Weingut Dr. Ernesto Franz Muscat Ottonel Trockenbeerenauslese 1999 375ml

Weingut Dr. Ernesto Franz Muscat Ottonel Trockenbeerenauslese 1999 375ml

Muscat Ottonel is a younger and less-distinguished member of the broader Muscat family. It was created in 1852 in France by a private breeder who crossed Chasselas and Muscat Ingram. The variety makes a range of wine styles, from light, dry table wines to richer styles with more residual sugar.

Known for being the palest member of the Muscat family, in terms of color but also in terms of flavor intensity, Muscat Ottonel can be aromatic, but can have low acidity. Thus for vignerons the challenge is to pick while slightly underripe, sacrificing some aromatic complexity for balance.

Generally speaking, if left too long on the vine, Muscat Ottonel will make a flabby, unbalanced wine. However, Muscat Ottonel is more resistant to cold than other varieties of Muscat, which tend to grow in more Mediterranean climates.

Instead, Muscat Ottonel thrives in Austria, Switzerland and Romania, and is most at home in France’s Alsace region. Here, the variety is permitted for use in wines labeled ‘Muscat d’Alsace’, and has become more popular in the vineyards than Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains.

Muscat Ottonel is also grown to a lesser extent in Canada, where it is used in the production of both dry and sweet wines.