Like Albillo, Moscatel de Grano Menudo (a.k.a. Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains) was previously one of this area's most popular traditional varieties, yet very few original vineyards remain intact. The old texts apparently point to this region's Moscatel and Albillo as being popular vino precioso (or court wines) during the time of Cervantes.
Bernabeleva's Moscatel comes from a small plot of 40-year-old vines in the deep sands of the Cantocuerdas vineyard (also home to the estate's Albillo vines). Isart starts by refrigerating the grapes for a couple of days before allowing the natural fermentation to take off. When the balance that he is looking for is achieved, the wine is pressed off into mature French demi-muids for 10 months.Textured and subtly sweet on entry there are saline notes together with a little phenolic grip on the finish, adding up to a wine with terrific cut and thrust. Amazingly, it’s almost bone dry by the time you have swallowed your first sip! A beautifully balanced and delicious wine that would work with a wide range of food from cheeses (like Comte and Ossau-Iraty) to grilled pork chops, glazed chicken or even Thai coconut curries.