Sineann "Old Ball and Chain" Dessert Wine 375 ml

Review: Peter makes two dessert wines, named for his two daughters. It was suggested that he make a dessert wine named for his deightful wife, Nancy. Asked what he would call it, he quickly popped out "old ball and chain", with his typical dry and sardonic wit.

Well, we're not sure what Nancy thinks, but that's what this paean to her has ended up named.

This is a late-harvest Syrah from the McDermott family's 'Scorched Earth Vineyard' outside of The Dalles, Oregon. Pop open a bottle, sit down and settle in. Like a ball and chain, you ain't goin' nowhere. This is a blackberry pie in a bottle with a touch of cinnamon. Red cherry and red licorice flavors linger at the back of the palate that just keeps on delivering. Dried plums and even a touch of apricot pulse through this dessert wine making it an extremely complex elixir that will last for years in the bottle. Eight percent residual sugar and 14.5% alcohol. -avalon

Peter Rosback says: "What can we say about The Old Ball and Chain? Black, rich, whimsical; it is made by partially drying Syrah then treating it as a red wine. The alcohol is about 14.5% with 8% residual sugar. "