Life is too short to drink bad wine

This is a splendid sweet white made from 100% Garganega (main grape in Soave) and the 2009 vintage got three glasses in Gambero Rosso! The grapes are pressed towards the end of March after going through the "appassimento" process since the harvest (October). The fermentation took place in oak barrels before being bottled after 10-12 months. Golden yellow color. The nose is packed with various impressions like figs, apricot, sweet citrus fruit and hints of coffee. Beautiful sweet taste with a great acidity and a long finish. Le Sponde 2009 Recioto di Soave Coffele Ca 30€

This is sweet white from Soave. 100% hand-harvested Garganega grapes from the heart of the Soave region. The ripest bunches are put in small wooden cases and brought to the "fruttaio" where they are hang in special nets. During the following period (called appissemento) the imperfect grapes are removed before the dried grapes are pressed and fermented the following March. The result is a golden colored sweet white with a lovely perfume of apricots, honey, nuts and spices. The taste is sweet with a lively acidity and great balance. A delicious and seldom dessert wine (or blue cheese). Recioto di Soave Le Sponde 2007 Coffele in Soave Ca 25€ for 50 cl

Had this 6 year old Riesling at Chez Yvonne restaurant in Strasbourg. Lovely smell of petroleum and demi sweet taste with nice acidty and balance. Perfect with the local foie gras. Alsace Steingrubler Riesling 2007 Francois Barmes Dangerous stuff...

Left over Xmas chocolate with Recioto from Valpolicella is just a wonderful combination. Sweet cherries on the nose and a velvety slightly sugary taste. Best if served slightly cold. Lots of fruit in this wine and perhaps less dry fruit than other Recioto's. Recioto della Valpolicella 2008,  Great with chocolate and chocolate desserts and cakes. Ca 20€ for 500 ml bottles.

This is a wonderful dessert wine based on Riesling. The nose is complex with hint of petroleum, minerals, lime and exotic fruits. The balance is fabulous with a perfect match between sweetness and acidity. Lovely stuff! Selbach-Oster 2005 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese I just love sweet white wines...

This is the basic version of the Domaine Cauhape sweet white. Harvested as the name says in October and made from Gros (70%) and Petit Manseng grapes. Pale colour. A seductive sweet nose of exotic fruit and a beautiful long light and wonderfully balanced acidity. It is sweet but it does not feels too sweet thanks to the lovely acidity. Domaine Cauhape 2010, Jurancon A delicious swet wine at 12€ a bottle. Also tasted at the domaine was the astonishing "Noblesse du Temps" 2010 made from 100% Petit Manseng. Fantastic concentration and length. 28€.

You have friends and then you have friends with fantastic wines. What can I say Michel? Home made Foie Gras and 1968 d'Yquem? A truly lavish wine of extraordinary complexity. Rich, hugely extracted, with masses of fat and glycerin. Plenty of over-ripe tropical fruits, sweet abricot and honey. Wonderful astonishing length.  Subtle oak which is well-integrated on the palate with layers of ripe peaches and melon with a pure and lingering finish. Just wooonderful! Time just stood still.... Ch. d'Yquem 1968, Sauternes The 1989 will cost you 430 £....

This is the second wine of Ch Suduiraut. Lovely botrytis smell and great sweetness with balanced acidity. Deep golden yellow colour reflecting a warm vintage. Lots of tropical fruit on the nose. Great finish with excellent smoothness. Castelnau de Suduiraut 2003, Sauternes Perfect with foie gras...