▴ Ben Ryé 2016 Donnafugata

Exceptional sweet wine
Written By Sarah Kemp

Ben Ryé 2016, Donnafugata, Sicily

One of my favourite dessert wines, the gorgeous Ben Ryé comes from the tiny Italian wind-swept island of Pantelleria just south west of Sicily. (The unusual name derives from an Arabic term meaning the ‘son of the wind.’) Produced from ancient, ungrafted Zibibbo (muscat) vines planted in hollows in the ground, the wine is made by the Rallo family at Donnafugata - using the time-honoured appassimento method. Floral and intense on the nose with apricots, peaches, figs, orange peel and honey, the palate is sweet, rich and beautifully balanced with fabulous freshness. This is delicious now and will age for another 15 years.

14%. 100% Zibbibo. Drink up to 2037


Review Feb 2024, JS

Sarah Kemp
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