Used with reference to the age or year of a particular wine, usually connoting one of good or outstanding quality; now spec. a wine made from the…

A drink to be consumed to the last drop; a wine of the highest quality. Frequently (and in earliest use) figurative: anything excellent of its…

(a) n. wine of superior quality distinguished by a yellow seal on the cork; (b) adj. designating such wine.

Chiefly in French official classifications: a wine of the highest grade. Cf. cru, n., premier cru, n.

a designation for a special reserve of German wine (cf. Kabinett, n.). Also elliptical.

With various adjectives designating the quality, origin, etc., of a wine: vino blanco, vino dolce, vino dulce, vino fino, vino locale, vino rosso…

A growth or vineyard that produces wine of a superior grade; the wine itself. Also in extended use and figurative. Cf. cru, n., growth, n.1 1d and…

A vineyard producing the best wine in a village area; wine from such a vineyard.

A wine from Latin America, Spain, or Portugal which is of a superior vintage, esp. one which has been aged for a minimum of three years. Cf. riserva…

A superior grade of wine, esp. German or Austrian wine, made from fully ripe grapes that ferment without added sugar; a wine of this grade, spec.…

An Italian wine that claims superior quality.

Of French words: V.D.Q.S. n. vin délimité de qualité supérieure, a wine of superior quality from amongst the wines of a limited area.

In Germany and Austria: high-quality wine produced under stricter controls than ordinary table wine.