One of the reasons I love Marsala so much is because, by virtue of existing outside of the bounds of table wine, it has already broken the rules, and so the flood gates are open--enjoy it however you want, play, experiment, innovate. But with the 2001 let me suggest that you do nothing. Pour it neat. Take a sip. Let your mind expand.

2001 denotes the year these grapes were fortified, having been harvested in 1999. This Marsala has spent 20 years in barrel, resulting in a 33% evaporation or 'angel's share'. Rich aromas of raisins, rum cake, a hint of sea air and honeyed notes alongside roasted chestnuts. The barrels are moved throughout Cantine Florio's cellar during their ageing, as their location plays a role in the impact of the wine. Temperature fluctuations and proximity to the sea, just 100m away, make nuanced impacts. The palate is rich, with a viscosity balanced by dry tannins. Rum-raisin flavours are rich and opulent, while dates, vanilla and nutmeg leave a long-lasting impression.

With 20 years of aging in a single 25.5-hectoliter casks (number 6DAG), the Cantine Florio 2001 Marsala Superiore Riserva Semisecco SR0301 reveals a dark amber color with fortified aromas of dried apricot, toffee, vanilla, sweet coffee, brown sugar, licorice and tobacco. There are salty aromas and hints of dried sea kelp. According to a little map provided with the bottle, the barrel was located exactly 115 meters from the seashore, meaning that the wine matured in the cooler and more humid side of the cellar. This limited-release bottle (with only 1,700 made) is packaged in its own special box with a separate glass cork for safekeeping once the bottle has been opened. It feels medium dry to the palate, and the alcohol is recorded at 19%. The wine's code stands for Superiore Riserva (SR") with "03" times that alcohol was added and "01" indicating the vintage. The angel's share (or the amount of liquid that evaporated from the barrel during maturation) is 33%. This means you can expect a dense and viscous mouthfeel with this bottle of Marsala."