Fortified Muscats

Question 1

Muscat description

Answer 1

• low to medium acidity
• perfumed aroma of orange blossom, rose and grape
• can thrive in warm and hot climate, cooling effects aid to preserve acidity and aroma

Question 2

Youthful, unaged Muscat

Answer 2

• medium gold colour
• floral and aromatic
• sweet
• Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise (Southern Rhone)
• cool fermentation and stopped by fortification with 96 abv grape spirit to give sweet wine
• stored in inert vessel to avoid oxidative

Question 3

Fully developed, Aged Muscat

Answer 3

• amber to brown in colour, oxidative aroma
• sweet or luscious
• Rutherglen (Australia)
• raisining before picking with care to add extra complexity to aroma
• fortification take place when fermentation reach 2 abv
• oxidative ageing in large oak vessel (old wood) in warm conditions