From Publishers Weekly
Sweet wines have all too often received short shrift from wine drinkers who are familiar with only those mediocre beverages hiding behind doses of sugar or, at the other extreme, the great sauternes and Trockenbeerenauslesen. This lucid, highly enjoyable volume discusses an array of wines of varying characteristics and qualities from France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Australia, South Africa and California. Weaving geography, history and chemistry with personal anecdotes, Brook is informative without being pedantic in prose that describes without waxing florid. His wine assessments are more explorations than assertions; for example, Brook finds Saussignacs unimpressive, but his discussion of them is thoughtful, leaving room for further experience to influence that opinion. Oenophiles intrigued by the sweeter end of the spectrum, or who simply enjoy reading about their favorite subject, will find this an enticing volume. Brook (New York Days, New York Nights, etc.) is the wine correspondent of the New Statesman. Illustrations.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Although much has been written about wine, this is the first book to focus on unfortified dessert wines. The author considers the producers as well as the wines and, drawing extensively on his own experiences, offers "not a definitive survey . . . but . . . a report from the frontier." This anecdotal approach, supplemented with technical information concerning winemaking procedures, includes the author's impressions of specific wines. This volume is too selective to serve as a serious reference work, but as an introduction to a little-known type of wine, it will interest the enthusiast. Bruce Hulse, Brown Univ. Lib., Providence, R.I.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
