In the glass
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.
- 2010 — First Sweet Claire passito vintage
Facts
- Producer
- Tenuta Lieselehof
- 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.