Kalyra Winery
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2007 Gewurztraminer “El Forte”
Back in 1985, Mike Brown, owner of Kalyra, made his first white port dessert wine entirely from Gewurztraminer grapes. This release is along the same lines. Due to some crazy European laws, we are no longer allowed to call it “Port,” so we have nicknamed it “El Forte,” which means “The Strong."
This is a fortified California dessert wine, which has been made from fruit sourced from the Viña de Santa Ynez. During fermentation, the wine was fortified with a neutral spirit brandy, which halts the ongoing fermentation and leaves the wine with a lot of residual sugars in tact, as well as a higher alcohol content. (This is the port-making process.) The wine was then racked into barrels for 24 months and finally bottled. This amazing dessert wine has great character, with a touch of Lychee and peach flavors (as well as a touch of spice) with rich butterscotch and hazelnut on the finish. El Forte is perfect to pair with hard cheeses - like an English Stilton - or with thinly cut dried fruits. It is perfect, as well, on its own after a meal. Best served slightly below room temperature.
So, if you like sweet white wines, then this California Gewurztraminer is the dessert wine for you.
Price: $19.50