2009 Passito di Pantelleria Ben Rye
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Tasting notes
The 2009 Passito di Pantelleria Ben Ryé is slightly penalized by the fact it follows the extraordinary 2008 vintage. On first impact, the wine appears one notch down the intensity ladder and its aromas are not as vibrant or buoyant. Having said that, this vintage certainly holds its own just as soon as it takes shape in the glass. The bouquet offers steady aromas of caramel, Graham cracker and toasted almond. Those are the aromas you find on one side of the spectrum. The other side is redolent of citrus, white peach, candied orange peel and white mineral. On a more curious note, I also detected a hint of cured meat or roasted chestnut.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2009 Ben Rye bursts from the glass with an exciting array of tangerine blossoms, sage, flowers of all sorts, candied orange peel and burnt sugar. Everything comes together beautifully in this explosive wine that lives up to its reputation as one of Italy's most pedigreed dessert wines. The 2009 is an extroverted Ben Ryé full of character. Marzipan and pistachios are among the sensations that linger on an evocative finish full of Mediterranean intrigue. (375 ml)
The 2009 Ben Rye bursts from the glass with an exciting array of tangerine blossoms, sage, flowers of all sorts, candied orange peel and burnt sugar. Everything comes together beautifully in this explosive wine that lives up to its reputation as one of Italy's most pedigreed dessert wines. The 2009 is an extroverted Ben Rye full of character. Marzipan and pistachios are among the sensations that linger on an evocative finish full of Mediterranean intrigue. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019. This year's releases from Donnafugata are mixed. Only a few wines merit inclusion in this report. The 2010 Anthilia, 2009 Sedara and 2008 Chiaranda are disappointing given their usual level of quality. Unfortunately I was not able to taste the 2007 Mille e Una Notte, the estate's flagship red. Importer: Folio Fine Wine Partners, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 256-2700