Merk: Vini d'annata

MUFFATO DELLA SALA 1998 0,5 - ANTINORI

CLASSIFICATION
Umbria IGT

BLEND
60% Sauvignon Blanc; 40% Grechetto, Traminer (which is actually the French Gewurztraminer) and Riesling

CLIMATE
The end of Winter and the beginning of Spring were mild and very dry, which favoured early budding of the vines and accelerated the vegetative cycle - until the stabilising effect of some rainfall in May.
Flowering took place in the same average period as other vintages.
June was very hot and this accelerated the growth of the grapes and of the vegetative cycle by about 10-12 days.
The Summer months were very hot and sunny with temperatures well above average - particularly in July with long periods without any rainfall. This meant that the growth rate of the vines slowed down slightly and, on average, the grapes ripened about a week earlier than in average vintages.
In all the estates a careful thinning of the red variety grapes was carried out during the month of August, in order to ensure that the remaining grapes would ripen in the best conditions.

VINIFICATION
Muffato della Sala's grapes are grown entirely at #Castello della Sala# - 200 to 400 metres (656 to 1,312 feet) above sea-level - on calcareous Pliocene sedimentary soils rich in marine fossils with some clay. Early morning mists encourage the development of botrytis cinerea, the noble rot, which reduces the water content of the grapes, thereby provoking a higher concentration of sugar and aromas. The grapes from these plots are well botrytised and are generally harvested later than the normal vintage: in 1998 the Traminer and Riesling were harvested a couple of days before the Sauvignon Blanc and last to be harvested was the Grechetto at the beginning of November.
After a soft pressing, the must fermented for 20 days at a temperature not exceeding 61°F. This produced a sweet wine which was introduced in Allier and Troncais French oak barrels where it was aged for 6 months.
Alcohol : 12,5% Vol.

HISTORICAL DATA
Muffato della Sala is produced from botrytised grapes grown on vineyard plots whose microclimates favor noble rot; 1987 was the first vintage released. It is one of the 'experimental' wines Antinori's developed in the 1980s, and was originally produced from 50% Sauvignon Blanc with Grechetto (30%) and Drupeggio (20%), the blend that Antinori used then in its Orvieto Classico Abboccato. The grape mix was adjusted until 1989, when the current blend was decided upon. Muffato della Sala is produced in extremely limited quantities.

TASTING NOTES
Medium-gold color with peachy-honey aromas. A rich dessert wine that is fresh and well-balanced, with great elegance and complexity.

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