Fortified Muscats

Question 1

Despite many grape varieties being called Muscat, they all share which three perfumed aromas?

Answer 1

Orange blossom
Grape
Rose

Question 2

What is the general acidity level of Muscat varieties?

Answer 2

Low-Medium

Question 3

What climate can Muscat thrive in? What kind of influence might make the best vineyards in this climate? Why?

Answer 3

Warm and hot climates
Cooling influences
Help preserve the grapes acidity and aromas

Question 4

What two broad styles are Muscats made in?

Answer 4

Youthful and unaged

Fully developed, extensive ageing

Question 5

Describe the colour and aromatic nature of a youthful, un-aged Muscat

Answer 5

Medium gold colour

Floral

Question 6

What is the grape-grower and winemakers aim when making a youthful, un-aged muscat?

Answer 6

Preserve varietal flavours

Question 7

What is the general sweetness of a youthful, un-aged muscat?

Answer 7

Sweet (rarely luscious)

Question 8

What is the principal example of a youthful, un-aged Muscat?

Answer 8

Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise

Question 9

Would grapes be dried when making Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise? Why?

Answer 9

No

Extra dried fruit characteristics would mask varietal flavours purity

Question 10

What style of Muscat is made in the Southern Rhone? What are these wines called?

Answer 10

Youthful, un-aged

Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise

Question 11

Will both Muscat styles often see skin-contact to some extent?

Answer 11

Yes

Question 12

When will grapes destined for a youthful, un-aged example of Muscat be picked?

Answer 12

When they are ripe and healthy

Question 13

Why might skin-contact be used in the production of youthful, un-aged Muscat? (2)

Answer 13

Increase aromatic intensity

Richness on the palate

Question 14

How is fermentation stopped during the production of Muscat?

Answer 14

Addition of a 96% ABV neutral base spirit

Question 15

What kind of vessels will a youthful, un-aged Muscat be stored in? What is minimised during the whole production method?

Answer 15

Stainless

Contact with oxygen is avoided

Question 16

What is the principal example of a fully developed, aged Muscat?

Answer 16

Rutherglen Muscat

Question 17

What sweetness level is aimed for in Rutherglen? How is this achieved? (2)

Answer 17

Luscious
Some passerillage or raisining on the vine
Fortifying earlier in fermentation

Question 18

What sweetness styles might a fully developed, aged Muscat be made in?

Answer 18

Sweet or Luscious

Question 19

What risk is run when drying Muscat grapes on the vine?

Answer 19

Dried grape characters might mask varietal characters

Question 20

When will, in almost all cases, juice be in contact with the skins when making a fully developed, extensively aged Muscat?

Answer 20

Fermentation

Question 21

At what alcohol level might fortification take place for a luscious style, aged Muscat?

Answer 21

2%

Question 22

How long can the oxidative ageing last for a fully developed, aged Muscat?

Answer 22

Decades

Question 23

What type of oak is avoided? Why? What size of oak is widely used?

Answer 23

New oak
It would clash with grape aromas
Large

Question 24

What might be blended with a very old, aged muscat prior to bottling? Why?

Answer 24

More youthful Muscat

To give aromatic lift

Question 25

Very aged Muscat will have turned from amber to brown and have pronounced oxidative aromas. What general temperature might this wine have been matured at?

Answer 25

Warm temperatures