This is a good point and it is further noteworthy that this is an agreement between the Europeans and the Americans. Or almost. The US is allowing this to continue until the agreement is finalized and then will seek to grandfather in those names set up prior to March 2006.

I think that a fair solution is the simple addition in fairly small letters somewhere on the front or back label of something to the effect that "This is a XXXX style wine and not a wine of XXXX origin". This would seem to pacify the European wine of specific place of origin issue and the Yank's very real issue with wanting to market their products.

In all seriousness, I own Port tongs and Port pipes. It is by far the wine with the best traditions and accessories.

Desert wines are out of fashion for the most part, as most people don't realize the depth, finesse and delicacy that the better wines embody. I've drunk a lot of d'Yquem in my time, but no longer -- it simply doesn't merit the cost, and while being very (very) good there are actually other wines that are finer in absolute terms to my palate. Lately I have become interested in 2 diametrically opposed styles of desert wines: the Gewurz SGN for "young" wines (10+ years), and Muscat when older (generally 50+ years). Beats d'Yquem by a huge margin when cost is factored in. Muscat in particular is a massively under-rated grape, capable of astonishing flavour nuances (sadly it is rarely made properly, though that is partly a supply/demand/pricing problem).

Totally agree with you as Alsacian Muscats, which are single variety white wines, are lovely but the ones produced in my region are DRY and not dessert wines. I think you may be referring to Muscatel/Moscatel which is also uses the muscat grape but is a sweet wine. If not, I stand corrected .. but our Muscats are drunk young (up to 8-10 years) and do not improve substantially in the bottle or beyond that time.

I would recommend Muscat de Baumes de Venise, and of course our local Vendanges Tardives - Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and of course Muscat though this tends to be harder to find. Those made by Hugel are particularly fine.

Agree with this (NB spelling is Beaumes). My favorite is Domaine Durban, set in a fantastic location right up in the hills behind the town. The wine is great, and varies somewhat in flavor from one year to the next (one of the fascinating things about it). Normally stock up with half a case each year.

If you're looking for something else interesting, try New Zealand's Isabel Estate Noble Sauvage. Can cope with everything, even chocolate.

If I'm short of cash, Quady Essensia Orange Muscat is very acceptable, too.

Quady is not bad, but a different kind of wine. The Australian muscats are in a class of their own, definitely the best in the world imho (and I've drunk a lot of expensive wine, some not so fine).

Thanks 1P! I'd overindulged the night before I posted this!!

The Tomić family Bastijana, Prošek Hectorovich (from the Island of Hvar, coastal region of Dalmatia, Croatia). I haven't been able to find it in the states though.

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Paolo Saracco Moscato d'Asti

It is my absolute favorite. Many eisweins that I have tried seem a bit thicker in consistency than I prefer.

Tim, are you buying at 2009 futures? Some of the others are appealing and I've thought about buying a case or two of 375s.

Also, had a 1994 Dow's Vintage Port on Saturday and it was drinking like it was just bottled. IMPOSSIBLY young! If I had more of it, I'd not want to open another for 20+ years.

-Tooch

2001 is too young for me right now -- I don't have the patience to buy 2009. Sauternes doesn't jump in price very much, generally speaking, so I'm buying 1980s stuff now at, what I call, very reasonable prices.

Australia's De Bortoli Noble One is a pretty epic botrytis semillion. Nothing subtle about it (it's Australian after all) but it possesses amazing complexity. There are quite a number of really excellent botrytis affected wines produced in Australia. Most from the Griffith region in New South Wales.

In heavier, leaning towards more port-ish styles, the best fortified wines from Australia's Rutherglen region on the Victorian/New South Wales border, are undoubtedly some of the finest fortified wines produced anywhere in the world bar nowhere. And most people outside of Australia would never have come across them. Most people only know Australia for overblown (and often nasty) Chardonnay and blockbuster Shiraz. And the makers of Yellow Tail should be prosecuted for bringing the Australian wine industry into disrepute.

Vin Santo - with Biscotti, of course! Unfortunately really good ones are hard to come by in the US Well, that is, without totally breaking the bank. If anybody has a line on one that they consider really good - and reasonable, please post. I'll try just about any wine once . . . well, twice.

Good call. Probably the best vinsanto I ever had was locally grown on the Greek Island of Santorini. It wasn't cheap (about USD$100 per bottle) but it was extraordinarily complex...and drinking it sitting on my deck at the Fanari Villas watching the Oia sunset made it all the more magical.

Never had one.

Know anything about this: 2001 Sonnino de Renzis Sonnino Vin Santo?