Elysium Black Muscat
Elysium Black Muscat offers a captivating and intensely aromatic experience, a dessert wine that envelops the senses in a bouquet of summer fruits and floral elegance.
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£10.00
Elysium Black Muscat offers a captivating and intensely aromatic experience, a dessert wine that envelops the senses in a bouquet of summer fruits and floral elegance. From the moment it is poured, a brilliant crimson-purple hue hints at the richness to come. The initial aroma is a pronounced and unmistakable scent of fresh, blooming roses, a signature characteristic of the Black Muscat grape. This is intricately woven with a medley of ripe red and dark berries, dominated by notes of sweet cherry, succulent strawberry, and a touch of exotic lychee.
Upon the first sip, the palate is greeted with a luscious and velvety texture that carries a wave of sweet, concentrated fruit flavours. The initial floral and berry notes from the nose translate beautifully, expanding to include deeper tones of blackberry and raspberry. A subtle yet discernible hint of honeyed sweetness adds complexity, creating a layered and opulent profile. The wine’s inherent sweetness is expertly balanced by a vibrant acidity that cuts through the richness, preventing it from becoming cloying and lending a refreshing, clean finish. This bright acidity ensures that each sip is as delightful as the first, leaving a lingering impression of ripe fruit and a whisper of rose petals.
As the wine breathes, more subtle nuances may emerge, with some palates detecting a delicate touch of spice or even a faint suggestion of dark chocolate, which makes it an exceptional pairing for a variety of desserts. The overall impression is one of harmonious intensity, a wine that is both powerfully flavourful and gracefully balanced. Elysium Black Muscat is a truly distinctive dessert wine, offering a taste experience that is both hedonistic and refined.
From Vine to Bottle: The Craft Behind Elysium Black Muscat‘s Production and Aging
The distinctive character of Elysium Black Muscat is not only a result of its unique grape variety but also a testament to the meticulous production and aging processes employed by its producer, Quady Winery. This dessert wine’s journey from vineyard to glass is a careful balance of technique and timing, designed to capture the grape’s intense aromatic and flavour profile.
Production: Cultivating Intensity
The process begins in the vineyard with the Black Muscat grape, a variety known for its powerful floral and fruit notes. Quady Winery sources these grapes from the San Joaquin Valley in California, where the warm climate allows the fruit to achieve optimal ripeness, concentrating its sugars and flavours.
A key step in the production of Elysium is the use of a technique to arrest fermentation. The grapes are crushed, and the juice begins to ferment. However, before the yeast can convert all the natural grape sugars into alcohol, a neutral grape spirit (high-proof brandy) is added to the tank. This process, known as fortification, kills the yeast, stopping the fermentation. This crucial intervention preserves the wine’s natural sweetness while raising the alcohol content, resulting in a rich, stable, and sweet dessert wine. This method is similar to that used in the production of Port.
Following fortification, the wine is clarified and filtered to ensure its brilliant crimson-purple clarity before it is prepared for aging.
Aging: A Brief Rest to Enhance Freshness
Unlike many red wines that benefit from extensive aging in oak barrels to develop complexity, Elysium Black Muscat is managed differently to preserve its vibrant, fresh fruit and floral character. The wine is aged for a relatively short period, typically only a few months, in large, neutral stainless steel or old oak tanks.
The goal of this brief aging period is not to impart flavours of oak or to encourage oxidative notes, but rather to allow the wine to settle, integrate, and soften slightly after the fortification process. Using neutral containers is essential to maintaining the wine’s signature aromatic profile of rose petals and fresh berries. This approach ensures that the finished product is expressive of the grape itself, rather than the winemaking vessel.
Elysium Black Muscat is intended to be enjoyed young, generally within a few years of its release, to fully appreciate its youthful exuberance and intense aromatics. While it will not necessarily spoil with further age, its bright, fruity character is at its peak when the wine is fresh. This focus on preserving the grape’s primary characteristics is what defines the unique and captivating taste of Elysium.
In 1980, Andrew Quady discovery of underused Orange Muscat grapes in Reedley, California, led him to make a wine that celebrated the intense aromas and spicy fruit flavors of the grapes.
In 1983, a nearby grower brought Andrew Quady some Black Muscat grapes that were previously destined for sacramental wine at a local church. When the church ceased operations, the grower was left with truckloads of ripe, unwanted Black Muscat. The grower heard through the grapevine that newcomer Quady had some success with Orange Muscat, so he knocked on Quady’s door, and the rest is history.
Elysium makes stunning spritzers and cocktails. Try the Elysium spritzer in the summertime as a light patio pleaser. Or mix it up with whiskey, lemon, and sweetener for an Elysium Sour. Add it to sparkling wine in place of creme de cassis to make a black muscat renditio
Black Muscat
The Black Muscat, also known as Muscat of Hamburg, is a plump, dark-skinned grape. Despite its name, it appears more blue than black in color. While it is more popular as a table grape for snacking, it is also cultivated for wine production in various parts of the world
Black Muscat thrives in warm climates and is grown mainly in regions like the Crimea and the south of France.
Black Muscat grapes have a harmonious taste with a subtle nutmeg aroma and are rich in sugar content, making them suitable for producing raisins.
- Contains Sulphites
- Suitable for Vegans
- Suitable for Vegetarians
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The Country
The United States boasts a rich tapestry of wines, reflecting its vast and varied terroir. Winemaking in the U.S. dates back to the early European colonists and has overcome challenges such as Prohibition in the 1930s. Today, it’s the 4th largest wine producer globally, with California leading at 90% of the country’s output. The Golden State is known for its robust Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel, while Oregon excels in Pinot Noir and aromatic whites. Washington State offers fruity reds with sweet-tart acidity, and New York is gaining fame for its Riesling and Merlot-based blends. The U.S. wine scene is characterized by its pioneering spirit and the pursuit of winemaking excellence, with every state contributing to its dynamic wine culture
United States Wines available at Penventon Hotel
The Region
California, one of the world’s premier wine regions, produces a diverse array of wines that delight wine enthusiasts globally featuring grapes such as
- Cabernet Sauvignon: Rich and indulgent, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, such as Duckhorn’s 2019 Monitor Ledge Vineyard, impresses with its depth and character.
- Pinot Noir: Refreshing and memorable, Sta. Rita Hills’ Brewer-Clifton 2021 Pinot Noir offers elegance and finesse.
- Chardonnay: Full-blown and buttery, Sonoma Coast’s Three Sticks 2021 Gap’s Crown Vineyard Chardonnay is a treat for the senses.
California Wines available at Penventon Hotel
The Producer
In 1980, Andrew Quady discovery of underused Orange Muscat grapes in Reedley, California, led him to make a wine that celebrated the intense aromas and spicy fruit flavors of the grapes.
In 1983, a nearby grower brought Andrew Quady some Black Muscat grapes that were previously destined for sacramental wine at a local church. When the church ceased operations, the grower was left with truckloads of ripe, unwanted Black Muscat. The grower heard through the grapevine that newcomer Quady had some success with Orange Muscat, so he knocked on Quady’s door, and the rest is history.
Elysium makes stunning spritzers and cocktails. Try the Elysium spritzer in the summertime as a light patio pleaser. Or mix it up with whiskey, lemon, and sweetener for an Elysium Sour. Add it to sparkling wine in place of creme de cassis to make a black muscat renditio
