GrapeLines

A review of several vintages of Croft, Taylor Fladgate and Fonseca Ports

Port, produced in the northern Portugal region of the Douro Valley, is created by adding a neutral spirit to stop the wine’s fermentation while there is still some residual sugar.

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Holiday gift ideas including some special Scotch, Gin and Vodka as well as two book suggestions

Options abound for the wine-lovers on your holiday gift list, many of whom also enjoy other spirits. For those who like Scotch, a special whisky is a great present. From the noted Japanese distillery Suntory is Hibiki 12 Year Old ($55). Its name is a word that can be translated into a number of positive expressions including “harmony.” This version is offered in a lovely 24-sided bottle that represents the ancient Japanese calendar. It has vanilla and fruit aromas along with a clean, slightly sweet, soft caramel, clove and tropical fruit notes with a pleasant smooth finish lacking the burn of lesser made spirits.

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Part 2 of a look at dessert wines including Tokaji, Quady Essensia, Niagara Peninsula Ice Wines and Tawny Ports.

Last week, I wrote about the legendary dessert wines from the Sauternes region of Bordeaux, France and the traditional off-dry Moscato d’Asti wines of Italy. But wine growing regions around the world have created unique methods dedicated solely to the art of producing these wines.

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The pleasures of older wines.

I prefer “Chinatown” to the “The DaVinci Code,” “On The Waterfront” over “Gladiator” and will drop everything to watch “Casablanca.” Angelina Jolie certainly has her attributes but Ingrid Bergman has a vulnerable sadness. Older movies have a captivating elegance and charm that is often lacking in the more recent Hollywood blockbusters. A similar satisfaction can be found in various older wines.

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Some wine-related gift suggestions for this holiday season.

A grape-bunch patterned tie or a Santa shaped bottle stopper may not be the best choice for the wine lovers on this year’s gift list. Here are some alternatives.

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Dessert wines are an under-appreciated treasure.

Dessert wines may well be the next American wine craze. It seems only natural that a country that has donut shops and ice cream parlors on nearly every corner will learn eventually to appreciate the wonders of a well-made “stickie.” It is a mystery why dessert wines are not more popular. They are a great way to end a meal with more flavor and fewer carbohydrates than a slice of cheesecake. Good dessert wines have a noticeable sweetness balanced by other components, and the best examples have an amazing complexity of flavors. Most are served slightly chilled from half-bottles, or splits, which can serve up to 12 guests. If you are looking for a gift for a wine-lover, a bottle of dessert wine always will be appreciated.

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Sweet dessert wines are perfect gifts for wine lovers.

There are many ways to choose a wine to give as a gift. Some people pick based upon the appearance of the label, thinking that a cute animal or pretty picture somehow translates into a drinkable wine. Others select wines that they have previously tasted while some choose based solely on the price, or color, or country of origin. This results in chardonnay, merlot, and cabernet as the most commonly selected gifts.

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