We all like to go out with family and friends and have a few glasses of wine with our meals, but when it comes to dessert many people opt for a cup of coffee instead. As the weather gets a bit cooler and the nights get a bit longer why not explore the wines on the last page of the wine list and order a sweet wine to go with your dessert, or if you’re counting your calories order a sweet wine instead of dessert. It’s the adult version of birthday cake and ice cream without all the guilt. Sweet wines are made around the world using various styles to dry the grapes, concentrate the sugars, or stop fermentation leaving the wine with a higher level of sugar. Both Tokaji and Sauternes allow the grapes to undergo botrytis, Port and Madeira use the addition of a neutral brandy to stop fermentation, while ice wines count on freezing temperatures to concentrate sugar content. And don’t just think of these as dessert wines; while foie gras and blue cheese are always a good idea alongside wine with high residual sugar, savory dishes made with apples, pears, or winter squash also work well. Here are the dessert wines we’re pouring for friends and family this holiday season.
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F.E. Trimbach 2017 Gewurtztraminer Selection de Grains Nobles Alsace France
This ethereal dessert wine is made from 100 percent Gewürztraminer grapes, which are harvested when reach a set minimum sugar level. Additionally, a large portion of the grapes also undergo Botrytis, a.k.a. noble rot. After manual harvest the grapes are pressed gently and fermentation is allowed to occur. Left on its own, fermentation generally lasts for more than three weeks and stops naturally with a good amount of residual sugar remaining in the wine. The 2017 F.E. Trimbach has 119 grams per liter of residual sugar, but it is not cloying due to the balanced level of acidity. Brilliant gold colored in the glass, it has aromas of ripe summer peach, apricot preserves, ripe mango, rose petal, and sliced ginger. It is silky and soft on the palate with flavors of orange marmalade, candied orange peel, nutmeg, and a lingering floral finish showcasing freesia and jasmine. Drink now or over the next 20 years. Enjoy with a traditional tower of glazed crème puffs called croque en bouche in France.
Buy Now: $159
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Royal Tokaji 2017 Six Puttonyos Gold Label Tokaji Hungary
Tokaji Aszu wines are made predominantly from Furmint grapes that have been allowed to hang on the vine long past normal harvest dates. Morning fog and ideal temperatures moderated by the region’s two rivers create the perfect condition to allow noble rot or botrytis to form and concentrate the grape’s sugars. The term “six puttonyos” signifies that six traditional baskets of dried grapes are added to base wine to create the sweetest category of Tokaji. Royal Tokaji’s 2017 is amber gold colored with aromas of honeysuckle, apricot, and honeycomb with flavors of canned peaches, acacia honey, and dried apricot. Pair with a creamy crème brûlée.
Buy Now: $104
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Taylor Fladgate 50 Year Old Tawny Port Golden Age Douro Portugal
For the last 300 or so years Tawny Port was sold in 10-year, 20-year, 30-year, and 40-year versions, but the region added a 50-year category in 2020, and the first bottles were released this year. Representing the average age of the Port in the blend, the 50-year Tawny Ports are a very exciting addition to Port lover’s cellars around the world and we can unequivocally say that Taylor Fladgate’s Golden Age 50 Year Old Tawny Port is one of the best, if not the absolute best. It is golden brown colored with aromas of toasted hazelnuts, marzipan, apricot, and caramel. Silky soft on the mid palate it opens with flavors of raisin, peanut brittle, dried apricot, and luscious fleur de sel caramel. It pairs perfectly with a hazelnut chocolate cake.
Buy Now: $350
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Inniskillin 2021 Riesling Icewine Canada
Canada’s famous icewine is made just a stone’s throw from the famous Niagara Falls. Winemakers allow the grapes to remain on the vine into the winter months when freezing temperatures cause the sugars to concentrate. The only problem is keeping the grapes out of hungry bird’s beaks because the shriveled morsels are a rare delicacy, so winemakers cover the vines with nets until harvest time. This stunning icewine is made from naturally frozen Riesling grapes and has aromas of caramelized pineapple, dried peach, and tangerine peel and flavors of dried mango, papaya, pineapple, and caramelized orange slices. Pair yours with Grandma’s homemade butter cookies.
Buy Now: $90
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Chateau d’Yquem 2000 Sauternes Bordeaux France
Winemakers in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux allow their grapes to undergo botrytis during the fall months. This noble rot concentrates the sugars of the grapes and after they are fermented the resulting wine is deliciously sweet. Chateau d’Yquem’s winemaker Lorenzo Pasquini is a genius in maintaining acidity in his wines, so they are sweet but never cloying. The chateau’s 2000 version is golden amber colored in the glass with aromas of acacia honey, ripe apricot, and orange marmalade. It has balanced acidity with flavors of candied orange peel, canned peaches, and vanilla.
Buy Now: $600
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Blandy’s 2009 Verdelho Colheita Single Harvest Medium Dry Madeira Portugal
In our visits to wineries around the world, we found the technique used to make Madeira wines one of the most counterintuitive and interesting we’ve seen. Rather than protect barrels from the sun and heat as most wine regions are wont to do, winemakers in Madeira place their barrels in the top floor attics of the winery to expose them to both. This heating protocol concentrates the wine’s aromas and flavors and makes Madeira one of the most unique wines on the planet. Blandy’s 2009 Verdelho has a bouquet of caramel and toasted almond. Vivid acidity offers a backdrop for flavors of peach, caramel, and dried apricot with a touch of nuttiness that lingers on the finish. Try a glass with tarte tatin or homemade apple pie.
Buy Now: $130
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Kopke 20 Year Old Tawny Port Douro Portugal
We have always said that 20-year-old Tawny Ports represent the best quality-for-price ratio. They have just enough time in barrel to feel “aged” on the palate but are priced significantly less than their 30-year, 40-year, and now 50-year counterparts. One of the oldest houses in Vila Nova de Gaia, Kopke has been making Port wines since 1638. The 20-year Tawny is chestnut brown colored in the glass with aromas of toasted hazelnut, dried plum, and caramel. It is soft and smooth on the palate with flavors of raisin, toasted walnut, and dried orange peel. Enjoy with all type of holiday cookies, but Mike likes to pair his with Sicilian pignoli cookies.
Buy Now: $70
