High-Scoring Last-Minute Gifts!

High-Scoring Last-Minute Gifts

Shopping each year for the same people can be difficult. I try to find something original every Christmas, but as the years go by, it gets harder and harder to find something new and exciting. One gift that I always consider, is a truly great dessert wine! If you think about it, most people who love wines buy for themselves dry white and red wines as those are the types of wines they enjoy on a daily basis. Sweet wines are usually for a special occasion, the topping on the cake if you will, for the finale of a spectacular dinner. I have always been a fan of the great sweet wines of the world, probably more so than many retailers, because I think they are important parts of a great dining experience but more importantly they just taste absolutely delicious! Most great dessert wines are made in such a style that they need to be aged not years but decades. Today we are offering a few selections that have been aged just the right amount of time AND are on sale at savings of over 25%!

The Magnums of Fonseca 1997 are just in Dennis and Orleans right now, but we can get one to you in other locations if needed.

Hope everyone has a great holiday season!

Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port 2000 – Douro Valley, Portugal - 375ml half bottle

98 Points - Wine Advocate
"At present it offers very pure blackberry, mulberry, and a touch of smoke...not giving much away at the moment but surely destined to down the line. The palate is very refined, very pure with svelte tannins with ebullient ripe red fruits laced with tobacco, nutmeg and white pepper. Long and caressing on the finish, this should evolve into a masterful Taylor’s Vintage." (7/2011)

95 Points - Wine Spectator
"Fresh and sleek, with cassis, cherry paste and linzer torte flavors that drive along nicely, picking up red licorice, alder and briar notes along the way. The anise- and spice-infused finish has focus and energy. This is rock-solid and nearly at peak." (Web-2021)

Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey 2003 - Sauternes, France – 750mL

97 Points - Wine Spectator
"Very, very intense aromas of dried apricot and lemon. Honey, syrup and Golden Delicious. Full-bodied, viscous and very sweet. Pour it on pancakes. Love it. And drink it. Who can wait? Best after 2010." *Ranked #6 in Top 100 Wines of 2006* (3/2006)

93 Points - Wine Advocate
"The 2003 has a deep amber/golden color. The nose is typical of the 2003 Sauternes with marmalade, orange peel, peach skin, touches of sea spray developing with time. There is good vigor and the aromatics are very open. The palate is well balanced with a fine line of acidity considering the vintage: quince, mandarin, Chinese five spice and bitter orange towards the finish. This is one of the best 2003 Sauternes out there." (12/2014)

Fonseca Vintage Port 1997 – Douro Valley, Portugal – 1.5L Magnum

93 Points - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
"Full saturated ruby. Inky, brooding aromas of syrupy black fruits and violet. Dense, thick and tactile, with superb depth of flavor and compelling juicy sweetness. Finishes with powerful tannins and superb grip. Not as flamboyantly aromatic as this wine normally is in its youth, but structured for long, slow development in bottle." (6/2000)

93 Points - Decanter
"A declaration rather over-shadowed by 1994 and looking good value against its peers. Open, ripe berry fruit aromas come singing from the glass; rich plummy flavours on the palate, ripe and fleshy, wrapped by firm yet ripe tannins that linger on to the finish." (10/2019)