Navarro Vineyards - 2016 Muscat Blanc

2016 Muscat Blanc
Estate Bottled (Dry)
Anderson Valley, Mendocino
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National treasure

The Navarro vineyard block that has consistently produced world-class wines, vintage after vintage, is the Muscat Blanc field that bore the grapes for this bottling. The wine is so consistently delicious, year after year, that it inspired one wine reviewer to recently proclaim, “Over several vintages, this is a national treasure.” The soil in this vineyard block is predominantly clay-based, reminding us of the vineyards in Beaumes-de-Venice in Southern France where some of the best sweet Muscat wines in the world are produced. We have been producing dry wines from this block since 1995 and, in spite of the myriad of glowing reviews for this dry version, it remains the wine that many people skip while visiting our tasting room.

Removing spent yeast from an oval. Although we add a little yeast to start the fermentation, the fermenting juice in a large oval will eventually produce twenty or more gallons of yeast, which settles to the bottom of the cask.

Manuel washing down an oval after racking. Navarro's dry Muscat is fermented in a refrigerated oval then, without disturbing the wine, it is aged sur lie (rested on the yeast that produced the wine) in the same oval for about seven months. Aging in oak clarifies the wine naturally thus preventing the need for heavy filtration. The extended sur lie aging adds a satisfying roundness to the mouthfeel.

We suspect it's because almost all of the Muscat wines produced in the world are sweet and the perceived "sweetness" of this grape is further reinforced by its floral bouquet. The grapes for this wine were harvested at the same level of sweetness as our 2016 Mendocino Chardonnay and the resulting wines are equally dry. Both were cool-fermented and aged in seasoned French oak, (the Chardonnay in barrels and the Muscat in ovals). However, since Muscat Blanc is one of the few varieties that produces wine which tastes almost like the grape, the oak aromas and flavors found in Chardonnay have been replaced with floral aromatics and crisp fruity flavors suggesting peach, citrus and coriander. A superb partner for grilled spicy sausage or a zucchini and dill risotto, this dry wine ages amazingly well in a cool cellar. Gold Medal winner. Best of Class.

Specifications

Harvested: Sept. 23, 2016
Sugars at harvest: 24.0° Brix
Bottled: May 5, 2017
Cases produced: 402
Alcohol: 13.2%
Titratable acidity: 6.0 g/L
pH: 3.31

2020 Muscat Blanc, Estate Bottled (Dry)

“This almost clear colored Muscat Blanc opens with a very fragrant lychee bouquet with notes of peach. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied with nicely integrated medium acidity. The flavor profile is a tasty lychee with notes of Meyer lemon and ginger. I also detected some hints of white pepper and a hint of peach. The finish is dry, and its flavors and pleasant acidity linger and last for quite a while. I would enjoy this very easy to drink Muscat Blanc slightly chilled and at the beach!” —Ken Hoggins, Ken’s Wine Guide

2018 Muscat Blanc

90 points. “Dry and nutty, this medium-bodied wine offers almond and honey aromas, and fig and date flavors without being sweet. It's an aromatic, refreshing and different wine that will be perfect as an aperitif.” —Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast

"An absolutely spectacular wine, fresh and lively on the nose with jasmine and spice in front of mixed citrus fruit. On the palate, laser focused acidity carries tart citrus and stony minerality into a long finish that leaves you with a floral impression that’s like an alpine breeze in your face. This can run the table of pairing possibilities -- from oysters to rich seafood. Insider tip: I’ve tasted these wines with five to six years bottle age, and they never disappoint. Another gem from the Navarro clan!" WineReveiewOnline.com

"Southeast Asian herbs and spices like lemongrass, Kaffir lime and coriander on the nose along with lemon blossoms. Taste lemon zest, fresh white peaches, pink grapefruit and white pepper. Not as sweet-smelling as many Muscats…more on the floral/spicy side of things. Dances across the palate with energy and absolute freshness. Very tangy…some may call it tart…and light bodied. I love this wine with both fresh and fried Thai spring rolls as they give complement the each preparation in a different way. I pity the fool who shuts their minds and their mouths to this fantastic wine." DanDawsonWineAdvisor.com

2017 Muscat Blanc

"Floral, honeyed aromas and a dry, bracing mouthfeel make a great combination in this medium-bodied well-balanced wine. It brings honeysuckle and orange-blossom scents together with vivid, tangy peach and apricot flavors and a lingering finish." Wine Enthusiast magazine

"Navarro is the master with this grape and skillfully ferments it dry without pushing it to bitterness. Slightly floral, it exhibits aromas of white flowers with a palate of fresh lemon and lime. A fabulous food wine as well as a perfect summer quaffer." WineReveiewOnline.com

2015 Muscat Blanc

Winemaker Jim Klein is a master when it comes to getting all the aromatics out of Navarro's white wines, and he does so again to great effect in this stellar bottling. The nose is all about white flowers and sweet tangerine, leading you to a palate that surprises with its bone dry character, with racy acidity delivering the nose elements and adding a solid stone mineral streak. The finish is long and mouthwatering, bringing you back again and again to the glass. Over several vintages, this is a national treasure. That said, serve it like they do in Alsace, with spargel. And use it to turn on your sweet wine loving friends to a food friendly way of doing Muscat. Encore! Rich Cook , WineReviewOnline.com , July 26, 2017.

Muscat is a tricky wine to work with if the goal is to produce an elegant dry white, which is likely the reason more vintners don't try. Navarro has had tremendous success with the grape variety, however, and the 2015 is just another in a long line. This vintage delivers the distinct floral nose for which muscat is famous, and on the palate the wine shows notes of ripe melon and spice without the cloying sweetness of most muscats. The tricky part is fermenting to dryness without the wine turning bitter, but Navarro clearly has the knack and the know-how and the result is a beautiful summer white that's quite different and a welcome change of pace. Robert Whitley, WineReviewOnline.com , July 5, 2017.

2014 Muscat Blanc

A dry Muscat (or Moscato) is a rare find, and this is a beauty. Very floral and spicy in aroma, it has classic flavors like peaches and lychee. It is not sweet but buoyed by good acidity, great balance and a lingering, crisp and appley finish. Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast, November 2017.

2013 Muscat Blanc

This emphasizes freshness and a light touch, rather than the assertive flavors that this varietal can produce. It smells like rose petals, has a soft texture, rose petal and pear flavors, and delivers a light spritzy feeling on the tongue. Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast, May 1, 2015.

The 2013 Navarro Muscat Blanc ($19.50) is fresh, aromatic and fleshy.By Laurie Daniel, San Jose Mercury News, March 2, 2015.

Navarro. Either the dry version or the late-harvest, a wine of incomparable quality. And more: Reustle, Eberle.!Dan Berger, Vintage Experiences, Aug. 12, 2010.

2012 Muscat Blanc

90 points. “What a mouthful of flavor! You don't know Muscat or Moscato until you've enjoyed this rare dry interpretation. It is aromatic and exotic, lively with fresh acidity yet full of ripe apple and peach flavors that linger on the finish. Great with salty appetizers like prosciutto or nuggets of Parmigiana.” —Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast

2008 Muscat Blanc

Opens very floral with additional peach which introduces round, viscous lemon, peach, and dried, ripe but not sweet, apricot flavors before a broad, medium-long finish. The wine is dry, well balanced, structured, and integrated. Very Tasty. Harold Baer, www.haroldbaerwine.com, February 8, 2011.

This pale yellow colored Muscat Blanc was a hit at our dinner party over the weekend. It opens with a heavenly aromatic orange and lychee like bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced, and shows very pleasant acidity. The flavor profile is a terrific and very tasty blend of ripe apricot and lime. The finish is dry and rather refreshing. This wine paired well with Fred’s chicken, lemon and olive stew with saffron couscous. Another option would be the five fruit chicken from Savory Lane. Enjoy – Ken Hoggins, KensWineGuide.com, May 12, 2010.

Oranges and tangerines are the dominant flavors of this lively, dry white wine. It’s marked by brisk acidity , with a touch of creamy oak...it’s a fine cocktail sipper, or to drink with little appetizers.Steve Heimoff, Wine Enthusiast, April 2010.

2007 Muscat Blanc

a dry version of muscat that’s very pretty, with racy fruit, some floral notes and a hint of mineral.Lori Daniel, www.thegrapevine.com, March 4, 2008.

Muscat Blanc is turning out to be one of Navarro's best wines. The '07, from a super cool vintage, is a little off the rich pace of the '06, but shows the same admirable qualities of dryness, racy acidity and complex flavor. It's like a taste of Meyer lemon zest and grilled peach flesh, with a sprinkle of white pepper and cinnamon. Editors' Choice. —Steve Heimoff, Wine Enthusiast, October, 2008.

2006 Muscat Blanc

For an alfresco aperitif, it’s hard to beat Navarro Vineyards’ muscat blanc. It’s crisp and dry and fragrant with exotic kumquat and heady white flowers – aromas that can really bring a summer evening to life. Navarro makes this wine exclusively from free-run juice (not pressed). The winery’s sustainable farming practices include using Babydoll sheep to clear away cover crops; visit the website at www.navarrowine.com for the enduring photos!Wine Lovers Calendar 2010 on June 28th, Workman Publishing Co.

This is an amazing wine. It’s bone-dry and very high in acidity, one of the most distinctive white wines in California. The racy quality supports intense flavors of steely minerals, orange and lime zest and apricots, wrapped into a rich, oily texture. It accomplishes the magic of tasting honey-sweet but finishing thoroughly dry. Will age, too. A 2001, tasted alongside, was terrific.- Steve Heimoff, Wine Enthusiast, August, 2008.

Irrespective of variety, the mention of a Navarro white wine on a hot day makes my parched mouth water. When looking for summertime Calif. whites I always seem to end up closer to the sea and usually in the Anderson Valley. Up in the Anderson Valley of Mendocino, Ted Bennett made the best Muscat Blanc I've ever had, the 2006 Navarro ($19). It performs the magical act of tasting honey-sweet but finishing bone dry. Too bad more white wines aren’t this good, and this affordable.- Morton Leslie, http://steveheimoff.com.

2005 Muscat Blanc

This is a wild, wild wine with pure orange blossom aromas and a searingly crisp and dry lemony palate and finish. Very clean wine, and schizophrenic in a good way--or at least a way that works! Perfect for sushi with wasabi. Very good Quality to Price Ratio.- Good Wines Under $20, October 12, 2007.

My favorites were actually two other Navarro wines: the 2005 Muscat Blanc… a dry version that's fragrant, floral and a little smoky. From “Sparkling prosecco is a refreshing Italian import.” - Laurie Daniel, San Jose Mercury News, August 30, 2006.

2004 Muscat Blanc

Inviting white flower, lichee and white peach aromas are followed by an almost effervescent palate of lemon-lime, green melon and fresh green herbs. It's lively and refreshing, from start to finish. - Linda Murphy, San Francisco Chronicle, April 13, 2006.

Exceptional. Huge pear/spice aroma with hints of lime and hauntingly orange-blossom-y, a perfect dry Muscat. Winery only. Gold, Chairman’s Best of Class. - Dan Berger’s Vintage Experiences, July 21, 2005.

Exotic in every respect, with aromas of peach nectar and lime zest and bone-dry flavors that echo the nose. Crisp acidity balances viscosity in this complex wine. - Steve Pitcher, San Francisco Chronicle, January 12, 2006.

2003 Muscat Blanc

Dramatic fresh Muscat aroma with perfect balance between fruit and acid. Dry, aimed at Asian foods. Not to be missed. Sold in restaurants and at the winery. - Dan Berger’s Vintage Experiences, August 26, 2004.

2002 Muscat Blanc

Gold, Best White Wine. Delicate spiced nose with hints of pear, ginger, and citrus rind. A classic dry entry and taste, and not a hint of bitterness. A brilliant example of a Muscat that works with Japanese and Chinese foods. - Dan Berger’s Vintage Experiences, August 14, 2003.

Refreshing and clean, a tart young wine with bright flavors of orange pekoe, lemon zest and apricot. As the label states, it is dry, but finishes with a rich honeyed texture. A great summer sipper; try with a salad of greens and tangerine. - Steve Heimoff, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, March, 2004.

A startling wine, with floral-spicy notes of gardenia and carnation, and a light grassy note. Perfect sugar-acid balance so the wine is succulent without being sweet. Try with Asian fare or with appetizers. Available at limited restaurant locations or from the winery. - Dan Berger’s Vintage Experiences, May 13, 2004.

WINE OF THE WEEK. Dramatic aroma of white peach, spice of juniper/ginger, and classic Muscat in the mid-palate with no residual sugar to mar the overall delicate impression. One of the best concept wines you’ll ever drink. Calls for a half case at least!Dan Berger, Vintage Experiences, December 11, 2014.