Structure

Sweetnesssweet
Oakoak aged

Drinking window

Best 5 to 25 years from bottling.
bottling5 yrs25 yrs27 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating in the header is our own.

What it pairs with

  • Cheese with honey and figs
    The wine's floral honey sweetness mirrors the accompaniments naturally.
  • Torrijas (Spanish French toast)
    Orange blossom notes align with the orange-zested egg custard of Semana Santa torrijas.
  • Almond tart
    Toasted almond pastry highlights the floral and honeyed register of Moscatel.

How to serve Moscatel Especial

Allow 5 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and pour. Open and pour directly. No decanting required for this style.
  2. Serve at 8-10°C. Cellar temperature (8-10°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a Sherry copita: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. Pair with. Cheese with honey and figs, Torrijas (Spanish French toast), Almond tart. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Chipiona, the coastal town north of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, has a centuries-old tradition of growing Moscatel de Alejandría on its sandy arenales soils. César Florido has been the principal custodian of this tradition since 1887, producing Moscatel wines that differ fundamentally from the raisin-dried PX style. The sandy coastal soils give a distinctive floral, orange-blossom aromatic character not found in PX.

  1. 1887: Bodegas César Florido founded in Chipiona; Moscatel production from coastal sandy soils
  2. 1950: Moscatel Especial label established for the premium tier

Facts

Producer
Bodegas César Florido · visiting guide
Grapes
Moscatel de Alejandría
Classification
DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry
Oak
Oxidative ageing in American oak butts; solera system from sandy Chipiona soils
ABV
17.0%
Price
€12-22 at retail
Drinking window
5-25 from bottling

Frequently asked about Moscatel Especial

When should I drink Moscatel Especial?

Drink 5-25 from bottling. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Moscatel Especial?

Cheese with honey and figs is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Torrijas (Spanish French toast) and Almond tart. The wine's floral honey sweetness mirrors the accompaniments naturally.

What grapes are in Moscatel Especial?

The blend is Moscatel de Alejandría. The wine is classified as DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry.

Tags

cellar worthy fortified sherry full body hidden gem low acid low tannin mood festive mood romantic moscatel de alejandr a occasion gift occasion special old world pairs with creme brulee pairs with fruit desserts pairs with soft cheese price everyday single vineyard sweet

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