2005 Royal Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos Red Label

Specs:

2005 Royal Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos Red Label

Tokaji

Hungary

10.5% Alcohol

Furmint, Harslevelu and Muscat de Lune

$37.00

Notes:

Since the moment I tasted this exotic dessert wine I haven't thought about much else really. It's a taste I haven't had the pleasure of experiencing until recently. Royal Tokaji is a relatively new producer as Old World wine houses go however the Tokaji region has been known as Europe's finest for centuries. The Aszú 5 has only been produced in five vintages, the 2005 being the most recent to date. The sweetness from the wine comes from the production of the grapes. The grapes sit on the vine past their peak until they dry and become concentrated thus producing this sweet dessert wine.

In the glass the color is unique, with rich burnt amber hues and a crystal clear clarity. On the nose, aroma after aroma presents itself. Notes of peach, nectarine, apricot, orange, candied fruit, honey as well as bright florals all work in harmony. The scent has somewhat of a burnt or fortified essence to it something extremely out of the ordinary for your average dessert wine.

On the palate the wine is smooth, rich, round and complex. The high intensity flavors are layered beautifully; sweetness and acid balance in harmony in the tongue. Flavors of burnt orange peel, dried apricots, marmalade, honey, peach, nectarine and roasted nuts all help with the out of this world flavor the wine offers. The finish on this wine is long and lingers nicely on the palate; flavors unfold taste after taste. The 2005 Royal Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos Red Label makes the perfect dessert wine or aperitif. Like most dessert wines this would pair well with salty cheeses and fruit tarts. This is a phenomenal wine that you will most definitely fall in love with.

2006 Inniskilin "Vidal" Icewine

Specs:

2006 Inniskilin "Vidal" Icewine

Niagara Peninsula

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

9% Alcohol

100% Vidal Blanc

http://www.inniskillin.com/

$48.00

Notes:

Icewine is definitely off the beaten path for the everyday drinker but is such an amazing treat to enjoy for any occasion. Call it sort of a conversation piece in itself. Icewine is a dessert wine that is only produced in regions with winters of extreme cold. Instead of harvesting berries when they are ripe, icewine producers wait for winter to arrive. The let the berries freeze on the vine and harvest them at night in clusters. This wine is usually in the higher price range as the process is tedious and the frozen grapes don't offer much juice taking down production of each vintage. In the glass the color is a clear, rich gold. The nose offers vibrant smells such as sweet honey, melon, vanilla and marmalade. The scents of this wine jump out of the glass and you know by that alone that the flavor will not disappoint.

On the tongue this wine is full bodied with a high intensity of flavor. This wine is sweet yet well balanced. Flavors of raisin, apricot, honey, guava and vanilla all working in harmony. Slight hints of lavender and florals also become more present throughout the finish. This is definitely an indulgent wine that I would suggest drinking on its own as dessert or with a sharp Parmesan or a pear and goat cheese tart. If you don't like sweet or dessert wines this is probably not the best selection. Branch out and enjoy.