20/12/2015 – Three dessert wines for Christmas 2015

(2015) Brown Bros' ever-popular Orange Muscat and Flora seems to have become lighter and a touch less 'sticky' over the years, but it presents a very crisp and fresh yet undeniably sweet profile that is light and airy, a modest 10% alcohol and good acidity off-setting some luscious tropical and peachy tones, and it has a bit of exotic aroma and flavour from the Muscat and one of Flora's parent varieties, Gewurztraminer. Price is for a half bottle, and is a promotional price.

(2015) Gorgeous nose, from the same terroir as the Grand Vin, this shows lovely Botrytis notes with barley sugar richness. The palate has roundness and richness too, but it is the orangey, vibrant finish that sets this apart, a touch of bitterness, of kumquat, to throw that sweetness into wonderful relief. Delicious, long and tangy. Price is for a half bottle.

(2015) What a terrfic wine this is, the nose so utterly Riesling with paraffin and beeswax notes, loads of lime and a fine suggestion of ripe and exotic fruit too. There's some honeycomb and orange on the palate, the sweetness is delightful and mouthfilling, and again 10% alcohol and a rapier zip of lime acidity means it finishes as clean as a whistle. Terrific. Price is for a half bottle.