Grape Variety: 100% small berried Muscat

Growing Region: Beaumes De Venise, France

Consultant Winemaker: Caroline Frey

TASTING NOTE:
Dessert wines, or candy for adults, however you wish to describe them, they are a wine style and category that New Zealanders seem to forget about. Why you ask, when New Zealanders obviously have a sweet tooth.

Retailers hide them in the corner of their stores and Restaurants simply forget to offer them or don't actually have a dessert option on the menu that actually matches the subtle nuances of the wine in question. Many restaurants and people at home try to match dessert wines with hot and even chocolate offerings and in the end, the dessert wine will come second to the sugar war.

Keep flavours simple and the marriage and enjoyments levels will soar. So how was this wine made: Direct pressing of small Muscat grapes were harvested by successive passes with a minimum natural sugar content of 252g/l, a cold fermentation took place on the fine lees in stainless steel tanks until 11% residual sugar remained, the fermentation was stopped by the addition of neutral alcohol (mutage). Ageing for this wine occurred in stainless steel tanks and then in the bottle.

In the glass the wine is a clear golden colour with attractive brightness. This youthful wine has a bouquet of white peach, quince and exotic fruit aromas. Then just showing at the end a subtle note of honey and candied fruits.

The palate starts out full and fresh, with a warm mid palate of rich notes and balanced perfectly with citrus and candied fruit.

CELLARING POTENTIAL:
Drinking perfectly well this winter and over the next 4-5 years.

SUGGESTED FOOD MATCHES:
Perfect wine match as an aperitif, melon with Muscat, Peach gratin and a cheese and dried fruit board.

Pleased don't served too cold: 8-10 degrees.