Fortified Muscats Flashcards
Despite many grape varieties being called Muscat, they all share which three perfumed aromas?
Orange blossom
Grape
Rose
What is the general acidity level of Muscat varieties?
Low-Medium
What climate can Muscat thrive in? What kind of influence might make the best vineyards in this climate? Why?
Warm and hot climates
Cooling influences
Help preserve the grapes acidity and aromas
What two broad styles are Muscats made in?
Youthful and unaged
Fully developed, extensive ageing
Describe the colour and aromatic nature of a youthful, un-aged Muscat
Medium gold colour
Floral
What is the grape-grower and winemakers aim when making a youthful, un-aged muscat?
Preserve varietal flavours
What is the general sweetness of a youthful, un-aged muscat?
Sweet (rarely luscious)
What is the principal example of a youthful, un-aged Muscat?
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
Would grapes be dried when making Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise? Why?
No
Extra dried fruit characteristics would mask varietal flavours purity
What style of Muscat is made in the Southern Rhone? What are these wines called?
Youthful, un-aged
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
Will both Muscat styles often see skin-contact to some extent?
Yes
When will grapes destined for a youthful, un-aged example of Muscat be picked?
When they are ripe and healthy
Why might skin-contact be used in the production of youthful, un-aged Muscat? (2)
Increase aromatic intensity
Richness on the palate
How is fermentation stopped during the production of Muscat?
Addition of a 96% ABV neutral base spirit
What kind of vessels will a youthful, un-aged Muscat be stored in? What is minimised during the whole production method?
Stainless
Contact with oxygen is avoided
What is the principal example of a fully developed, aged Muscat?
Rutherglen Muscat
What sweetness level is aimed for in Rutherglen? How is this achieved? (2)
Luscious
Some passerillage or raisining on the vine
Fortifying earlier in fermentation
What sweetness styles might a fully developed, aged Muscat be made in?
Sweet or Luscious
What risk is run when drying Muscat grapes on the vine?
Dried grape characters might mask varietal characters
When will, in almost all cases, juice be in contact with the skins when making a fully developed, extensively aged Muscat?
Fermentation
At what alcohol level might fortification take place for a luscious style, aged Muscat?
2%
How long can the oxidative ageing last for a fully developed, aged Muscat?
Decades
What type of oak is avoided? Why? What size of oak is widely used?
New oak
It would clash with grape aromas
Large
What might be blended with a very old, aged muscat prior to bottling? Why?
More youthful Muscat
To give aromatic lift
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?
Warm temperatures
