fortified muscats Flashcards
there are a number of different grape varieties that are called muscat, but they all have med to low acidity and displays aromas of:
perfumed aromas of:
- orange blossom
- grape
- roses
these varieties can thrive in warm and hot climats. but the best comes from sites who have a ______ to retain acidity.
cooling influence
what about youthfull unoaked muscats ?
the aim is to make wines with a puure as possible varietal character
- med gold in colour, floral and aromatic
– sweet but rarely luscious
this type is made in a number of regions throughout the world but a notable example is
- muscat de beaume de venise.
what can you tell me about muscat de beaume de venise?
1) grapes will be picked when ripe and healthy
2) raisining or drying the grapes are not practised at this style
3) normaly not long skin contact, just to add a little structure and increase the aromatic intensity
4) cool ferm and stopped by adding 96% abv grape spirit
5) to preserve the primary aromas, the wines are stored in inert stainless steel vessels prior bottling and protected from any contact with oxygen
what about fully developped, aged muscats?
1) amber to brown colour range
2) sweet to luscious
3) also in many countries, but the examples of the most luscious styles comes from Rutherglen Australia
4) healthy ripe grapes are needed, for luscious types some raisining to the grapes is allowed, but excessive raisining can result in a loose of varietal character
5)ferm nearly allways on the skins
6) luscious type: the fortification happens when the juice has reached 2% abv
7) the wines undergo a periode of oxidative ageing on old large oak (new is to expressive) for decades
8) aged on occasion in warm conditions
9 as they age the wine turns finally brown and develop pronounced oxidative aromas
10) even when theyre very old they still retain their muscat aroma. but its common to blend just a little part of old with young prior bottling, to give an aromatic lift.
