Vins doux, moelleux

What is a sweet, semi-sweet, or even syrupy wine? Essentially, it refers to the presence of sugar in varying amounts, which gives it a pleasant flavor and a sensation of sweetness on the palate. The harvest takes place later in the season, and the grapes-which are overripe and unappealing in appearance-are picked; this so-called “noble rot” concentrates the sugars found in the juice.

Sweet wines that are aged for a few years take on a golden yellow or even almost orange color, hence the term “golden wines” that was once used.