Florio Marsala Superiore Dolce (75cl, 18%)

This is a sweet fortified wine from Marsala in Sicily, made by Florio, the house founded there in 1833. It is bottled at 18% in a 75cl bottle. It is made from Grillo and Catarratto. Grape spirit is added during fermentation to keep residual sweetness, and cooked must adds colour and depth. The wine is aged by the in perpetuum method, a Sicilian variant of the solera system. The nose is sweet dates and raisins, caramel, vanilla and liquorice, with dried apricot and toasted almond opening up. The palate is rich and viscous, with dates, maple syrup and dried stone fruit, kept in balance by bittersweet almond. The finish is long and warming, with caramel and dried fruit.