Pour wine and sugar into saucepan or pot. Add cinnamon and lemon peel. Bring to a boil and stir until sugar has dissolved. Peel pears. Leave stems on. Slit bottom of pears so they will set level. Place pears in saucepan standing. Cover and poach for 25-35 minutes. While pears are cooking, toast almonds. When pears are cooking, toast almonds. When pears are done, remove from wine mixture and set aside. Reduce by half and add cornstarch to thicken. Serve with mint leaves.
