Domaine des Bernardins Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise Vieux

Structure

Bodyfull

Tanninlow

Aciditylow

Sweetnesssweet

Oaklarge or old casks

Drinking window

Best 5 to 20 years from vintage.

vintage5 yrs20 yrs22 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.

In the glass

Full-bodiedLow tanninLow aciditySweetVery Long finish

Aroma: candied orange peel, dried apricot, toasted almond, saffron, honey

Palate: marmalade, dried fig, roasted nut, caramel, very long sweet finish

An aged, oxidative Muscat with extraordinary complexity; dried citrus, almond, saffron, and fig from extended old-wood ageing. A Southern Rhone rarity with the complexity of a great Sauternes.

What it pairs with

Tarte aux abricots secs
Dried apricot and almond richness mirrors the wine's deep dried-fruit sweetness.
Bleu des Causses or Roquefort
Rich oxidative sweetness contrasts with salty, pungent blue cheese.

How to serve Domaine des Bernardins Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise Vieux Millesimes

Allow 35 minutes from open to pour.

Open and decant. Open 30 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
Serve at 10-12°C. Cellar temperature (10-12°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
Glassware. Use a small fortified-wine glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
Pair with. Tarte aux abricots secs, Bleu des Causses or Roquefort. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Bernardins introduced their aged Muscat offering in 1985, allowing select vintages to oxidise slowly in old demi-muids. The result is a rare Southern Rhone dessert wine that can rival aged Sauternes or Banyuls in complexity.

1985: First Vieux Millesimes Muscat aged in oxidative style at Bernardins

Facts

Producer: Domaine des Bernardins · visiting guide
Grapes: Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains (100%)
Classification: Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOC
Oak: Extended ageing in old demi-muids; oxidative
ABV: 16.0%
Price: EUR 35-60 for 50cl at retail
Drinking window: 5-20 from vintage
First vintage: 1985

Frequently asked about Domaine des Bernardins Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise Vieux Millesimes

What does Domaine des Bernardins Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise Vieux Millesimes taste like?

On the nose, candied orange peel, dried apricot, toasted almond, saffron, honey. On the palate, marmalade, dried fig, roasted nut, caramel, very long sweet finish. Structurally full-bodied, low tannins, low acidity with a very long finish. An aged, oxidative Muscat with extraordinary complexity; dried citrus, almond, saffron, and fig from extended old-wood ageing. A Southern Rhone rarity with the complexity of a great Sauternes.

When should I drink Domaine des Bernardins Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise Vieux Millesimes?

Drink 5-20 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Domaine des Bernardins Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise Vieux Millesimes?

Tarte aux abricots secs is the canonical pairing; Bleu des Causses or Roquefort is the other strong match. Dried apricot and almond richness mirrors the wine's deep dried-fruit sweetness.

What grapes are in Domaine des Bernardins Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise Vieux Millesimes?

The blend is Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains (100%). The wine is classified as Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOC.

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