Botrytis Betroffene Optima

  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008

Wine Style

Bekannt als “Ambrosia” oder “Nektar der Götter”, Wachteln 'Gate ist berühmt für seine "Spätlese Optima. Made in the classic Sauternes style this wine is elegant, rich, sweet and concentrated. For over 20 years Quails’ Gate has become famous for this wine.

Tasting & Pairing

The TBA Optima is a classic Botrytis affected wine best enjoyed when paired thoughtfully with food; as an after dinner treat or for a warm nip on a cold evening. A succulent dessert wine, die 2011 Optima exhibits classic dried fruit notes of apricot, orange peel and honeycomb. Candy notes are prominent on the mid palate with sweetness balanced by firm natural acidity on the finish. Optima is best served slightly chilled and pairs well with fruit desserts, dunkle Schokolade, or Cambozola cheese.

Winemaking

Picked late in October, die 2011 season provided us with perfect conditions for growing grapes prone to “Botrytis Cinerea”; a mold and micro flora best known for late harvest vinification or “Noble Rot”. The affected grapes were dehydrated and raisin-like on the vine when harvested with significant levels of Botrytis that provided excellent interest and complexity in the finished wine. Signature to this style of vinification, the grapes were foot stomped in the picking bins to ensure juice contact with the skins before pressing and fermentation. The TBA Optima is released when ready for consumption but will develop fig character unique to the varietal alongside Botrytis affected tones of honeyed, stone fruit and marmalade after 3 zu 5 years of cellaring.

Technical Notes

Varietal: 100% Optim , Alc. By Vol: 11%, Total Acidity: 8.9 g/l, Residual Sweetness: 136 g/l, Sweetness: (11), UPC: 778856311099, Date Bottled: Februar 2012, Case Volume: 715 Fälle

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Wine Style

Bekannt als "Ambrosia" oder "Nektar der Götter", the Quails’ Gate late harvest Optima is made in the classic Sauternes style. This wine is elegant, rich, sweet and concentrated. For over twenty years Quails’ Gate has been famous for this wine.

Tasting & Pairing

This succulent dessert wine exhibits a very aromatic profile of baked pear, fig, orange and ripe citrus with a classic honey beeswax note. Rich aromas of apricot and pear coupled with sweet luscious notes demonstrate the versatility of this wine. Enjoy now or for the next 10 years. Pair with vanilla panna cotta and apricot preserves or with fresh berries and whipped cream.

Winemaking

Die 2010 vintage was handpicked in late October. The Totally Botrytis Affected (TBA) Optima grapes were foot-stomped in the picking bins to ensure juice contact with the skins before pressing and fermentation. These soft skinned grapes were thoroughly dehydrated by the ‘Botrytis Cinerea’ mold that causes the fruit to shrink and raisin, leaving the remaining juice naturally sweet.

Technical Notes

Varietal: 100% Optima Alc. By Vol: 10% Total Acidity: 14 g/l Residual Sweetness: 135 g/l Sweetness: (11) UPC: 778856310092 Date Bottled: Mar. 2011 Case Volume: 715 Fälle (375 ml)

Downloads

Wine Style

Bekannt als "Ambrosia" oder "Nektar der Götter", the Quails’ Gate late harvest Optima is made in the classic Sauternes style. This wine is elegant, rich, sweet and concentrated. For over twenty years Quails’ Gate has been famous for this wine.

Tasting & Pairing

This succulent dessert wine exhibits a very aromatic profile of baked pear, fig, orange and ripe citrus with a classic honey beeswax note. It is a great wine to age up to 10 Jahr. Enjoy with vanilla panna cotta and apricot preserves. It’s a classic with fresh berries and whipped cream.

Winemaking

2009 was an exceptional vintage. The Optima was handpicked in late October and  the totally botrytis affected (TBA) Optima grapes were foot stomped in the picking bins to ensure juice contact with the skins before pressing and fermentation. These soft skinned grapes were thoroughly dehydrated by the ‘Botrytis Cinerea’ mold which added to the intense flavours of this wine because it causes the fruit to shrink and raisin, leaving the remaining juice naturally sweet. Once hand picked, the berries are foot-stomped to promote skin contact and enhance the aromas of this noble wine.

Technical Notes

Varietal: 100% Optima Alc. By Vol: 10% Total Acidity: 6.7 g/l Residual Sweetness: 122 g/l Sweetness: (11) UPC: 778856309096 Date Bottled: Mar. 2010 Case Volume: 452 Fälle (375 ml)

Downloads

Wine Style

Bekannt als "Ambrosia" oder "Nektar der Götter", the Quails’ Gate late harvest Optima is made in the classic Sauternes style. This wine is elegant, rich, sweet and concentrated. For over twenty years Quails’ Gate has been famous for this wine.

Tasting & Pairing

This succulent dessert wine exhibits a very aromatic profile of baked pear, fig, orange and ripe citrus with a classic honey beeswax note. Rich aromas of apricot and pear coupled with a sweet lusciousness, demonstrate the versatility of this variety. Enjoy now or for the next 10 years. Pair with vanilla panna cotta and apricot preserves or it is a classic with fresh berries and whipped cream.

Winemaking

Die 2008 vintage was handpicked in late October, the totally botrytis affected (TBA) Optima grapes were foot stomped in the picking bins to ensure juice contact with the skins before pressing and fermentation. These soft skinned grapes were thoroughly dehydrated by the ‘Botrytis Cinerea’ mold, which causes the fruit to shrink and raisin, leaving the remaining juice naturally sweet.

Technical Notes

Varietal: 100% Optima Alc. By Vol: 11.5% Total Acidity: 9.7 g/l Residual Sweetness: 122 g/l Sweetness: (11) UPC: 778856308099 Date Bottled: Mar. 2009 Case Volume: 1069 Fälle (375 ml)

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