Casa Silva, Late Harvest Semillon/Gewurztraminer 2013, Chile
For many people a bottle of dessert wine is more or less a once a year purchase, and Christmas is the time when they splash out on a beautiful sweet wine to finish their meal in style. Here are three very contrasting styles of wine, with contrasting prices too, but each a highly recommended buy. First up is Casa Silva’s late harvested wine from Chile, where the Gewurztraminer aromatics are gorgeous, before a fully sweet and luscious palate, but one where a core of orangey acidity gives lovely focus. Second is a real change of pace: a 14-year-old fortified Muscat from Domaine Cazes in the Roussillon that has spent seven years in barrel to develop a nutty, oxiditave richness, with all the Christmas spices you could wish for, and a sweet but again crisp and wonderfully fresh palate of sweet red fruits. Finally, if in the mood to splash out, the Peller Estate Icewine is a rare and ethereal beauty, more subtle than either of the preceding wines, but with a glacial purity to its lemon and lime flavours, full sweetness and very long finish. Watch the video for more on each wine, plus suggestions for exactly what desserts will work best with each. All prices are for half bottles.
Casa Silva, Semillon/Gewurztraminer. Around £8.00, see all stockists on
wine-searcher. Domaine Cazes, Rivesaltes Ambre. Around £14.00, see all stockists on
wine-searcher. Peller Estate, Riesling Icewine. £35.00 per 37.5cl, Majestic.