Ratafia Dessert Wine

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The Story of Ratafia

Ratafia is the long-awaited dessert wine from J Vineyards & Winery. It is a rich and seductive wine that is made by fortifying unfermented grape juice with brandy. The roots of this particular beverage are in the small town regions of Champagne, France. Traditionally, brandy is added to Pinot Noir grape juice and the resulting elixer is a coppery rose color. It would often be served as an apéritif with a handful of cashews or after a meal, perhaps with cheese, or all on its own.

J began experimenting with Ratafia in 1990. Experiments often yield surprising and delicious results. We reserve a very small amount of the best lots of Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir fruit from the harvest. We then gently press the fruit and chill the juice to prevent fermentation. When the harvest slows, our winemaker begins to experiment with blends of the juice and then adds brandy. The brandy we use comes from Germain-Robin which is a local producer here in Ukiah. Germain-Robin eau de vie is made from a blend of Zinfandel, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay fruit. The young Ratafia wine is then transferred to old French oak barrels for aging. Our Ratafia is a non-vintage wine so some wine from previous vintages will be held back and blended in to assure consistency and add complexity.

Tasting Notes
Ratafia is a beautiful golden color with rich viscosity in the glass. Smelling the wine reveals aromas of butterscotch, vanilla, peaches and nutty aromas of toasted almonds. In the mouth, Ratafia is rich with dried peach and apricot flavors and a nutty aftertaste accompanied by a long clean fruity finish.

Harvest Analysis: Residual Sugar 19°

Final Analysis: Alcohol 22% (approx.)

200 cases produced