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Wine Reviews

2006 Inniskillin Wines Sparking Icewine


2006 Inniskillin Wines Sparking Icewine   V.Q.A. Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada
Reviewed December 6, 2008
 
Product #: 86884
Score: 93/100
Price: $69.95
Alcohol: 9%
Sweetness: Dry
Drink: 2008-2020
Winery: Inniskillin Wines

Tasting note:

VC: Decadent and luxurious, Inniskillin’s sparkling Icewine combines the best of both wine styles. A fabulous finish to a celebratory meal, this fine fizz displays intense aromas of honey, apricots and dried fruits. The luscious sweetness is balanced by the lively acidity and a refined mousse. My note: I’ve always been intrigued and delighted with this unique combination of effervescence and fruit sweetness. The first gives refreshment, the second gives satisfaction. Together they make a wonderful bubbly that’s incredibly versatile and can be consumed before, during or after the meal. Food matches: glazed ham, chutney, roast chicken, fruit flan, biscotti, almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, hard cheeses.

Complementary recipes:

  

Serve this wine between 45-50 degrees Farenheit or 6-10 degrees Celsius. Tip: If your bottle is at room temperature, put it in ice water for about 30 minutes or in the fridge for about three hours to chill it.

Icewine

Icewine is produced when grapes are left on the vine well past the regular harvest into the cold winter months. These grapes are picked at -8 degree Celsius or 18 degrees Farenheit and then pressed while still frozen. Canada and Germany are most famous for this dessert wine. In Canada, it's called icewine whereas in Germany it's eiswein. Canadian vintners use both the vidal and riesling grapes while Germany uses mostly riesling, which has more balancing acidity for this sweet wine. This wine has a medium to full body, with a long finish and surprisingly low alcohol of, on average, just 10%. The aromas include tropical fruit such as pineapple, mango, melon, apricot, lychee as well as honey. Icewine is especially lovely with fruit-based desserts, flans, cobblers, biscotti, nuts, foie gras, cheeses and dishes with a touch of sweetness such as glazed ham.



For more details on how I do my wine reviews, what the scores mean and other background, please click here. To find definitions of the wine terms I use, from acidity to zesty, visit my Wine Glossary.

 
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