Teeling 20 Year Old for Bresser & Timmer

Rivesaltes is a vin doux naturel (also called liqueur wine), which means as much as a sweet French dessert wine from the Rousillon region. And in such a cask, this Teeling was allowed to mature for no less than 2 decades before the Dutch importer Bresser & Timmer took it in 2022. It will not surprise you that the sample that is currently in my glass was again delivered to me by Benny J, whom I like to describe as Mr Teeling Belgium. Beautiful color. Let’s taste!

Oh, this is very special... and very good! A stew of a lot of fruit starring banana, plum, blood orange and gooseberries. Add a handful of nuts as well as creamy honey, chewing tobacco and some milk chocolate. What a wonderful nose that is to me! Some late farmer's butter, vanilla and chocolate chip cookies complete the picture. Absolutely delicious!

The alcohol is perfectly integrated. This one definitely doesn't burn, although it comes in quite spicy. Now I first get something from red wine, immediately embellished with spices from the barrel. Think cloves, nutmeg and black pepper. Then the fruit on the tongue explodes: banana, red berries, oranges and apricots. Caramel, chocolate, red fruit, berries... he has it all and it's simply perfectly balanced. Honey and Earl Grey tea, a stew of red fruit... very, very seductive.

The medium finish on warm spices and a lot of red fruit make me lick the last drops out of the glass with a big smile on my face.

What a ridiculously delicious Teeling! Thx, Benny! This was Enjoyment with a capital E.