CoolVines Tasting 3: Sweet Wines

CoolVines, Princeton
Tasted Wednesday, September 3, 2008 by RajivAyyangar with 432 views

Introduction

The theme was sweet wines. All the wines were at around room temp when I got there.

Flight 1 (3 Notes)

  • 2005 Château Soucherie Coteaux du Layon 80 Points

    France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Coteaux du Layon

    med- straw in the glass. N: apple jolly rancher, hints of nice apple vinegar, delicate green apple, caramel apple, faint toast (some oak treatment, touch of VA?, maybe a bit oxidized) certainly a wine with character on the nose, and that I like. Rosenthal delivers! In the mouth, med- bodied, medium+ sugar viscosity. med acid - needs much more. Round, rich, with light finish. Great nose, but not enough acid to be really drinkable. 12.5%

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  • 2005 Sablettes Sauternes 85 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Med- straw in the glass, quite lustrous. Nose with strong smoky genmai, a hint of burnt rubber that soon blew off. Rice and honey all day long, with some green tea on the midpalate. Med+ acid (good, not great - needs more). Great genmai on the mo. Not a lot of fruit (hints of apricots), but I really like the flavor profile. Overall: heavy. Serve cold. For $18, really nice. 14%.

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  • NV Quinta do Infantado Porto Tawny 80 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (first port!) Med- garnet in the glass, with slight tawny rimming and massive legs, this port has a huge nose reminiscent of the Alvear sherry, but much more fruit-driven, with toasted hazelnut, indian spices, hints of dark grapey candy. In the mouth: tremendous sugar, acid, and alcohol. Unctuous with prunes, dates, and other deep flavors. Screaming for something equally rich, with salt to balance out the sugar and acid. This is screaming for Stilton!!!! Heavy, deep aromas, alcohol numbing and stinging my tongue, great acidity. I'm not happy about the alcohol stinging my tongue and generally hurting. Needs to be drunk colder, with cheese. Ouch. 19.5%

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Closing

All in all, I was impressed by the Port (my first), but I'm probably not going to return to it, except with Stilton. It's too sweet and too alcoholic - it burnt my tongue badly. The chenin blanc was severely lacking in acid, but might be good with Indian. The Sauternes was serviceable, but also lacking a bit of acidity. Not a lot of fruit on the nose either - though it won me over with green tea, genmai, and honey.

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