Winemaker Notes
This 100% hand harvested Moscatel Blanco is from a single vineyard in Barreal inside the Calingasta Valley. On the nose the wines shows beautiful notes of white flowers, peach, orange blossom, and a little fresh baked bread. The palate is a little fuller due to some skin contact and a little time under flor.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2023 Moscatel Blanco Cara Sur from Paraje Hilario in Calingasta, San Juan, is fermented on skins. Aromas of honey, rose petal, basil and lime lead to a palate that recalls fresh grape juice with a tea-like note. A slight grip adds a touch of roughness. Despite the variety’s notoriously capricious nature, the 2023 is flavorful and enjoyable.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Moscatel Blanco leads with a highly aromatic nose of balsamic, herbal and floral notes, transitioning to an uncommonly high-toned, focused palate than is typically seen from the variety. It concludes with a similarly bright, focused finish defined by stony accents and citrus-driven energy.
While Muscat comes in a wide range of styles from dry to sweet, still to sparkling and even fortified, it's safe to say it is always alluringly aromatic and delightful. The two most important versions are the noble, Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, making wines of considerable quality and Muscat of Alexandria, thought to be a progeny of the former. Somm Secret—Pliny the Elder wrote in the 13th century of a sweet, perfumed grape variety so attractive to bees that he referred to it as uva apiana, or “grape of the bees.” Most likely, he was describing Muscat.
This very hot and arid region produces fine red wines from Bonarda, Syrah and Malbec and solid, fruity white wines from Pinot grigio, Viognier and Chardonnay.
DBWDB9667_23_2023 Item# 4130431