Grosperrin MMC 1 Pineau des Charentes

Smell: Sweet white grape, peach, apricot, cognac, and a subtle hint of very fine oak in the background. It resembles the aroma of a late harvest dessert wine or sauternes, but is more refined, ethereal, and very slightly flinty. Taste: Very well-balanced flavors of fresh and aged grape that show both sweet and dry characteristics, along with a touch of acidity, faint beeswax, and dried fruit. Like the aroma, the taste has notes reminiscent of a dessert white wine, but the texture is different here, being crisp and lighter. Finish: Short. A demi-sec fruitiness that disappears quickly, but pleasantly. "MMC" is short for "moût muté au cognac," which translates literally to "cognac-mutated grape must." It's essentially a type of pineau, a mix of fresh white grape must (the freshly pressed juice including skins and stems) and cognac from the same estate. The combined liquid is then aged in oak barrels for seven years. Grosperrin makes three varieties of "MMC" with different ages; this "MMC1" is the youngest. It should be served chilled and makes a delightful aperitif, either straight or mixed 50/50 with champagne. It also serves well as a light alternative to a digestif after dinner. The bottle was finished over four days and kept well in the refrigerator, but care was taken to remove the air each time. Initially, it was very crisp with good acidity and an almost effervescent quality, but on the second and third days, it became sweeter. By the fourth day, it had a very faint hint of developing sourness, and although still quite pleasant, I doubt it would have lasted another day. Oh, and if you shake the bottle too much when pouring, you'll notice many faint black specks (which eventually settle). This is normal and not a concern. “Very Good”: 85/100 (4 stars)