Frederiksdal Sur Lie Cherry Wine

Frederiksdal Sur Lie is a cherry wine from Lolland, the low-lying Danish island where Frederiksdal grows its sour cherries. It is classed as a fruit dessert wine. The name suggests the wine was left on its lees (sur lie), a technique that usually adds a rounder texture and a faint yeasty or nutty note. That detail is inferred from the name, so check the label for confirmation. Wines in this style are made from fermented cherry juice rather than grapes. Expect a deep ruby to garnet color and an aroma of ripe dark cherry, sour-cherry skin, and a hint of almond or kernel from the stones, which is typical of the fruit. In the glass, wines like this tend to be medium to full in body, with a sweetness that is balanced by the natural tartness of sour cherries. They carry no grape tannin. Any grip comes from the cherry skins, and it is usually light. Acidity is the backbone of the style, and it keeps the sweetness from turning syrupy. Oak is not a defining feature of cherry wines, so look for fruit rather than vanilla or toast. The finish is typically long and tangy, with lingering cherry and a slight bitter-almond edge. Serve it lightly chilled, around 12 to 14°C. That keeps the acidity bright without muting the fruit, and an hour in the refrigerator is usually enough. It does not need decanting. Pour it straight from the bottle. A small white wine glass or a port-style glass with a narrow rim gathers the cherry aroma well. Pour modest measures of 60 to 90 ml, since dessert wines are sipped slowly. At the table, it works with dark chocolate desserts, almond cake, and vanilla ice cream. It also suits the savory-sweet side of the table: duck breast with a cherry or berry sauce, pâté, and mature hard cheeses such as aged Gouda or Comté. A blue cheese will bring out the sweetness, and the tart fruit cuts through its salt. Fruit wines are generally made to be enjoyed within a few years of release rather than cellared. Treat this one as a drink-now bottle, and keep it in the fridge once opened and finish it within a few days.