Dolce Napa Late Harvest 2016

Far Niente produces this wine in the cool foggy Coombsville area to the east of the city of Napa. It is here that the fruit can get to full ripeness before getting concentrated by the actions of botrytis cenerea, a mold long associated with the world's greatest dessert wines. Picking only the best grapes by hand means most of the grapes never make it to the winery. The resulting juice is so concentrated that yeast have a hard time fermenting. The fermentation continues well into March or April of the following year. Part of the magic of Dolce, beyond its ability to give hedonistic pleasure, is its ability to age and improve for many years.

Exotic, tropical, apricot and melon notes combine with hints of honeysuckle on the palate. While undeniably sweet, the signature texture and long finish lead to a mouthwatering finish that is perfectly balanced and clean. More subtle flavors of toasted almonds, fig and pear integrate nicely with notes of brioche and bread pudding.