Château Tirecul La Graviere, Les Pins Monbazillac 2023

For something that's Château Tirecul la Gravière's entry-level Monbazillac, this sets the bar pretty high. Made from estate's younger vines, it's a blend of Sémillon and Muscadelle, and is crafted with the same care as the estate's top cuvées. The nose bursts with honey, blossom, and orange marmalade, delivering remarkable intensity. Sweet, yet beautifully light on its feet, the bright acidity keeps it fresh, clean, and incredibly moreish.

Whatever cake takes your fancy goes well really, but for a perfect match, try coffee and walnut - if not, then something rich and caramelised like classic tarte Tatin. The wine's honeyed richness and bright acidity balance sweetness beautifully.

Monbazillac sits just to the south of Bergerac and is the Dordogne's answer to Sauternes. The climate in certain specific locations here is just right for inducing Noble Rot, the critical element needed for making sweet wines in this part of the world. Château Tirecul la Gravière, being fortunate enough to have vineyards suitably susceptible to this benevolent condition, is generally acknowledged as the best producer in the region. They've been lauded by no less a wine critic then the renowned Robert Parker as 'producing sweet wines comparable to the most notable in the world'. Their wines are certainly ones to take seriously.