Structure

Bodyfull
Tanninlow
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdessert
Finishlong
Oaknone or neutral

Drinking window

Best 5 to 25 years from vintage.
vintage5 yrs25 yrs27 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating in the header is our own.

In the glass

Full-bodiedLow tanninHigh acidityDessertLong finish

Aroma: dried apricot, honey, candied citrus, saffron

Palate: botrytis honey, marmalade, balanced acidity, very long sweet finish

Tenuta Lieselehof's hyper-rare passito dessert wine from air-dried Piwi-variety grapes with approximately 300 grams residual sugar. The cellar's Quintessenz bottling sits at the apex of the dessert wine range; tiny allocations of around 800-848 bottles per vintage.

What it pairs with

  • Foie gras with quince
    Sweet wine pairs with foie gras; quince echoes the candied citrus register while sweetness balances liver richness.
  • Apricot tart
    Dried apricot register echoes the tart while sweet acidity meets the dessert.
  • Aged Roquefort
    Sweet wine and blue cheese is the classical pairing; saffron complexity adds depth.

History

Tenuta Lieselehof developed Sweet Claire as the cellar's apex dessert wine in the early 2010s, using the passito (air-dried grape) method on Piwi-variety grapes. The Quintessenz bottling represents the absolute top of the range, with tiny allocations and an additional 'R.' reserve version released periodically.

  1. 2010: First Sweet Claire passito vintage

Facts

Producer
Tenuta Lieselehof · visiting guide
Grapes
Souvignier Gris
Classification
IGT Vigneti delle Dolomiti
Oak
Air-dried grape concentration with extended lees ageing in steel and barrique
ABV
11.0%
Price
EUR 100 to 200 (half bottle)
Drinking window
5 to 25 from vintage
First vintage
2010
Organic
ORGANIC CERTIFIED

Frequently asked about Sweet Claire Quintessenz

What does Sweet Claire taste like?

Dried apricot, honey, candied citrus and saffron on the nose; botrytis honey, marmalade, balanced acidity and a very long sweet finish on the palate. Full-bodied with high acidity balancing 300 grams residual sugar.

When should I drink Sweet Claire?

Drink between 5 and 25 years from vintage. Passito dessert wines age beautifully; young vintages show vibrant fruit, cellared bottles develop deep marmalade and saffron complexity.

What is passito?

Passito is an Italian winemaking method where grapes are dried (typically on racks or in lofts) before pressing, concentrating sugars and flavours. The technique produces intensely sweet, complex dessert wines.

How rare is Sweet Claire?

Tiny allocations - typically under 1000 bottles per vintage. The Quintessenz bottling sits at the absolute top of the cellar's range, with an additional 'R.' reserve release periodically.

Tags

cellar worthy dessert dessert passito full body high acid iconic library release mood contemplative mood elegant occasion celebration occasion gift occasion special old world organic pairs with blue cheese pairs with creme brulee pairs with foie gras pairs with fruit desserts price fine souvignier gris

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