Sauternes, a village and viticulture appellation located in the southeast corner of Bordeaux is home to one of the world’s most appreciated wines. The homonym, exists not only for the town and wine from which it is derived but also the process used to produce it as well. This process relies on a beneficial (for dessert wine) fungus to grow on the grapes. When fully grown on grape berries, this fungus known as botrytis will desiccate the berries from the inside out leaving behind higher concentrations of sugar than prior to the infection. The result is an incredible development of aromatics and flavors by nearly fifty times their original concentrations! This has been affectionately referred to by the French as noble rot.
The 2022 Boathouse Dessert Muscat was made in admiration for this region and wine style by making several harvest passes through the vineyard to pick individually botrytized Muscat berries. After a harvest period of nearly two weeks in November, the highly sugar-concentrated grapes were fermented and aged in new French Oak, just like the adulated region. I am excited to share this very special wine that we will produce only when the conditions are perfect to support this unique and natural process. As always, the grapes were grown using organic practices and minimal sulfur needed using 100% estate-only fruit.
I hope you take the time to enjoy this with or without food and appreciate the unique results of this process that I love so much. Thank you for the continued support.
