spiced Asian cuisine. Try cheeses including rich blue veined or selected cream based such as Roquefort, Saga, Cambozola, Ermite, Le Ciel de Charlevoix, le Bleu de la Moutonniere, Bleubry, Cayer, Cabrales, Devon cream and Gorgonzola.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Graham's from Portugal. 20 Years indicates and average age - this Aged Tawny Port is a blend of older wines, which offer complexity and younger wines, which bring fresh fruit flavors and vibrancy. During their long maturing period in oak casks, Aged Tawnies undergo subtle color changes: the deep red hue which characterizes Port's youth gradually gives way to a paler golden amber color. Graham's is known for its rich, elegant house style. This 20 Year has an intense, nutty bouquet, the classic Graham's richness and a concentrated, lingering finish. Many consider the 20 Year to be the perfect blend of complexity and vibrant fruit when it comes to Aged Tawny. Serving and pairing suggestions Graham's 20 Year is bottled ready to drink after an average of at least 20 years of cask aging. It has a t-cap closure, which means that you don't need a corkscrew to open it and that it will stay fresh for four to six months if stored in a cool, dark place or refrigerator. Serve it in a glass with at least a six ounce capacity so that you may appreciate the wine's aromas. Graham's 20 Year is delicious when paired with milk chocolate, creme brulee or fruit tarts. In warmer months, try it chilled for a refreshing dessert in a glass.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Mission Hill from Canada. Racy and intense, this is all Riesling from its fragrance of honey and citrus fruit to flavours of ripe apricots and orange peel. A striking clarity of expression, this wine's unctuous sweetness is offset by zesty, mouth-watering acidity creating a lasting impression of elegance and finesse. The ultra-premium S.L.C. Wines represent the height of the winemaking craft at Mission Hill Family Estate. Carefully selected fruit from designated vineyard lots is barrel aged in French oak to produce complex, balanced, age-worthy wines made with dedication and conviction.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Cockburn from Portugal. Cockburn's 20 Years Old Tawny is a blend of older, mature wines aged in cask and then refreshed by the addition of younger wines. The indicated age is the average age of the wines in the blend. These wines exhibit a silky smoothness from the cask aging and are ready to enjoy upon release. The constant blending and re-blending assures a consistent style. The 20 Years Old Tawny port shows a complex, nutty, spicy, aromatic nose, with a smoothness achieved through many years in wood. They are clarified before bottling and need no decanting.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Dow's from Portugal. 20 Years indicates and average age - this Aged Tawny Port is a blend of older wines, which offer complexity and younger wines, which bring fresh fruit flavors and vibrancy. During their long maturing period in oak casks, Aged Tawnies undergo subtle color changes: the deep red hue which characterizes Port's youth gradually gives way to a paler golden amber color. Dow's is known for its characteristically drier house style. This 20 Year has a full, nutty bouquet, concentrated, citrus, almond and caramel notes on the palate and a lingering finish. Many consider the 20 Year to be the perfect blend of complexity and vibrant fruit when it comes to Aged Tawny. Serving and pairing suggestions Dow's 20 Year is bottled ready to drink after an average of at least 20 years of cask aging. It has a t-cap closure, which means that you don't need a corkscrew to open it and that it will stay fresh for four to six months if stored in a cool, dark place or refrigerator. Serve it in a glass with at least a six ounce capacity so that you may appreciate the wine's aromas. Dow's 20 Year is delicious when paired with soft ripened cheeses, flan or fruit tarts. In warmer months, try it chilled for a refreshing dessert in a glass.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Ch?teau de Rayne Vigneau from Sauternes and Barsac, France - Bordeaux. Good pale yellow. High-toned aromas of peach, pineapple and licorice, along with a whiff of bug spray. Pineapple and citrus flavors offer modest flesh and show a slight dry edge. Not bad, but could use more thrust and length. Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 86-88 points Spicy honey and apricot character. Medium-bodied and medium sweet, with a good finish. Better for this estate than in 2003. Wine Spectator Barrel Tasting, Score range: 85-88

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Ch. Doisy Vedrines from Sauternes and Barsac, France - Bordeaux. Intense aromas of honey, dried pineapple and botrytis spice. Full-bodied, very sweet and very powerful, with loads of dried fruit and sweetness on the finish. Lots of clove and orange peel. Same quality as the 2001. Best after 2013. -Wine Spectator

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Yarra Yering from Yarra Valley, Australia. Field blend of primarily Touriga Nacional, Tinta Cao and Roriz Displays a concentrated essence of red berry fruits and blackcurrant with an olive and mint background. Has a deep, structured palate that is interwoven with cedary, French oak characters. The ripe fruit and tannins run in unison along the entire palate. A wine of great clarity and depth that will cellar well for 10 years in ideal conditions.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Ch. Coutet from Sauternes and Barsac, France - Bordeaux. Spice, dried pineapple, honey and light apricot aromas, like freshly crushed grapes. Full-bodied and very sweet, with masses of crushed fruit character and a long finish. Best after 2010. -Wine Spectator Medium yellow. Deeply pitched aromas of honey, orange and fresh apricot, with a suggestion of candied sweetness and some spicy oak. Rich, sweet and wonderfully pure, with a nectar-like quality to its flavors of overripe peach, orange and spices. Plenty of botrytis character here. This boasts an exhilarating chewy texture and superb aromatic persistence. Today this is a fruit bomb, but it's still an infant. Its superb inner-palate energy suggests that it will evolve very slowly and last well. Promises to be a great vintage for this chateau. -International Wine Cellar 91-94

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Jaboulet from Rhone, France - Rhone. Crystal clear color with golden reflections. Exceptionally intense bouquet, with aromas of peach, grape, apricot, mango and lychee. Full, velvety, sweet. Perfect balance between sugar-alcohol-acidity. Gives the impression of biting into a freshly picked Muscat grape. Food Match: foie gras, desserts.