Cuvée Marguerite 2016, Domaine Matassa

Cuvée Marguerite 2016, Domaine Matassa

Date Tasted: 5/2021

What can I say about this wine? Before we opened it, I picked up a bottle to observe the colour through, and I felt like the friend of Steven Spurrier from the Bottle Shock movie when while he was looking at a bottle of Chateau Montelena Chardonnay said, "wine in the colour of shit." 

Also, taking into account the blend of Muscat of Alexandria and Viognier -two white grapes without particular age-worthy potential- the five years of ageing and the surprisingly low alcohol level of only 10,5% abv, I started to prepare myself for the worst. 

And then boom! From the first sniff, the wine was breathtaking, complex and fresh. On the palate, lean and delicious. What a surprise! 

Appearance: The colour is medium orange.

Nose: It is complex with plenty of aromatic layers, starting from floral notes, many tropical fruits, peach character, quince and a thick mineral base.

Palate: It is so delicious. The complexity still shows the tropical character—some dried fig, orange peel, almond, ginger and toffee make a whole. The acidity is almost high with low alcohol and low body but with some notable tannins. The aftertaste is medium-plus and leaves a candied orange flavour.

Drink: It's already five years old, and it still looks so fresh, so drink it!

Food Pairing: Complex dishes without too much fattiness is an excellent choice. 

Points: 

Name: Cuvée Marguerite

Producer: Domaine Matassa

Variety: Muscat of Alexandria, Viognier

Vintage: 2016

Region: Vin de France

Alcohol: 10.5%

Retail Price: 29€

Serving temperature: 10-12 C°

Drink it until 2024