Chateau Purcari Icewine 2022

Cellar for up to 11 years. Serve well chilled. This beautiful sweet icewine is the handiwork of Moldovan winery Chateau Purcari which was founded in 1827 by imperial decree issued by Tsar Nicholas I. It’s the country’s oldest winery and enjoyed a golden age in the 19th century with excellent performance at many of Europe’s top wine competitions and fairs. Despite falling into obscurity when Moldova became part of the Soviet Union, Chateau Purcari is now regaining its former glory with a vast collection of medals won at the Decanter World Wine Awards in 2019 and 2020. To create their icewine the winery harvests Muscat-Ottonel and Traminer grapes in below freezing conditions during the winter months. This means that the water in the grapes freezes into ice and can be removed when the grapes are pressed, producing an intense, concentrated must that’s high in sugar. The must is then vinified to create a rich wine with plenty of residual sugar. Sweet apricot, peach, and honey notes burst out of the glass while the first sip reveals a rich sweetness carefully balanced by ripe tropical fruit and a bright streak of freshness. The intensity of this dessert wine makes it a great option to serve alongside desserts like fruit tarts, cheesecakes or a generous cheese board.

Price: £31.99 from 8wines UK