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Red
750ml
Bottle: $28.13
6 bottles: $27.57
A rich wine with layers of raspberry, cherry, and blackberry complemented by vanilla, licorice, and toast....
12 FREE
Dessert/Fortified Wine
375ml
Bottle: $49.19
6 bottles: $48.40
Golden amber, brilliant color. It’s aroma hints at honey, toasted almond and vanilla. Sweet and rich taste,...
12 FREE
Dessert/Fortified Wine
500ml
Bottle: $30.15
12 bottles: $29.55
A most appealing example of Italy’s most famous dessert wine, displaying molasses and toffee aromas, honey and...
12 FREE
Dessert/Fortified Wine
500ml
Bottle: $65.94
Thanks to centuries of Venetian trading influence, the wines of Santorini were initially celebrated as strong and...
12 FREE
DC
97
Dessert/Fortified Wine
500ml
Bottle: $36.79
6 bottles: $36.00
12 FREE
Sale
Rapid Ship
Dessert/Fortified Wine
375ml
Bottle: $40.99 $43.94
An exquisite Vin Santo, with aromas and flavors of brown butter, caramel, molasses, gingerbread and roasted walnut...
WS
97
VM
96
Red
750ml
Bottle: $43.20
12 bottles: $39.90
Planted at 2100 feet in volcanic soils way up on Mount Veeder, Sky makes a Zinfandel like no other. Spicy, wild, and...
12 FREE
Dessert/Fortified Wine
750ml
Bottle: $26.20
12 bottles: $25.68
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Dessert/Fortified Wine
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Dessert/Fortified Wine
375ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $233.45
This likely auction bottling was sourced from recently acquired old vines that expanded Schlossgut Diel’s share in...
VM
96
WA
95
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Dessert/Fortified Wine
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $451.78
This likely auction bottling was sourced from recently acquired old vines that expanded Schlossgut Diel’s share in...
VM
96
WA
95

Muscat Dessert Wine Zinfandel 2015

Known as Moscato in Italy, and Moscatel in Portugal and Spain, Muscat is one of the oldest continually cultivated grape varietals in the world. It originally came out of the Middle East, and was picked up by the ancient Greeks, who brought it to Italy and elsewhere in their empire. Because of its astounding age and continuous use, it has long since been mutated and crossbred to produce dozens of subspecies, and it is known by lots of synonyms and regional names. Because of this, it is fair to say that there is no ‘true’ Muscat grape. The most popular - and oldest - varietal within this group, however, is Muscat Blanc au Petit Grains, which is grown with great results most notably in France and South Africa.



Known for its light and fruity character, Muscat of Alexandria is the second oldest of the Muscat grapes, and is found in several countries around the Mediterranean. The grape is prized for its versatility - indeed, almost every imaginable type of wine style, from dry to medium to sweet and sparkling, can be made from this varietal. Generally speaking, though, Muscat grapes have a relatively low acidity which make them unsuitable for ageing, meaning the vast majority of Muscat wines are drank very young, wherein they can express their best features.

The precise origins of what became known as the Zinfandel grape variety are uncertain, although it has clear genetic equivalents in both Puglia and Croatia. However, when it was brought to the New World in the mid 19th century, it became known as the Zinfandel, and has been consistently popular and widely grown ever since. These very dark and very round grapes have a remarkably high sugar content, resulting in relatively high levels of alcohol in the wines they are made into, with bottles often displaying as much as fifteen percent. What makes the Zinfandel such an interesting grape, though, is the fact that the flavors produced by this varietal vary considerably depending on the climate they are grown in. In cooler valley regions, the Zinfandel grapes result in wines which hold strong flavors of tart and sweet fruits; raspberry, redcurrant and sweet cherry, held in a very smooth and silky liquid. Conversely, warmer regions result in more complex and spicy notes, including anise, pepper and hedgerow berries.