It's a treat to sip botrytised sweet wine after a meal instead of dessert. These golden gems, made from grapes affected by noble rot are delicious and unctuously sweet, but the best are balanced by a lively, non-cloying finish. They aren't cheap but they are so intense a small glass is quite enough.
BEST VALUE
$35
Four stars (out of five)
Great value
Liqueur muscat is one of the overlooked treasures of Australian wine. Made from muscat grapes and fortified, it's similar to a port or madeira, fragrant, nutty, smooth, rich and intense with hints of dried figs and dates, and a lively bite.
$36
Three and a half stars
Average value
A mature botrytised riesling, golden, unctuous with hints of honey, toasted nuts, dried apricot, grapefruit marmalade and toffee.
Delicious and not as heavy as some stickies.
$35
Four stars
Good value
Classic Marlborough noble riesling - golden in colour, oozing floral aromas, dried apricots, tropical fruit, citrus and honey, intensely sweet and textural but light and lively with a lovely clean, lingering finish.
$35
Four stars
Good vlaue
Tawny in colour, rich and sweet, exuding ripe peaches, tropical fruit, dried apricots, honey and golden syrup with an oily texture and a clean bright finish. This is Riverby's first vintage of this wine, a blend of 55% sauvignon blanc and 45% semillon.
$35
Four stars
Good value
Copper-coloured, oozing ripe tropical fruit salad, peach and honey with hints of toffee, nuts and citrus, intensely sweet but with a lively, lingering finish.
$37
Four and a half stars
Great value
Bright gold in colour, oozing toasted nuts, citrus, grapefruit and spices, with a hint of creamy caramel, intense, textural and complex with a definite oaky undertone that will integrate with bottle age. Made in the style of the great sweet wines of Sauternes, France, this seems almost dry on the finish, like a good marmalade.
• Although wine sent for review is tasted blind to eliminate preconceptions, all wine tasting and evaluation is subjective. These are personal recommendations.
