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Dessert Wine
Dessert Wine

Dessert or sweet wine accounts for only 0.1% of sales in our supermarkets and can not be exported to the European Community due to its high potential alcohol - so why do wineries still make it? Well, they are very good at it and the wines gain them international recognition and have thus established a niche market amongst serious wine lovers. The best tend to come from Marlborough where the conditions are most suitable for 'noble rot' to occur ie. misty mornings, followed by fine days with light winds and low humidity.

Other Recommended
Dessert Wine
Ata Rangi Kahu Botrytis Riesling 2003
Alpha Domus Leonarda Late Harvest Semillon 2005
Gravitas Late Harvest Riesling (Hugo's Delight) 2006
Konrad Sigrun Noble Riesling 2006
Dessert Wine Wines
Wine of the Month
Margrain Botrytis Selection Chenin Blanc 2002
Margrain Botrytis Selection Chenin Blanc 2002
Wine Description
The nose is enticing showing baked apple as well as elements of apricot, lemon zest and hokey pokey. The palate, which is viscous and oily, follows this theme with lovely orange peel and marmalade flavours plus hints of preserved ginger.
Tasting Notes
The nose is enticing showing baked apple as well as elements of apricot, lemon zest and hokey pokey. The palate, which is viscous and oily, follows this theme with lovely orange peel and marmalade flavours plus hints of preserved ginger. A good acid backbone is present but not protruding and the balance gained from this plus the underlying phenolic structure belies the almost 200g/l of residual sugar.
Winemakers Notes
Just our third year of making Chenin Blanc and the variety continues to amaze us. We always knew the potential was there to produce a "sticky", so we decided this was the year to try. With regular rainfall up until mid February (when the Indian Summer began) conditions were favourable for Botrytis infection and we tried to ensure development of the disease by daily spraying the vines with water. Apparently Chenin has thick skin, for although a good infection progressed, it was by no means universal and we still picked a good proportion of the crop for "clean" varietal wine. Playing the waiting game with the rest, we finally harvested black nuggets at the very end of May.
Region: Martinborough
Cellaring: It should drink well from Christmas 2002 for at least 4 years and maybe much longer. 1999 was our first Botrytis (Riesling) wine and when tasted recently, was still amazingly vibrant.
Food Match: This is a subtle dessert wine which is anything but cloying. Try it with a chunk of well aged cheddar or as a palate freshener, inter-course.
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Featured Wines
Cloudy Bay Late Harvest Riesling 2002
Tasting Note: Zesty aromas of mandarin and lemon rind meld with the subtle nuances of quince paste and wildflower honey. Rich and nectar-like, the palate is brimming with flavours reminiscent of old-fashioned lime and grapefruit marmalade complemented by a delicate honeyed character. Luscious fruit sweetness is offset by crisp natural acidity - a perfect foil for citrus-based desserts.
Region: Marlborough
Winery: Cloudy Bay Vineyards
TW Botrytis Chardonnay 2003
Tasting Note: Light golden in colour. Golden pears, pineapple and honeysuckle seducing the senses. The decadence of golden fruit, richly textured and exceptionally concentrated, with balanced acidity giving this wine a clean finish.
Region: Gisborne
Winery: TW Wines
De Bortoli Noble One Botrytis Semillon 2002
Tasting Note: Apricot and quince fruit combine with citrus-marmalade charcters, with a hint of almonds that meld together beautifully. This is very special wine.
Region:
Winery: De Bortoli