De Bortoli Noble One Botrytis Semillon

Sweet, rich and deeply honeyed, tasting of soft green fig and cream. Yet this is balanced, with juicy, almost tangy, pineapple and grapefruit notes. A perfect evocation of the Sauternes idea. Delicious already. Drink now through 2016.

The 2005 Botrytis Semillon “The Noble One” has nearly 70% botrytis infected fruit. It was aged in French oak, 46% new. Medium gold-colored, it offers an enticing nose of orange peel, tangerine, and candied apricots. Balanced with lively acidity, this vibrant wine has a long, pure finish. It can be enjoyed now but will easily evolve for up to a decade. De Bortoli owns estate vineyards in Riverina, Hunter Valley, and Yarra Valley and produces several tiers of dry table wines in addition to their sweet and fortified dessert wines.

Medium gold. An exotic collection of honeyed pit and tropical fruit aromas are complemented by vanilla bean, baking spices and sweet butter. Fleshy and round but energetic, with zesty peach and poached pear flavors sharpened by juicy acidity. Finishes clean and long, leaving vanilla and honeyed peach flavors behind. Still young.

De Bortoli has made Noble One into one of Australia’s benchmark dessert wines through consistently strong efforts like the 2005. Scents of vanilla and cinnamon add layers of complexity to the dried apricot and orange marmalade flavors. Medium-bodied and sweet, with a long finish, pair it like you would any fine Sauternes.