Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Moscofilero - One Greek Word You Should Know!

I'm the first to admit that I don't know a lot about Greek wine.  I'll also be the first to admit that I am happy to drink sweet wine (when it's tasty and balanced). When I came across this Skouras Moschofilero at a tasting I was pleasantly suprised.  It was a particularly hot day (yes, this was several months ago) and the slight sweetness, coupled with the honeysuckle aroma and crisp acidity also made this the crowd favorite.

After doing a little research I found out that Moschofilero (spelled several different ways but pronounced Moscow-fee-lay-rah) is a relative of the Muscat grape.  That would explain it's striking similarity to Moscato d'Asti and other Muscat wines.  There is the rosy and grapey nose, extremely floral and delicate like orange blossom.  There is a crisp acidity and a refreshing sweetness.  There's nothing complex going on, but its intense monodimensional floral/fruity fragrance is very satisfying.

This Moschofilero is made by the Skouras family and  grown in Arcadia.  The vineyards are high in the mountains on northern Pelepennese where it is harvested at night to preserve the delicate aromas.

The grapes are fermented in stainless steel vats. There is limited skin contact because the grapes are actually "grey" like a pinot-grigio and they can give the wine a rosy hue with more skin contact.

As you are preparing your winter feasts, think about this Grecian perfumed beauty.  Not only will it please your guests (most people enjoy drinking sweet wine even if they don't admit it). It's not so sweet that it will interfere with food. I think it would be quite tasty with turkey - not unlike a Gewurztraminer or even with a handful of Chex Mix as an aperitif!
price: $18 approx.

color: lemon yellow
nose: roses, violets, orange water, grapey goodness
palate: pleasant sweetness, honeysuckle, roses, blossoms