Welcome to the eighth, and final varietal in our Wine 103 series, where we continue to explore single varietals that you may see in the store or restaurant. If haven’t been following along, you can start at the beginning with Tempranillo, or, if you haven’t been through Wine 101 or Wine 102, you can get a primer on the basics. Today we’ll round things out with Muscat!
Muscat
Muscat is actually a family of truly aromatic grapes, that blow up with huge fruit flavors. As a result, Muscat happens to be grown practically everywhere, and is versatile enough to be made into almost every style; from dry to sweet, still to sparkling. Perhaps the most famous example is Moscato d’Asti, the crown jewel of Italy, which tends to be sweet, and loaded with fruit and floral flavors. However, there’s plenty of fruity, dry, taut examples that make refreshing sippers and partners for spicy dishes.
Quick Facts on Muscat
Color: White
Style: Dry to Sweet
Body: Light*
General Characteristics: Lemon, Manadarin Orange, Lychee, Honeysuckle
Notable Regions: Italy, France, Greece
Other Names: Moscato d’Asti, Muscat Blanc, Moscatel, Muskateller
* – Dessert versions may be full bodied due to the syrupy nature of the sugar
Peller Estates Muscat 2014
Although it might not be the first place you think of, Muscat also grows in Canada. Thanks to some varieties ripening early, it can actually grow well in the cooler climate. So is Peller Estate Muscat worth the trip north of the border?
Sight: A light to moderate gold.
Smell: Apple, apricot, and pear all come first, and are complimented by notes of lychee and tangerines. Orange blossom and other floral notes get together to add depth.
Sip: The body is light, bright, and very fruity. Despite all the fruit, the character is taut and dry. Flavors of punchy apricots, tangerines, and pear are all predominant, with compliments of flowers. A touch of under-ripeness can be detected in the fruit.
Savor: The ending is pulls in more apricot, lychee, and touches of tangerine. It’s not particularly sweet, and leans a little bitter.
Peller Estates Muscat is a fun, dry, crisp example that has a little bit of room to smooth out. While the fruit flavors are killer, a little more ripeness to round out the edges would take this from good to great. That said, Peller Estates Muscat is delicious, and would make a good compliment to a spicy meal. If you’re looking for still Muscat, then Peller Estate Muscat is worth a try.
Verdict: Apricot, Lychee, Tangerine, Pear
Rating: 80
Price: $13
Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario, Canada