| cl | | | | test at the University of California up to 59% of |
| Muscat is best described as a family of grapes, | | | | trained wine tasters recognised it. |
| rather than a single variety. Many strains and | | | | These days, Muscat is perhaps best known in the |
| mutations of the grape exist, from Muscat Blanc | | | | sticky wines of Beaumes de Venise, an appellation |
| Ã Petit Grains (the posh type) to Muscat of | | | | (demarcated area) in the Southern Rhone in |
| Alexandria (the workhorse). The grapes can | | | | France. Here it is made from Muscat Blanc à |
| produce everything from pale, light, sparkling | | | | Petits Grains and is produced as a vin doux |
| wines to inky, black, occasionally fortified offerings. | | | | naturel, a wine whose fermentation is arrested |
| To our mind, Muscat is an overlooked family, | | | | using grape spirit. This results in a sweet wine |
| often unfairly derided, and certainly underplanted. | | | | with a robust level of alcohol (look out for |
| Not fair for a vine group thought to be the oldest | | | | Domaine de Durban here, a particularly good |
| in civilisation! | | | | producer). The term vin doux naturel literally |
| Muscat is unique in that it is famous for actually | | | | means "naturally sweet wine", though this is a bit |
| smelling of grapes. It is also typically one of the | | | | misleading for the reasons described above. |
| most identifiable styles in blind wine tastings - in a | | | | |