Fortified Muscat

Question 1

List the one notable example of youthful, unaged Muscats.

Answer 1

Muscat de Beaumes- de- Venise ( the Southern Rhone)

Question 2

Muscat is widely used to make fortified wine throughout the world. There are a number of different grape varieties that are called Muscat but they all have low to medium acidity and display perfumed aromas of orange blossom, rose and grape. These varieties can thrive in warm and hot climates but the best vineyards typically benefit from some ____1______, which help to preserve the grape’s acidity levels and aromas.

Answer 2

1= cooling influences

Question 3

(Youthful, Unaged Muscat)
These wines are medium____1_____in colour, ______ and ________. The aim of the grape growing and winemaking is to make sure that varietal character is as ______ as possible. They are typically sweet but are rarely luscious.

Answer 3

1= gold , floral, aromatic

pure

Question 4

Youthful, Unaged Muscats

The grapes will be picked when they are ripe and healthy. Raising or drying the grapes after picking in order to concentrate grape sugar is not typically practiced for this style. These techniques add extra dried fruit characteristics that _____ the pure varietal characteristics.

Answer 4

mask

Question 5

Youthful, Unaged Muscats

Fermentation is ____1____ and it is stopped by fortification with 96% abv grape spirit to give a sweet wine. In order to preserve the primary fruit aromas, the wines are stored in _____2_____ prior to bottling and protected from any contact with oxygen.

Answer 5

1= cool
2= inert vessels

Question 6

Fully Developed, aged Muscats
These wines range in colour from ____1____ to _________, and can be ____2____ or ____3___. Some of the most celebrated examples made in the 3 style come from ______4______ in Australia.

Answer 6

1 amber, brown
2= sweet , 3=luscious
4= Rutherglen

Question 7

Fully developed, aged Muscats
In order to make a sweet aged wine the grapes will be picked when they are ripe and healthy. However, in order to make luscious style, the producer may want to allow some _____1______ to happen prior to picking.

Answer 7

1= raisining

Question 8

Fully developed, aged Muscats
Fermentation will nearly always take place ______1______. If a luscious style of wine is being made, the fortification may take place when the fermentation has only reached 2% abv.

Answer 8

1= on the skins

Question 9

Fully Developed, Aged Muscats
These wines will then undergo a period of ______1_____ ageing that can last decades. ______2____ is essential(new oak aromas would clash with the grape aromas) and _________3______ are widely used. As they age, these wines develop pronounced oxidative aromas.

Answer 9

1= oxidative 
2= Old wood
3= large oak vessels

Question 10

Fully Developed, Aged Muscats
Even when they are very old these wines can still remain their Muscat aromas. However, it is common for the oldest wines to be given an aromatic lift by blending in a small amount of more _____1______ wine prior to bottling.

Answer 10

1= youthful

Question 11

Fortified Muscats

List the 5 processes.

Answer 11

1= Crushing
2= pressing
3=fermentation 
4= fortification to stop fermentation 
5= maturation (inert, oxidative)