2024 Dry Muscat

The Muscat family of grapes is one of the world’s oldest and most prolific. It is found in ancient Greece and Medieval Europe, as both a table grape and a wine grape, it exists all over the world in hundreds of sub-varieties and thousands of different names. It has even lent its name to grapes that are genetically totally unrelated.

What all true Muscats nevertheless have in common is a strong, fragrant and “grapey” aromatics, suggestive of various fruits and flowers, as well as a distinctive and exotic hint of musk, from which its name probably derives. Typically, Muscat wines are vinified to be “sweet sipping wines” or dessert wines.

In the French province of Alsace, however, Muscat is prized as one of the four “noble” (edel) wine grapes, along with Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris, and in keeping with Alsace tradition, it is made dry. Since Alsace winemaking has been an inspiration for Claiborne & Churchill from its very founding, it was not long until we tried our hand at this grape variety. 

Floral aromas reminiscent of carnations, with hints of nutmeg and chai tea followed by notes of honey and bright orange zest on the palate.