Muscat
Muscat has flavors of grape and orange blossom. It comes in a wide range of styles, mostly sweet and light. This wine is naturally low in alcohol, but it can be fortified. It is harvested primarily in the Rhône region of France and in Northern Italy (Moscato d'Asti and Asti Spumante).
Muscat is light, yet pairs well with sturdy cheeses such as Dry Jack, Taleggio, Gorgonzola, Montbriac, and Monte Enebro.
Domaine de la Pigeade, Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise 1999 (Tasted in 2003) $14.99 at Wiggy's (Al) for a half-bottle. 15% alcohol. The Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise wines are Vins Doux Naturels, naturally sweet wines. They are fermented slightly and then alcohol is added. The alcohol stops the fermentation and sets the natural grape sugar in the wine. It is yellow. Tracy says it smells weird. It smells like heavy alcohol. It also has a rotten melon, pear, floral, grandmother's perfume smell, and rubbing alcohol. It tastes sweet. The alcohol hits your mouth first. Oddly enough, it is not very high in alcohol, though it sure felt like it. It is very warm. We tried this with some tarts and it was good, especially with chocolate.
Domaine de la Pigeade with Bleu d'Auvergne. This is like pears and nuts. The cheese is salty, sharp, and earthy, but not overpowering. It goes well with this light dessert wine.