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Since our initial vintage of this wine in 2002, we’ve shown that we know how to handle this vivacious grape. The key is timing, knowing to pick precisely when the elusive aromatics are at their most exotic. Like its forerunners, our 2007 is semi-sweet but frisky on the tongue, thanks to a delicate spritz from the wine’s natural carbonation. The fruit flavours are bright and lively, suggesting tangerine, peach, apricot and banana Popsicle.
Winemaker's Notes:
The unique muscat clone of Chardonnay, clone 809, was planted at Malivoire's sustainably farmed Estate vineyard in 1999. Originally planted to be a blending component of our Estate Chardonnay, the overwhelming aromatics warranted its own designation. Since the aromas can be fleeting, early picking is the key to success. Out of this grew the idea of making a low alcohol, off dry, spritz wine akin to a Moscato d'Asti.
The 2007 vintage gave us ample heat and sunlight providing flavourful fruit by early September. Yield was dramatically low due to drought like conditions during the summer at 10.5 hl/ha. Hand harvested on September 10 at 20.1° brix, titratable acidity of 7.3 g/l and a pH of 3.3.
In the cellar, the grapes were sorted, gently pressed whole cluster, cold settled and racked with some light lees to enhance aromatic compounds, then fermented in stainless steel at 13°C. Fermentation was halted after 17 days when the alcohol reached 9% alcohol leaving 75 grams per litre of residual sugar for balance. The tank was then sealed and chilled to retain natural carbonation. Bottled at zero degrees Celsius to minimize CO2 evolution. Drink now to 2009
Food Pairings:
For breakfast and brunch foods, salads, fruit salads and other desserts, it has to be Chardonnay Musqué.
Recent Reviews:
“Breakfast drinkers should get the Chardonnay Musque made in the Moscato, low alcohol style”. Billy Munnelly
“… but what a deliciously fruity number with lots of apples and peaches on the nose and a dash of perfume. The palate follows suit from the smells, but also offers up a little “spritz” on the tongue, while the flavours linger pleasantly afterwards. The spritz doesn’t last long, but the taste certainly does. This one’s fairly sweet, but you’d never guess it because the fizz and the 9% alcohol make it seem so much less that what it really is.” Michael Pinkus (May 2008)
Last Updated: 08-March-08
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