I’d Like More, Please, Sir
Most of the time, when we talk about wine, we’ve looked at drier wine, since the majority of wine is, by nature, made to be that way. Today, for those of you with a “sweet tooth”, we’ll mention some choices with a sweeter taste.
Michele Chiarlo Moscato d’Asti DOCG Nivole,2018, ($18.99), isa great example of a Moscato wine that, despite its sweeter taste, is fresh and has distinctive notes of floral aromas, with notes of peaches and apricots; the mouthfeel is surprisingly creamy and fragrant, with a pronounced carbonation and a finish which is particularly fresh. You don’t need to have this one with food, but, in Italy, it’s usually had with fruits and cheeses.
Roscato Rosso Dolce Sweet Red NV, Lombardy, Italy, ($13.99), is a really versatile wine. You can have it warm or chilled, with or without food. If you choose food, you can go Italian red sauce-based dishes or spicy Asian or Mexican. This wine comes from a region in Italy that produces most of its sweet reds; Brachetto, which we’ve mentioned before, is also a Lombardy wine with a pronounced carbonation that’s only available in the fall for a short time, since the production is typically limited.
Before I forget, we really need to include at least one wine from Germany, which has refined sweetness to a science-literally. German wine laws are very specific about what can be called sweet and how sweet. There a many levels of sweetness, and I’d suggest starting with a type called “Auslese”-(AUCH-layser). It’s at the lower end of the Sweetness scale, made from Riesling grapes and harvested later in the fall. Mueller Piesporter Michelsberg Auslese,2018, ($18.99), is a personal favorite and readily available in our area. Produced in the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer region of Germany, from late harvest grapes grown in the prestigious Mosel region, this wine possesses a vibrant bouquet of fruits and well-defined, floral notes. It has a finish which goes on and on and you can enjoy it with fish, fruits, or cheese.
Graham’s Six Grapes Reserve Port, Douro, Portugal, ($19.99), Six Grapes has a seductive, rich aroma of ripe plums, cherries and dark chocolate notes. On the palate it’s complex, with an excellent structure and a long, lingering finish. Six Grapes is one of Graham’s original Port blends-a very full-bodied, rich wine drawn from the same vineyards as Graham’s Vintage Ports. Blended from two- or three-year harvests, the wine is an average of five to six years old when it is lightly filtered and bottled. Great to have with stronger cheeses, spicy Asian or Tapas. Always nice to drink against a chill in the evening air and in Southie, especially in the Seaport, you never know when there’ll be one, so, be prepared!
Talk to the Wine Guy at jdris8888@gmail.com
