I was given a bottle of 2014 North Star dessert wine from the Eglatine Vineyard in South Nottinghamshire. This wine is superb and has won prizes. It had been sitting on the wine rack for ages just waiting for the right moment to be opened; over the Christmas period of 2020. There was little to celebrate except the wine: friends and family could not join us. We drank the wine with one of my favourite desserts: apple tart and vanilla ice cream. Apple tart is one of my wife's specialities. Immediately, upon opening the wine, which had been chilled, I could smell pineapple and exotic tropical fruits. On the nose and palate the taste was extremely complex and concentrated. The sweetness of the wine was balanced to perfection by the acidity. The taste of the wine rested long on the palate. It was one of the best dessert wines I have ever tried and it easily rates favourably with a good Monbazillac from the Dordogne.
I looked at the back label and the vineyard described the wine as tasting of pineapples and other tropical fruits. It is a rare occasion when my judgement concurs with the wine makers.
The wine was just about starting to turn a golden colour and I guess that it will keep a good few years longer; provided it is stored well in the dark.
I have no idea how much a half bottle of this wine cost but whatever it was it was worth it. This is one of the best wines I have tasted and it is from England. I shall be searching out this wine when I am allowed to visit my sister in North Leicestershire, we can then celebrate the end of restrictions with a decent bottle of wine and some good food.
