Alcyone Tannat Dessert Wine

Although this site is called matchingfoodandwine.com you may have spotted it contains a fair few other drinks including beer, cider, spirits and soft drinks. So I’ve been thinking for a while of creating a weekly slot to showcase some some more off-beat bottles and bevvies I come across.

This week’s selection is in fact a wine but about as obscure a one as you can get: an aromatised sweet red dessert wine from Uruguay made from Tannat. It’s made by a winery called Vinedo de los Vientos and is apparently named after Alcyone the goddess of calm and tranquillity (who knew?) who is depicted on the rather beautiful label.

It’s made by a family of Italian origin and modelled on two Italian wines - Barolo Chinato and Marsala and fortified with brandy up to 16%. Like Barolo Chinato it’s aromatized with different roots and herbs about which the label and website is studiously vague, waffling on about “being touched with a bouquet of winter flowers, Madagascan vanilla bean and wild apple mint indulged with a warmth and savor of white cacao soufflé".

Whatever. It’s utterly delicious with a rich hit of ripe cherries and a definite hint of vanilla, chocolate and some kind of spice (allspice?) though don’t run away with the idea that it’s spicy. Much like a vintage port only richer, less alcoholic and more caressing. It would be absolutely wicked with almost any kind of dark chocolate dessert which of course makes it a perfect pick for Valentine’s Day.

You can buy it from Wines of Uruguay for £19 a 50cl bottle. For stockists in the US and Australia check out the Vinedo de los Vientos website