Fortified Wine, Dessert Wine, Port Wine

1999 Inniskillin Cabernet Franc Icewine, Canada, Ontario, Niagara, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1999
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$58.00USD

From a 375ml bottle.  Interesting wine.  Kind of a deep pink with some ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has strawberries, a bit of tomato, and slight honey note.  Medium bodied but viscous.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet.  Flavors of raspberries with slight herbal quality (Chervil?).  Moderate finish.  It is showing its age but still has plenty of life.  Still, probably best to drink sooner than later while is still has some vibrancy.  It would work with a plain cake such as sponge cake, nicely.  

1998 Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Mülheimer Helenenkloster Riesling Eiswein, Germany, Mosel, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1998
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

What a treat!  Iced tea in color with some orange hues, clear and bright.  The nose is lovely with apricots, oranges, slight tea leaves and a nice earthiness about it.  Full bodied.  Thick and viscous texture. Enough acidity but not strong.  On the palate, apricots, caramel, oranges and spice.  Long finish. This is unique and delicious.  While a plain cookie would work, it may better to go with no food for this.  It can't hurt, but wouldn't help.  This seems like at age 26, it could do another twenty anyway.  Big fun!

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

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
91
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.  

NV Dartigalongue Bas Armagnac XO, France, Wine Review

Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

Orange/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is  nice.  Nutty, slight vanilla and a "Bourbon" note.  Full texture.  Warmth on the palate with a smooth nuttiness.  Also some warmth on the finish.  A little goes a long way, but this was a nice way to end a meal.  

NV Basta Spirit Vermut Flores, Uruguay, Wine Review

Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

This was interesting.  The base wine is a Rose made from Tannat grapes.  Served straight with an ice cube and a piece of orange peel.  16%  Orange/pink in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with Chinese Five Spice and also floral notes.  Viscous.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet but also a bitter note that contrasts it.  A bit of a dried herbal note as well.  Good finish.  This is very refreshing and would work well in cocktails.  Drink in the next couple of years.  It makes a great aperitif and works nicely with fried appetizers.  

NV Blandy's Madeira Malmsey 5 Years Old, Portugal, Wine Review

Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$24.00USD

It is nice to drink an inexpensive Madeira.  Iced tea in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with raisins, orange marmalade, molasses, and spice.  Medium bodied.  Slightly sweet.  Viscous.  On the palate, the orange marmalade comes thru along with raisins and nutmeg.  Good acidity.  Some depth.  Nice finish.  A little goes along way.  A few ounces is a nice way to finish a meal or have an evening drink.  An open bottle should easily last a month or more.  Very nice on its own, but this would be nice with a toffee dessert.  

2013 Château d'Yquem, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$350.00USD

Not a whole lot more to say about Yquem that hasn't been said, but it is arguably the greatest winery on the planet.  The 2013 is a very good if not top vintage, but still a thrill to drink.  Golden in color, light with just a tinge of orange.  The nose is great with apricots, slight honey and slight tangerines.  Viscous.  Full bodied.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Flavors of apricots and tangerines.  Sweet with enough acidity to not be cloying.  The finish goes on forever.  This is drinking well now and should drink well for another twenty to thirty years.  Great on i

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