Alasdair Nicol looks to the sweeter side of life and wine

For me, there is no better way to close out a fantastic dinner than with a chilled glass of sweet or dessert wine. These wines, also known as ‘Stickies’ in countries such as Australia, are high in residual sugar, often coming from a number of different harvesting practices.
Most dessert or sweet wines are late-harvested, meaning that they are left on the vine for a longer period of time than regular grapes, thus soaking up more sunshine and causing more conversion of the natural sugars.

There are also ice wines, commonly from Germany or Canada, which are late-harvested at –8˚. Because all the water in the grape has been frozen, the concentrated sugars are extracted to form a sweet viscous wine. The reason these wines are so prized and expensive is that so little liquid comes from the frozen grapes and thus production is limited. Dessert wines typically come in either 375ml or 500ml bottles and can cost a lot more than the average 750ml bottle of red or white wine. But don’t be put off – there is some fantastic drinking to be had on the sweeter side of wine. Here are some of my favourites.

Baron Philippe de Rothschild Reserve Mouton Cadet Sauternes 2004 ($389 from Apita, Cityplaza2, 18 Taikoo Shing Rd, Quarry Bay, 2885 0331) is a sweet nectar-like beverage that will not leave you disappointed. Great structure and sweetness makes this not only a perfect after-dinner drink but a great match to foie gras also. It also comes in a 750ml bottle so you get more bang for your buck.

Jackson-Triggs Vidal Icewine 2006 ($556 from ASC Fine Wines, Unit 1804, 18/F, Leighton Centre, 77 Leighton Rd, Causeway Bay, 3923 6700, www.asc-wines.com) is from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, and is awash with tropical fruit flavours such as mango and passion fruit. It’s not super-sweet but has enough sugar to give you that pleasant silky sweet feeling on the palate.

Mr. Riggs Sticky End Viognier 2009 ($168 from Montrose Fine Wines, 24/F, Wan Chai Central Bldg, 89 Lockhart Rd, Wan Chai, 2555 8877, www.montrose.com.hk) from McLaren Vale in Australia is a late harvested Viognier and is fermented in French oak barrels. It’s a great example of fermentation stopped early so that not all the sugars turn to alcohol, and clocks in at only 12 per cent abv.
 

Domaine Marcel Deiss Gewurztraminer Selection des Grains Nobles 2002 ($550 from Saveurs, 4/F, Wong’s Factory Bldg, 368-370 Sha Tsui Rd, Tsuen Wan, 2543 6339; www.saveurs.com.hk) is a biodynamic sweet wine from Alsace in France and has some exceptional sweetness that really enhances the finish to a meal.

Prunotto Moscato d’Asti DOCG 2008 ($148 from Major Cellar, Unit G6, Hankow Centre, 5-15 Hankow Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2312 0666) is a lightly sparkling sweet Italian wine and is a fantastic aperitif. Flavours of ripe apple and pear shine through and although it is not classified as a dessert wine, it has the sugar content to make a nice change from the classic sweet wines on offer, with only 5.5 per cent alcohol.