Have you ever thought of all the offerings out there for fortified festive drinks, why oh why in the UK we’re so blinkered into drinking just Port?
Well we have….. so with the upcoming festive feasting period we thought it was time that we gave the stage to the delights of fortified wines and not exclusively ports. We will open your palates to a selection of wines that will admirably partner the myriad of flavours that we encounter through the Christmas period - and we will bust a few sherry and port myths along the way.
This is the ideal gift for the wine connoisseur; six amazingly different wines all in a single pack – its not often we have the chance to taste 6 fortified wines side by side, and there is something here for the novice and the true wine aficionado.
The parcel contains six 100ml sample tubes, and a link to a 1-hr YouTube tasting session (sent to you upon purchase).
In the Parcel
Barbeito Rainwater Reserva, 100ml
Rainwater Madeira is a style of Madeira that has fallen out of fashion in recent years but used to be very popular, particularly in the USA. Usually a lighter style that a full madeira this is a wonderful palate cleanser and showcases what makes Madeira wines so special.
Maestro Sierra Amontillado, 100ml
Amontillado sherry is wonderful style of Sherry, often overlooked for the sweeter styles, yet when made in the traditional way and aged like this one for over 12 years, then you start to see what all the fuss is about and how it really is a versatile drink during the festive season.
Niepoort Late Bottled Vintage, 100ml
Well we weren’t going to not have a port! This LBV from the charismatic producer Dirk Niepoort is just a perfect all rounder. It doesn’t take itself overly seriously, as vintage ports might and packs a delicious burst of flavour and silky tannins to compliment the start and the end of a meal.
La Giaretta della Valpolicella Amarone Classico 2016, 100ml
Not technically a fortified wine, the Amarone gets to join the team as, being made with partially-dried grapes, the wine has unrivalled concentration, richness and viscosity, and weighs in at a hefty 16.5%. This is a great wine to enjoy in the winter months alongside very robust dishes, strong and even blue cheeses and to accompany any dark chocolates you've been given.
1999 Bonnezeaux 'Melleresses' Domaine Rene Renou, 100ml
This is a fascinating sweet white wine not from the classic Sauterne region but for the Loire region. Made from 100% Chenin these wines can age for decades and yet have a light freshness to them that is wonderful to relive a jaded palate three quarter way through the festive banquet.
Maestro Sierra Pedro Ximenez, 100ml
This is an insanely sweet and concentrated sherry that is Christmas in a glass. The Pedro Ximenez grape is more often used to bolster other sherries but on its own it has the most delightful Christmas pudding notes of dried raisins and candied peel, unadulterated indulgence...