Klein Constantia: stellar whites, sweet and dry 
Marqués de Riscal: Gehry hotel outshining solid Rioja and Rueda 
La Rioja Alta: benchmark classical Riojas especially top flight Gran Reservas 
Marqués de Murrieta: Rioja aristocracy built around Castillo Ygay 
CVNE: Combining volume and classical quality 
Contino: Château-style Rioja and Graciano pioneers 
£17 (50cl); 12.5%
A disappointment – perhaps not well enough chilled? I had read many good things about Clos d’Yvigne from different sources. In the end, I think it was poorly matched with crème brûlée, as this wine was quite fruity. Slightly orange-gold colour. Aromas of maybe prunes or preserved plums or something. Thick and quite intense sweetness with only medium freshness. Having said this, it did match very well to a whisky-based chocolate truffle, so perhaps best suited to a Black-Forest-Gateau-style dessert?
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