2000 Donnafugata Passito di Pantelleria Ben Rye

From a very hot and dry year, the 2000 Passito di Pantelleria Ben Ryé offers a less convincing presentation. The bouquet lacks the purity and focus that this wine so easily delivers in slightly cooler, wind-driven vintages. The nose delivers a quick succession of dried apricot, almond marzipan, brown sugar and caramel characteristics. You get loads of dried fruit, with sun-shriveled apricots in center stage. Compared to the others in this vertical, the vintage is one-dimensional in personality and heavy in texture. It offers an obvious and straightforward style. It is also slightly shorter in persistence.