Wine review: Dessert Wine (Coquelicot vs. WineShop)

I don't believe in giving my personal rating because I may have completely different tastes than you, my readers. (and I may be a little biased) But I will give you "real" descriptions of each wine in hopes that you can make an educated decision about your next bottle of Late Harvest Dessert Wine. First, here's the wine-snob version:


WineShop At Home is a unique winery whose specialty is in-home wine tastings (currently available in 29 states). They produce a wide variety of hand-crafted, artisan wines. "Ceres" is the name of their Late Harvest Dessert Wine. This blended late harvest dessert wine has about one-third each of Muscat, Semillon and Chardonnay. It has aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, pralines and caramelized pears. The flavors of this wine are a perfect mirror of the aromas, with mouth-filling sweetness and layers of complexity. The finish is long and sweet with hints of fruit, finishing with a light nuttiness. Enjoy this wine with pecan pie, Roquefort cheese and walnuts or bananas foster. (16.5% alcohol) $25 SRP www.BrightEyesWine.com


Coquelicot (say ko-klee-ko) is a new winery in Los Olivos, California that is producing a variety of wines. "Slow Hand" is the name of their Late Harvest Dessert Wine. This wine is very floral and not too sweet. This is a unique wine in the dessert category. A 50/50 blend of Riesling and Chardonnay, the nose hits the mark of both varietals, showing stonefruit, orange, apple, petrol and floral notes. It has a great acidity keeping the wine bright and not cloying. A great accompaniment to fresh fruit or creme brulee. (12.5% alcohol) $23 SRP http://www.rvtwine.com/

Now for the down and dirty... Both wines are exceptionally delicious and reasonably priced, but do have distinct differences.
For starters, note the alcohol content (12.5% Coquelicot, 16.5% WineShop). That 4% difference really affects the individual flavors and the level of inebriation. The "Slow Hand" is lighter, which is why the winemaker suggests lighter dessert fare to accompany it. The "Ceres" is thicker and heavier (much like an ice wine), which makes it perfect for richer desserts, or no dessert at all!
The "Ceres" was oak-aged for 5 years, which gives it a nutty, buttery flavor, much like a butterscotch liqueur. The "Slow Hand" is much fruitier with a slight honey aroma and flavor.

Now you know of two WONDERFUL late harvest dessert wines to go out and try! Both are very limited production, so get 'em while they're hot! Try them for yourself and give your own review below!