There is no single, all-purpose dessert wine, said Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg in The Washington Post. Our own “default choice” for the last course of a festive meal is a sweet, semi-sparkling Moscato d’Asti. But here are four other dessert wines that especially complement winter meals.
Graham’s Tawny Porto Aged 10 Years ($34) “A terrific value.” This light-bodied, intensely caramel-flavored wine is “ideal for those new to port.”
1994 Smith Woodhouse Colheita Porto ($46) Colheita (pronounced kol-YAY-tah) is the Portuguese word for harvest or vintage. This vintage tawny port has been aged for at least seven years. An intense red-berry color with a soft fruit flavor.
2005 Barboursville Vineyards Malvaxia Passito ($30) A wine from Virginia that pairs perfectly with cheeses and patés.
Pearmund Cellars Vin de Sol ($25) Also from Virginia, this sherry-style wine “is made in glass jars on the winery’s roof.” Rich dried-apricot and butterscotch flavors.
