Moscatel de Setúbal: fortified dessert wine technique

Setúbal Peninsula, Portugal

The fortified Moscatel from the Setúbal peninsula south of Lisbon — made from Muscat of Alexandria (Moscatel de Setúbal) and Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, fortified with grape spirit before fermentation is complete (like port), and then aged in old oak casks for 5-25+ years. The result is a wine of extraordinary aromatic intensity — orange blossom, apricot, dried mango, and honey — with the caramelised, oxidative complexity of extended cask aging. Moscatel de Setúbal from Bacalhôa Vinhos (formerly José Maria da Fonseca) represents a 200-year tradition of production at the Quinta de Setúbal, and the 20-year, 25-year, and vintage releases are among Portugal's finest wines of any style.

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