Fortified Muscats

Question 1

Describe youthful, unaged Muscats.

Answer 1

These wines are medium gold in colour, floral and aromatic. The aim of winemaking is to make sure that the varietal character is as pure as possible. These are typically sweet but are rarely luscious
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise is a notable example from the Southern Rhone
Grapes are picked when they are ripe and healthy. Once crushed, the juice is separated from the skins but some contact is used to increase aromatic intensity and add some richness to the palate.
Cool fermentation and is stopped by fortification with 96%abv grape spirit to give a sweet wine.
To preserve primary fruit aromas, the wines are stored in inert vessels prior to bottling and protected from any contact with oxygen.

Question 2

Describe fully developed, aged Muscats.

Answer 2

Range in colour from amber to brown and sweet to luscious.
Luscious style from Rutherglen in Australia.
Style depends on timing of harvest, when the wines are fortified and the length and type of ageing they undergo.
Sweet aged wine: grapes will be picked when ripe and healthy. Some raisining may take place to make a lusciously sweet wine. Fermentation will take place on the skins. If luscious sweetness is desired, then fortification will take place when the fermentation has only reached 2%abv. They can undergo a period of oxidative ageing lasting decades. Old wood is used because new oak would clash with the grape aromas. These wines are aged in warm condition. As they age, they become amber and finally brown and develop oxidative aromas.