Fortified Muscats And Other Sweet Wines Flashcards
What are some common characteristics of the Muscat grape family?
・Medium acidity
・Floral aromas (citrus blossom, violet, honeysuckle, nasturtium and rose)
・Aromas and flavors of grapes, fresh peaches, and pears
The family of Muscat grapes is somewhat large, yet nearly most of the highest-quality fortified Muscat wines are made from which Muscat variety?
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
Fortified Muscats are produced in what two general styles?
Young, Unaged Muscats (without age or oxidation – sweet, though rarely luscious)
Developed, Aged Muscats (with age and possible oxidation – either sweet or luscious)
Give an example of a youthful, unaged Muscat-based Vin Doux Naturel.
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise (Southern Rhône)
Why aren’t the grapes for Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise dried or raisinated prior to fermentation?
These methods add dried fruit aromas that are not what this wine is about, which is showcasing the purity of the grapes’ fruit and floral characteristics.
One of the most acclaimed examples of mature, fortified Muscats comes from which region in which country?
Rutherglen, Australia
When aging fortified Muscats, what kind of oak barrel is used: new or used?
Used. Neutral or old wood is best, usually larger format barrels.
New oak aromas and flavors would mask Muscat’s perfumed character.
If a winemaker wants to make a luscious style of fortified Muscat, at what point in fermentation would s/he fortify the must?
When the must has only just started fermenting and reaches about 2% abv.
Winemakers who make this style of wine want to preserve the grape’s natural sugars, perfume and flavors.
Why are certain grape varieties used for dessert wines more often than others?
Grapes traditionally used for dessert wines have an inherent sweetness in their aromas and flavor profiles that make them ideal candidates for sweet wine production; most also have inherent bitterness and/or medium-to-high acidity which act as balancing agents to offset sugars.
What white grape varieties are known for producing excellent examples of dessert wines?
・Gewürztraminer
・Riesling
・Chenin Blanc
・Muscat
・Sémillon
What are some words on sparkling wine labels that denote the wine is sweet?
・Amabile
・Demi-Sec
・Doux
・Dolce/Dulce
・Semi Secco
・Moelleux
・Riche
What is an example of a sparkling dessert wine?
Moscato d’Asti
Besides fortification, what 4 methods are widely used to make richly sweet dessert wines?
・Harvesting late
・Noble Rot
・Drying out on straw mats (passito)
・Allowing grapes to freeze on the vine (Eiswein)
How does the aging potential vary between richly sweet dessert wines and lightly sweet dessert wines?
Lightly sweet dessert wines are meant to be consumed while young and fruity (with the exception of some Rieslings).
Richly sweet dessert wines can age for extended periods of time, often decades.
How are late-harvest wines produced?
What is the term used to describe this?
Grapes are allowed to hang on the vine late into the season where they become especially sweet and often raisinated, resulting in wines that have higher residual sugar and more concentrated flavors.
The term used is passerillage. See p.58-59 in the textbook for further information and an image.