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Alexis Bailly Chocolate Port
Characteristics: The nose smells of dark, bittersweet chocolate with whole almonds in a very "aromatic" way. when you taste it the berry fruit is quite fresh - black cherry, even blueberry - a balanced and pretty counterpoint. This is not so sticky sweet as many chocolate dessert wines but a delicious, grown-up version - great balance of chocolate and fruit. -DYB (tasted February 2009)
Origin: USA Minnesota - Hiawatha Valley
Average Rating: 3 out of 5
Type: Dessert
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Alexis Bailly Vineyards Hastings Reserve
Characteristics: A delicious sweet and fortified dessert wine, Hastings Reserve is made in the style of a ruby Port, emphasizing both youthful fruit and a maturity of flavor. With an abundance of jammy, berry fruit, the rich, raisiny flavor is enhanced by the warm and spirituous addition of brandy.
Made from a number of different grape varieties including Frontenac, Marechal Foch and Leon Millot, Alexis Bailly blends wines made from several vintages, each wine aged for at least 2 years and up to 8 years in a combination of French, American and old whiskey barrels. The result is a wine of magnificent complexity and depth of flavor. Drinkable upon release, this dessert wine can age in the bottle for 5 to 10 years and provide the patient drinker with an even more incredible intensity of flavor to savor.
Origin: USA Minnesota - Hiawatha Valley
Average Rating: 5 out of 5
Type: Dessert
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Alexis Bailly Vineyards Ratafia
Characteristics: This delightful new orange-infused wine blends rich, red grapes with tangy citrus and notes of vanilla. Toasty, spicy, and nutty. Perfect as an apertif, cocktail or dessert.
Notes from Nan Bailly, winemaker:
Ratafia is a fortified red wine (19% alcohol) with the addition of oranges and other herbs and spices to make a unique style of wine. Winemaker Nan Bailly learned to make Ratafia in the Rhone Valley in France while working as a student and often made it for friends and family for gifts before she and her husband, Sam, began producing the wine commercially.
Ratafia is found in the areas of Spain, France and Italy bordering the Mediterranean and is considered to be a regional folk wine, the ingredients changing with the local indeginous fruits and herbs.
The name comes from an old world drink that was used to toast the "ratification" of a treaty in 15th century Europe.
In France, Ratafia is tradtionally served before a meal as an aperitif, either by itself or with a bowl of nuts or olives. We find the wine to be versatile for both before and after a meal as well as a delicious ingredient for recipes.
Our distinctive bottle and label were awarded third place at the prestigious San Francisco Wine Competiton. The drawing for the label was done by Minneapolis artist Leon Hushcha and the package design by Yamamoto Moss of Minneapolis.
SERVE RATAFIA
- Straight up (port glass)
- Ratafia Royale (1 oz Ratafia to 4 oz. Champagne)
- On ice with a twist
- On ice with a twist and a splash of soda
- Cocktail mix
- Over ice cream (cool!)
Origin: USA Minnesota - Hiawatha Valley
Average Rating: 4 out of 5
Type: Dessert
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