Md 20/20 Red Grape

Md 20/20 Red Grape is a fruit dessert wine from Massachusetts, listed in the 750ml size. It is made in the sweet, grape-forward style rather than as a dry table red. Wines in this category are usually built around concentrated grape flavor and noticeable residual sugar, and the listing does not give an ABV, so check the label for the exact strength. Expect a juicy nose of ripe red and purple grape, with candied berry notes close to grape jelly or grape soda. The body should be soft and round. Tannin is usually negligible in fruit dessert wines, and the acidity is typically gentle, so the sweetness leads and the finish is fruity and fairly short instead of drying or savory. Oak is not part of this style, so there are no vanilla or toasty notes. Because the sweetness and fruit are the point, pairings work best when the food is salty, spicy or rich enough to push back. Sharp cheddar, salted nuts, smoked sausage, barbecue and spicy chicken wings are good matches, since the sweetness calms heat and salt. It also works alongside simple desserts such as pound cake, shortbread or vanilla ice cream, where it acts more like a fruit sauce than a rival flavor. Avoid delicate dishes, which the wine will overpower. Serve it well chilled, around 45 to 50°F (7 to 10°C). Cold temperatures keep sweet wines from tasting heavy or syrupy, and about two hours in the refrigerator, or thirty minutes in an ice bath, gets it there. It does not need decanting. A standard white-wine glass or a small all-purpose stemmed glass suits it, and a half-full pour keeps the fruit aromas from escaping. This is a drink-now bottle. Wines of this type are made for immediate enjoyment and have no tannin structure to develop with cellaring. Store it upright in a cool, dark spot and finish it soon after opening. Once opened, reseal it and refrigerate it, and expect the fresh fruit character to fade within a few days.