Cinqueterre Sciacchetra DOC 2005 91 Points

Clear, bright, golden yellow, amber with coppery/bronze rim, showing age.

Clean, no hints of volatile acidity, which is usually a give away character of Passito or Amarone style, high intensity with equally high alcohol (14%abv), honey, raisin, caramel, molasses, treacle, pears cooked in syrup, rhubarb, old oak influence, lending almond nutty complexity.

The nose profile is kind of a cross between Vin de Constance and Topaque.

Sweet but not cloying, intense, concentrated, tamarind like freshness, vibrant, medium plus acidity, zesty and delicate, persistent.

Will age forever


Sciacchetra is a passito white dessert wine made by N.Sasarini in Monterosso al Mare in the Cinque Terre region of Liguria, Italy.

Cinque Terre or “five lands,” refers to the five coastal towns, namely Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore perched on high cliffs overlooking the Gulf of La Spezia –Made predominantly from the Albarola grape with Bosco and Vermentino that are dried “passito” on “lasciate appasire” or dried out on racks in a ventilated space until they reach a potential ABV level of 17%. This creates an environment that allows for high levels of natural residual sugars and concentrated flavors to develop. DOC law dictates that the grapes may not be fermented till November 1st after harvest.

To learn more about Albarola grape: Albarola, the grape variety in the Cinque Terre DOC and Sciacchetra

Bottle courtesy of a dear friend, who is now back in Piedmont, thank you Chef Daniel Fabris for this discovery