2019 J. Vidal-Fleury Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, France, Rhone, Wine Review

This is a dessert wine made from Muscat a Petit Grains in the southern Rhone. Vidal Fleury is now owned by the Guigal family, but the winery is the oldest in the Rhone. Thomas Jefferson visited in the 1700's. This is an excellent value in dessert wine. Golden in color, clear and bright. The nose is pretty with apricot and blood orange and a slight honey note. Medium bodied. Good acidity. Sweet, not cloying. On the palate, oranges and slight honey notes. Long finish. A nice way to top off an evening. This is nice on its own and would work well with a less sweet cake or cookie.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2019

Current Price:

$35.00USD

Muscat Beaumes de Venise: Summer Magic

Muscat Beaumes de Venise is a light and sweet nectar of the Gods, with an aroma of rose petals and tropical fruit and a taste of candied oranges dripping with honey. It makes me glad for summer, because it is the perfect summer dessert wine.

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Chateau D’Yquem: Greatest Wine in the World?

In the series on the 1855 Classification of the First Growths, I spoke exclusively about red wines. In that same year, however, the sweet dessert wines from the Bordeaux communes of Barsac and Sauternes were also classified. All of the dessert wines listed were rated as either premier cru (first growth) or second growth status. That is, all but Yquem which was rated Premier Cru Superieur (First Great Growth), a higher rating even than any red wine achieved in their 1855 Classification. Yquem is quite possibly the greatest wine made anywhere and has a history dating back four hundred years! While every wine region has its stars, there is probably no other winery that so dominates the quality of a region and has such as a lofty reputation as Chateau Yquem. What makes these wines so special is that they develop a rot called botrytis cinera also known as Noble Rot. When certain grapes are attacked they get moldy which, in a wonderful twist of fate, causes the grapes to lose much of their moisture, concentrating the flavors. The resulting grapes look like moldy shriveled raisins that produce a sweet nectar.

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1995 Zind-Humbrecht Muscat Herrenweg de Turckheim Vendange Tardive, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage:

1995

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$150.00USD

So, one day in the wine cellar, I discovered this bottle had sprung a leak. It was stood up and as soon as the opportunity offered itself, the cork was popped. The wine showed great. A twenty five year old sweet Muscat from one of the top producers anywhere. The cork showed it has leaked from two spots. The wine was deep golden in color. A lovely nose of canned peaches with some minerals. Viscous. Just slightly sweet. On the palate, this is good, but I had hoped for a bit more depth and complexity. The peaches come thru. No real signs of age or oxidation. Good finish. Old bottl

2019 Château Rieussec, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

Vintage:

2019

Score:

Grade:

A+

Current Price:

$110.00USD

Always a pleasure to drink Rieussec. It is one of the great wines from Sauternes. This year it also comes in a spiffy new bottles that is very different. A blend of 89% Sémillon, 9% Sauvignon Blanc, 2% Muscadelle according to the winemaker's notes. Golden in color, clear and bright. The nose is great with apricot, orange zest, slight honey and a bit of lemon. Full bodied. Viscous. Sweet, not cloying. Good acidity. On the palate, this is delicious. Orange zest, lemon and honey. Long, long finish. This should drink well for thirty years. Great on its own, it will work with a le

2004 Château Guiraud, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

Vintage:

2004

Score:

Grade:

A-

Golden in color, some orange hues, clear and bright. The nose is lovely with apricot, peach, slight honey and a slight bitter note. Viscous. Full bodied. Good acidity. On the palate, slightly sweet, not cloying. Honey and apricot. Long finish. A good year if not great. Nice value. Drink over the next five to ten years. It works well with a shortbread (not too sweet) cookie.

2019 J. Vidal-Fleury Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, France, Rhone, Wine Review

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Muscat Beaumes de Venise: Summer Magic

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2019 Château Rieussec, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

2004 Château Guiraud, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review