Donnafugata Ben Ryé Passito di Pantelleria DOC (2023)
Donnafugata / Pantelleria Island, Sicily, Italy (Served at Casamere, Salerno — Dessert Pairing)
The Sicilian Sun-God Crashes the Campania Coastline
Luminous amber-gold with rich, viscous legs. The extraordinarily complex nose explodes with aromas of dried apricots, candied orange peel, fresh figs, golden raisins, honey, Mediterranean macchia, and sweet acacia blossoms. Full-bodied, luscious, and velvety sweet on the palate, perfectly balanced by vibrant, counterbalancing Mediterranean acidity that keeps it completely fresh and never cloying, finishing with endless length.
⭐⭐ (Deeply concentrated dessert nectar with high natural sugar, but balanced by searing acidity; delicious beyond measure, but demands a glass of water on the side).
Artisanal blue cheeses, almond tarts, traditional cannoli, or rich chocolate desserts.
Talk about saving the absolute best for last! For the final dessert course at Casamare, we drifted just south of Campania over to the island of Pantelleria for Donnafugata’s legendary Ben Ryé. Made from sun-dried Zibibbo grapes, it is a liquid masterpiece of apricots, honey, and citrus brightness. Sure, it’s Sicilian rather than Campanian, but when a dessert wine this mind-blowing hits your glass, all complaints about regional purity completely melt away!