Bob Parsons Alberta. wrote:Echo Dave`s idea of Moscato! I have tasted some fine examples over the years.
Speaking of Moscato and sweet wines, yesterday I took the coolest wine to Bill's monthly Vancouver lunch group: a
1927 Domaine Bory Rivesaltes. It's only the second Rivesaltes I've ever had and the first one that was even vintage, let alone seriously aged if even that descriptor isn't an understatement. The very occasional notes on this board about this style of wine have intrigued (Tim York, didn't you have a 1909?) and so I jumped at the chance to buy a few bottles of this when I got an internet offer from a California supplier I deal with from time to time.
And: WOW. The chumps were duly stumped: first, just to sort out what in the heck it was, and secondly to guess the vintage as the wine's so youthful that at first it seemed but ten, 15 years out. Then they guess 70's, 60's, and so on, and finally giving up when "30's" still got a 'no'. At that point, I hit them with a history quiz. "What year did Lindbergh make his first transatlantic flight to Paris?" "What year did Al Jolson open The Jazz Singer on Broadway?" "What year was the first Ryder Cup in London, in which the U.S. beat England?" "What year was the first transatlantic phone line, between New York and London, activated?" Talk about fun!
The wine was a light golden tan in color, and very slightly cloudy. The nose was somewhat Madeira-like, but refreshingly lighter in body and with brighter acidity; with lovely scents reminiscent of a mug of tea seasoned with honey, lemon, cinnamon, cloves and a dash of whiskey, the kind that is so good when you have a bad cold. Also, notes of date, fig, maple and dried pineapple that linger on and on in the finish.
Very worthy way to finish out the last lunch of 2011, and mosdef one of my best wines this year.