Best Western European Dessert Wine Types
This late-harvest dessert wine of Bordeaux is predominantly made with Sémillon, the region's rare golden-skinned white grapes affected by noble rot, though the blends often include Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. The appellations may include Sauternes, Barsac, Cérons, Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, Cadillac, Loupiac, Premières Côtes de Bordeaux, and Côtes de Bordeaux Saint-Macaire.
In general, Sauternes wines exhibit pronounced notes of fruit, butterscotch, caramel, and spices, along with floral notes coming from the Muscadelle grapes. Noted for their full body and freshness, Sauternes wines pair nicely with soft cheeses, blue cheeses, washed rind cheeses, terrines, foie gras, and various fruit-based desserts.
THE BEST Sauternes Wine Appellations
Moscatel de Setúbal is a fortified dessert wine produced on the Portuguese Setúbal peninsula. Primarily made from Moscatel de Setúbal, internationally known as Muscat of Alexandria, the wines are fortified with grape brandy and are then aged for a minimum of eighteen months.
The color of these sweet wines ranges from golden to amber, and their main aromas include a complex combination of honey, caramel, orange blossom, spices, and acacia notes. These luscious wines are great enjoyed on their own, but they also naturally pair with caramel-based or dry desserts and soft-centered cheese.
This sweet, well-structured Italian wine is produced in Veneto region with air-dried (passito) grapes. Corvina is the principal grape variety, while the blends commonly include Corvinone, Rondinella, and Molinara. Recioto della Valpolicella is an intense, aromatic wine with floral and fruit notes reminiscent of ripe red fruit and spices.
It can be enjoyed as a digestif, but it also goes well with matured and blue cheese, pastries, cookies, and various desserts that incorporate chocolate, coffee, or cherries. The wine also comes in a sparkling (spumante) version.
Vin Santo is a type of Italian wine made with dry grapes (passito method) that is produced in various styles. Vin Santo del Chianti is a regional variety from Tuscany—the birthplace of the style—and it can only be produced in the provinces of Arezzo, Florence, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato, and Siena.
The wines can be made with Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia, which can be used separately or in a blend. Vin Santo del Chianti is golden or amber-colored wine that is aromatic and richly flavored. The aroma is intense, usually reminiscent of dried fruit, nuts, and quince, along with honeyed and caramel notes.
Monbazillac is a French appellation in the Bergerac wine region that mainly produces late-harvest sweet wines from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle grapes that were affected by noble rot. The wines produced in the area are typically full-bodied with well-balanced acidity, alcohol, and sweetness.
They often display aromas of honey, flowers, candied and citrus fruit, and they sometimes have a distinctive nutty aftertaste. Monbazillac wines are suitable for long aging, and though most are aged for at least ten years, the best expressions are suitable for longer aging.
Coteaux du Layon is a French appellation located in the Loire wine region. It is known for their sweet Chenin Blanc (Pineau de Loire) wines that are produced from late harvested or noble rot grapes. Typical aromas found in these well-balanced wines include acacia flowers, honey, and yellow fruit such as apricot or quince.
They can be enjoyed young, but the best examples can age quite well and develop a typical amber color and a more complex aromatic profile that displays aromas of candied fruit. Because of their creamy texture and fresh acidity, Coteaux du Layon are an excellent match to blue cheese, foie gras, and tangy frangipane or fruit-based desserts.
Barsac is a white dessert wine that gets its name from a small village south of Bordeaux in the south-west of France. It is mainly produced from Semillon grapes, though Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, and Muscadelle may also be used in the blend.
Barsac wine-growers have a privilege to use the AOC label Sauternes for their wines, while they also have a separate Barsac appellation. Young Barsac wines are light-bodied with an intense golden color that develops into deep amber with aging. They are well-balanced, concentrated, and fresh, with notes of stone fruit, white flowers, almonds, and honey.
Sainte-Croix-du-Mont is a French appellation for sweet white wines located in Bordeaux. Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sémillon are the principal grape varieties used in their production. These wines are usually deep yellow with golden highlights.
They are full-bodied, rich, and complex, with a great balance of sweetness and acidity, while the typical flavors and aromas include candied fruit, raisins, white flowers, honey, and acacia. Although less prestigious than the neighboring Sauternes, Sainte-Croix-du-Mont wines share a similar character and can also age well.
Moscato Giallo is a white grape variety that probably originated in Italy. It is mainly cultivated in northern Italy, with the best expressions coming from Trentino-Alto Adige. The grape belongs to the broad Moscato family. It is used in the production of dry, sweet, and sparkling styles, and it is included in several Italian appellations.
Moscato Giallo produces aromatic and subtly sweet white wines with moderate acidity. On the nose, they usually display tropical fruit, citruses, peaches, and sweet spices. Dessert styles are sweeter and more complex, with more concentrated aromas.
There are several theories about the origin of Muscato Giallo, but most remain unconfirmed.
Vin Santo di Montepulciano is an Italian wine that belongs to the group of renowned Vin Santo dessert wines. White Montepulciano is typically produced from a minimum of 70% Grechetto (Pulcinculo), Malvasia, and Trebbiano Toscano grapes, while the red variety, known as Occhio di Pernice, is primarily based on Sangiovese grapes.
Sweet and complex white Vin Santo di Montepulciano is typically dark yellow in color, with notes of fresh and dry fruits, almonds, caramel, vanilla, or white tea. It is traditionally paired with Tuscan cantuccini biscuits, but it can also work well with cheese and can be enjoyed as an aperitif.
Best Western European Dessert Wine Producers
Château d'Yquem is one of the most renowned wineries in the world, located in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux, France. It is famous for producing some of the finest sweet wines, particularly those made from the Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc grape varieties.
The estate's wines are primarily known for their exceptional quality, complexity, and aging potential.
AWARDS
Falstaff - 100
Falstaff - 99
Vignobles Dom Brial is a prominent wine estate located in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France. Known for producing a diverse range of wines, the estate spans several terroirs within the Roussillon and Languedoc regions, benefiting from the Mediterranean climate and rich soils.
The winery produces both red and white wines, with a focus on Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre for reds, and Chardonnay and Viognier for whites.
AWARDS
Berlin Wine Trophy - Grand Gold
2021, 2020, 2019
Asia Wine Trophy - Grand Gold
2018, 2017
BEST Vignobles Dom Brial Wines
Best Western European Dessert Wines
The pleasure derived from tasting Yquem is difficult to describe. It offers a myriad of well-balanced, complex flavours that generate even more harmonies over time. The impression that remains is reminiscent of a quote from Frédéric Dard "the silence that follows a piece by Mozart, in which the listener remains suffused with the music".
This reflects the fact that Château d'Yquem stays on the palate for a remarkable long time, providing a unique, prolonged pleasure. There is a lovely expression in French to describe Yquem's tremendously long aftertaste: il fait la queue du paon, which means that it spreads out like a peacock's tail.
AWARDS
Falstaff - 100
AWARDS
Falstaff - 100
AWARDS
Falstaff - 100
AWARDS
Falstaff - 100
AWARDS
Falstaff - 99
AWARDS
Falstaff - 99
AWARDS
Falstaff - 99
This wine has a smooth, full-bodied texture, balanced by a refreshing acidity that prevents it from feeling overly sweet. Rivesaltes Ambré Grande Réserve pairs beautifully with rich desserts like crème brûlée, tarte tatin, and pastries, as well as with cheeses, particularly blue cheeses or goat cheese.
It can be enjoyed as a dessert wine on its own or served as an accompaniment to special occasions.
AWARDS
Berlin Wine Trophy - Grand Gold
2021
The wine is known for its rich, amber color and sweet, full-bodied flavor profile. It offers a combination of dried fruit flavors like raisins and figs, alongside notes of honey, nuts, and spices, often with a subtle hint of caramel and orange peel.
The aging process also imparts a smooth, velvety texture, with the alcohol content typically higher than that of regular wines due to its fortification.
AWARDS
Asia Wine Trophy - Grand Gold
2017
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