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StateWays | www.stateways.com | July/August 2016 38 RETAILER WINE SELECTIONS — MUSCAT (95) Coppo Moncalvina Moscato d'Asti 2014 (Piedmont). Straw yellow, with just a touch of green. The nose is all about stone and tree fruits, with fl oral under tones. The taste is clean, fruity and nicely textured. ($18) (95) Quady Electra Moscato 2014 (Mader- a,Ca.). Quady is famous for "Essencia," a Muscat in the style of the Rhone Valley's Beau- me-Des-Venise. Electra is the low-alcohol style (4.5%), cold-fermented and chilled to stop the fermentation process. Fragrant and lushly sweet, with fl avors of peach, apricot and orange zest. It's easy to enjoy as a warm weather quencher, or will complement BBQ Ribs and chicken, roast pork or milder Oriental cuisine. ($16) (95) Domaine de Durban Muscat. This is one of, if not the best, example for the money coming out of Beaumes de Venise. The fruit is perfectly con- centrated, following booming aro- matics, in this wonderful dessert wine. The vines are over 35 years old and it defi nitely shows in the quality. ($15 per 375-ml.) (94) Vino Dei Fratelli Mos- cato d'Asti 2014 (Piedmont). Straw yellow in color, the nose is dominated by honeysuckle, with stone and tropical fruit notes. Bright, clean fruit on the palate, with a focused and balanced fi nish. ($18) (94) Michele Chiarlo Nivole Moscato 2014. The argument continues each year about who makes the best Moscato, and Michele Chiarlo Nivole is always in the conversation. The fra- grance of this wine takes center stage — the sweet fruits play like the orchestra, and the won- derfully full fi nish is the crescendo. You will for sure come back for the second act of this perfect Moscato performance. ($16 per 375-ml.) (93) Vino Noceto Frivolo Moscato Bianco 2015 (California). Straw yellow, with a hint of gold. A lively fruit salad on the nose and palate, the wine is a bright expression of Muscat, with all of the tastes and texture you would expect. ($18) (92) Saracco Moscati D'Asti 2014 (Italy). Delightful with simple fresh fruit desserts and even blue cheese. Bright and inviting — not heavy on the palate. Delicate notes of apricot and honeysuckle. ($15) (92) Domaine de Durban, Muscat de Beau- mes de Venise 2014 (France). A lovely "vin doux naturel" that exudes much complexity. Flaunting apricot, caramelized orange peel, al- mond skin and beeswax, this is a treat for the senses. Its oily texture and sweetness is grace- fully carried on an undercurrent of fresh acidity. This will drink well for many years to come. ($15 per 375-ml.) (92) Foss Marai Dolce Reale (Valdobbiadene). Golden yellow in color, a concentrated, light-bodied Moscato that has expressive aro- mas and fl avors of dried peach, lychee and complex violet notes. The light sweetness, and darker dried fruit notes, are balanced and com- plementary. ($17) (92) Mauro Sebaste Moscato d'Asti 2014 (Asti, Piedmont). Elegant yet approachable, this wine has well-defi ned acidity and struc- ture to create an uplifting mouth feel. Great expressive fruit, sweetness, low alcohol, ef- fervescence and an appealing freshness set this Barolo producer apart from other Moscato d'Asti wines. ($17) (92) La Sirena 2015 (Napa, CA). Honeysuckle, lychee and peach predominate in this Heidi Bar- rett creation. Muscat Canelli clones produce a dry, complex wine, beautifully balanced, with a touch of lime on the fi nish. ($29) (92) Vietti Moscato D'Asti Cascinetta 2015 (Italy). Pale sunshine-yellow in color with a slight frizzante, this Moscato d'Asti has intense aromas of peaches, rose petals and ginger. On the palate it is delicately sweet and sparkling with modest acidity, good balance, good complexity and a fi nish of fresh apricots. ($14) (92) Yalumba Museum Reserve Muscat NV (Australia). This wine is a rare treat for the price and com- plexity. It has an amazing raisin/ prune and burnt toffee combi- nation that makes it an amazing food-pairing wine. There is this very subtle port-like quality with this wine. Combined with all the amazing fl avors, this gives the wine amazing depth. ($24) (92) Elvio Tintero Moscato 2014. When it comes to Moscato, seeing a single-vineyard expression at this price and quality doesn't happen very often. This wine will turn the "I don't like Moscato" customers into Moscato believers. You get all of the great Moscato characteristics, the aromat- ics, sweet melon and fruity freshness, without the cloying sweetness that comes along with it. The well-balanced, clean fi nish will keep you coming back for more. ($13) Four Stars «««« (91) Ceretto Moscato 2014. Long known for how great their Moscato is, Ceretto continues to release wines of the highest caliber. This year's Moscato release is no different. A little bit more dialed back than some on the sweet- of peaches, rose petals and ginger. On the palate it is delicately sweet and sparkling with modest acidity, good balance, good complexity and a fi nish of fresh apricots. ($14) (92) Yalumba Museum Reserve Muscat NV a rare treat for the price and com- plexity. It has an amazing raisin/ or will complement BBQ Ribs and chicken, roast pork or milder Oriental cuisine. ($16) (95) Domaine de Durban Muscat. This is one of, if not the best, example for the money coming out of Beaumes de Venise. The fruit is perfectly con- centrated, following booming aro- matics, in this wonderful dessert is dominated by honeysuckle, with stone and tropical fruit notes. Bright, clean fruit on the palate, with a focused and balanced fi nish. ($18) (94) Michele Chiarlo Nivole Moscato 2014. The argument continues each year about who makes the best Moscato, and Michele Chiarlo (92) Elvio Tintero Moscato 2014. When it comes to Moscato, seeing a single-vineyard expression at this price and quality doesn't happen very often. This wine will turn the "I don't like Moscato" customers into Moscato believers. You get all of the great Moscato characteristics, the aromat- One of the oldest grapes still in existence, Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains – so named for its small, round berries – is regarded as the best- quality Muscat, exhibiting intensely perfumed orange blossom, rose petal, spice, peach and apricot fl avors.