
NV
Region
France › Champagne › Montagne de Reims › Vin de France
Type
rose · still · sweet · mistelle
Grapes
Pinot Noir
Alcohol
17%
Volume
750 mL
This wine was the perfect conclusion to a delightful evening. The nose is beautifully aromatic, featuring notes of cottage cheese, caramel, honey, and an abundance of candied fruits. While some might prefer a higher acidity, the balance is undeniably impressive. When I served it blind, no one guessed its actual ABV of 17%, with most assuming it was around 13-14%. On the palate, it is round and persistent, offering distinct flavors of bitter herbs, caramel, cottage cheese, and a hint of overripe fruit. Finally, I had enough of this wine to simply savor and enjoy it thoroughly.
My initial reaction was slight disappointment due to the lack of acidity and a rather simple bouquet. But after giving it more time, I realised it's a unique wine that brings a new experience. It offers an unexpectedly large amount of fruit both on the nose and palate. Around this core are notes of caramel, cottage cheese with honey, and candied fruits. Compared to some great Madeira bottles, this Ratafia indeed lacks acidity, but it's still delicious and has an endless aftertaste with flavours of bitter herbs, cough syrup, and cottage cheese. Delicious. I want to taste it again, and luckily, I have one more bottle stashed.