One of the worldâs most ancient varietals, Muscat has inviting sweet floral and candied orange qualities that make for an enticing dessert wine.
Our Muscat Canelli opens with delicate aromas of damask rose and fragrant orange blossom, layered with lychee, white peach, mandarin and lavender. The plump, creamy palate is deftly balanced by lemon zest and mineral notes, with a hint of coriander spice on the finish.
Pairing Notes: With long flavors and finely tuned acids, this sweet dessert wine is the perfect match to fruit-studded desserts such as mango cheesecake or orange crĂšme brulee. Serve this sweet treat with a mouth-watering Mango Tart!
Vineyard and Winemakerâs notes
Our Muscat Canelli comes from the Solari Vineyard, nestled at the base of Mount Saint Helena in the northernmost wedge of Napa Valley, along the Napa River. Run by the Solari family for three generations, this vineyard is meticulously maintained. The vines are pruned in a unique style: two long and two short canes are braided along the wire, leaving the bright orange- and gold-flecked clusters evenly spaced. Composed of deep volcanic tufa and loam soils, the vineyard is dry farmed and benefits from two cooling influences, one from down valley and the other from the west through the Knights Valley gap along the Russian River. The wide difference in temperatures between the warm days and the cool nights is favorable because, as Winemaker Mike Westrick puts it, âwe like to leave these grapes hanging until theyâre crying.â
To get the rich, ultra-ripe flavors for our Muscat Canelli, we patiently waited until the fruit reached 28Âș to 32Âș Brix before we hand harvested it. At the winery, the grapes were destemmed, followed by a pre-press maceration. This process, which allowed extended skin contact, gently released the aromas out of the skins without any harsh phenolic influences. The fruit was then gently pressed, cooled, settled and racked into stainless steel for a long, cool fermentation. When the wine approached the appropriate level of residual sugar, we decreased temperatures, arresting fermentation and leaving a touch of sweetness.
Sterling Vineyards was founded in 1964 by Oxford graduate and successful businessman Peter Newton. As one of only 27 bonded wineries in Napa Valley at the time, Newton was an early pioneer of crafting Bordeaux-inspired red wines in California and helped transform the region into the premier winemaking appellation we know today. Sterling Vineyards produced their first varietals in 1969 and bottled Napaâs first vintage-dated Merlot that same year.
The winery itself is an architectural icon in Napa Valley. Modeled after the beautiful white stucco buildings on the Greek island of Mykonos, it was the first winery built with the visitor in mind and is the only winery in the world with an aerial tram.
The Sterling Vineyards winemaking team believes that our wines should express true varietal character. We craft each wine with this in mind, choosing gentle techniques tailored to bring out the aromas and flavors that each Napa grape variety develops in the terroir it likes best. The resulting wines have exceptional quality that shines anywhere, with intriguing complexity that brings out the best in a wide variety of cuisines.
Today, Sterling Vineyards is one of the most visited wineries in Napa Valley and one of the largest landowners in the region, producing renowned, world-class wines.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI
Sterling Vineyards Muscat Canelli Dessert Wine
3 bottles for $59.99 $20/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $179.99 $15/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2012 Sterling Vineyards Muscat Canelli Dessert Wine - $60 = 24.99%
LabROUS Report
Sterling Vineyards 2012 Muscat Canelli
This is a very nice dessert wine, although there is no late harvest designation or mention of residual sugar.
The color is fresh and pale, showing no signs of browning at six years.
The aromas are also youthful â I would never guess this wine was from 2012. The Muscat fruit still dominates with lots of citrus aromas, particularly mandarin, with hints of tangerine, orange and grapefruit. Thereâs a hint of a toasty, yeasty character along with a suggestion of Botrytis (reminiscent of vinyl shower curtain) that give the wine some complexity, taking it well beyond the Juicyfruit and Creamsicle character of straightforward Muscat.
The entry is smooth and viscous, but fresh and lively in comparison to many dessert wines. Iâm not good at discerning residual sugar levels in this range, but I would guess this is at or below 5%. Regardless, the acid is bright, keeping it fresh and lively on the finish. Muscat can be bitter (one of the main reasons it is typically vinified with residual sugar), but I couldnât detect bitterness even when looking for it.
This is not a âstickyâ, and IMHO it will be more enjoyable with fruit desserts such as trifles than as a stand alone. It really was begging for at least some peaches with whipped cream.
@PeterW Thanks Peter! Always wonderful to have your expert palate weigh in.
Your characterization of the acidity as bright and fresh make me want to actually try this Muscat. I usually stay away due to lack of acidity.
Random fun fact: I once worked in Sterlingâs tasting room. There were like five or seven tasting stations, all staffed by temps like me. I will never forget being paired with a lady who told the tourists not to dump their glasses because adding a different wine to the wine that theyâd previously tasted âimproved the legsâ.
It was also hotter than Hades and those of us working outside were forced to sign off the we were drinking a liter of water every hour or something like that, the companyâs response to the fact that two people stationed at the patio has passed out from the heat.
2012 Sterling Vineyards Muscat Canelli Dessert Wine
I am humbled to be sharing Lab Rat duties with the great Peter W for this offer. Apologies for not posting earlier but I had to pee in a cup for work today, so in an abundance of caution I did not taste the wine until tonight.
375ml bottle with tight cork that has appeared to slow the aging process. The color is a very light hue of gold with a nearly 1/8" meniscus in the glass. Medium+, slow-running legs when swirled. Pretty good clarity, I noticed some minor precipitates in the first glass but they were greatly reduced in the second glass, so maybe just some towel residue from last time the glass was washed. Actually, now that I think about it, probably cork residue since there is some stuck to the sides of the bottle where the cork was.
On the nose, peaches and apricots at first sniff. Additional swirling and sniffing brings out some orange citrus and light floral notes. Very enticing bouquetâŠ
On the palate, more peach and apricot with some honey and citrus zest. I did notice just some slight bitterness on the finish, which Peter alluded to but did not detect himself. I am pretty sensitive to bitterness so this would probably not be noticeable to most people. It pops up on the finish but segways into a nice little acidic bite which, along with the lingering sweetness, leaves a good impression. Peter guessed 5% RS. I am no expert but would go a little higher on my own guess, maybe somewhere between 5% - 10%.
Paired the last glass with some Beehive Barely Buzzed cheese and it was a great match! I think this is a little more complex than your average Muscat and is a bargain at the case price of $15 per bottle, shipped. Whether or not there was some Botrytis involved is a mystery but I agree that it seems likely.
Iâm not much into non-reds except Rose Champagnes (usually Brut or Demi sec), but so tempted to try this dessert wine. Did like some dessert wines from Pendroncelli and Scott & Jana Harvey though, especially Angel Eis. Yum!
Someone please tell more if itâs worth $15 a bottle (1/2 actually @375 which I do understand the standard for dessert wines), push me over the cliff!
If nothing else, the pairing sounds exciting gives something to look for and make/bake! PAIR IT WITH (conventional option):
A perfect match to fruit-studded desserts such as mango cheesecake or orange crĂšme brulee. Sterling especially recommends a Mango Tart.
Am I doing it right, or can I go wrong with this?!?!
Oh well, for a wine all wrongs seem righted and justified!
Looking forward to making all three of these⊠PAIR IT WITH (conventional option):
A perfect match to fruit-studded desserts such as mango cheesecake or orange crĂšme brulee. Sterling especially recommends a Mango Tart.
âŠso just wondering how many of you out there got the email this week that read:
âHi there CaseMate! The winery for the Sterling Vineyards Muscat Canelli Dessert Wine is not licensed to sell in your state, but mistakenly listed it as availableâ
Question: just opened my box at my wine locker (ships there and kept until I can receive it), and 2 out of the 3 bottles are darker in color. Did anyone else notice this?
Used to that in older dessert whites, but this is only a 2012 vintage.
@MarkDaSpark Answer from Winery regarding MarkdaSparkâs question: There can and will be slight bottle variation. This effects all wines differently. Because of the style of desert wine, they tend to show the variation in a more obvious way. I can tell you I have had both a light and dark bottle of this wine and both were delicious.
Tasting Notes
One of the worldâs most ancient varietals, Muscat has inviting sweet floral and candied orange qualities that make for an enticing dessert wine.
Our Muscat Canelli opens with delicate aromas of damask rose and fragrant orange blossom, layered with lychee, white peach, mandarin and lavender. The plump, creamy palate is deftly balanced by lemon zest and mineral notes, with a hint of coriander spice on the finish.
Pairing Notes: With long flavors and finely tuned acids, this sweet dessert wine is the perfect match to fruit-studded desserts such as mango cheesecake or orange crĂšme brulee. Serve this sweet treat with a mouth-watering Mango Tart!
Vineyard and Winemakerâs notes
Our Muscat Canelli comes from the Solari Vineyard, nestled at the base of Mount Saint Helena in the northernmost wedge of Napa Valley, along the Napa River. Run by the Solari family for three generations, this vineyard is meticulously maintained. The vines are pruned in a unique style: two long and two short canes are braided along the wire, leaving the bright orange- and gold-flecked clusters evenly spaced. Composed of deep volcanic tufa and loam soils, the vineyard is dry farmed and benefits from two cooling influences, one from down valley and the other from the west through the Knights Valley gap along the Russian River. The wide difference in temperatures between the warm days and the cool nights is favorable because, as Winemaker Mike Westrick puts it, âwe like to leave these grapes hanging until theyâre crying.â
To get the rich, ultra-ripe flavors for our Muscat Canelli, we patiently waited until the fruit reached 28Âș to 32Âș Brix before we hand harvested it. At the winery, the grapes were destemmed, followed by a pre-press maceration. This process, which allowed extended skin contact, gently released the aromas out of the skins without any harsh phenolic influences. The fruit was then gently pressed, cooled, settled and racked into stainless steel for a long, cool fermentation. When the wine approached the appropriate level of residual sugar, we decreased temperatures, arresting fermentation and leaving a touch of sweetness.
Specifications
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $540/case MSRP
About The Winery
Winery: Sterling Vineyards
Sterling Vineyards was founded in 1964 by Oxford graduate and successful businessman Peter Newton. As one of only 27 bonded wineries in Napa Valley at the time, Newton was an early pioneer of crafting Bordeaux-inspired red wines in California and helped transform the region into the premier winemaking appellation we know today. Sterling Vineyards produced their first varietals in 1969 and bottled Napaâs first vintage-dated Merlot that same year.
The winery itself is an architectural icon in Napa Valley. Modeled after the beautiful white stucco buildings on the Greek island of Mykonos, it was the first winery built with the visitor in mind and is the only winery in the world with an aerial tram.
The Sterling Vineyards winemaking team believes that our wines should express true varietal character. We craft each wine with this in mind, choosing gentle techniques tailored to bring out the aromas and flavors that each Napa grape variety develops in the terroir it likes best. The resulting wines have exceptional quality that shines anywhere, with intriguing complexity that brings out the best in a wide variety of cuisines.
Today, Sterling Vineyards is one of the most visited wineries in Napa Valley and one of the largest landowners in the region, producing renowned, world-class wines.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, March 28th - Monday, April 1st
Sterling Vineyards Muscat Canelli Dessert Wine
3 bottles for $59.99 $20/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $179.99 $15/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2012 Sterling Vineyards Muscat Canelli
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2012 Sterling Vineyards Muscat Canelli Dessert Wine - $60 = 24.99%
Hmmmm, Muscat Canelli dessert wine.
/giphy jumbo-numerous-spring
@MarkDaSpark
Donât need a case, in case you got one.
Split off three or so if you did?
@rjquillin. Sorry, no case this time.
Kept trying to post the image of my order number
kept getting
It wonât let me use the image command on
pensive-risky-warthog
hmmm
ah well
@Cerridwyn. Um, you use the giphy one.
As in /giphy pensive-risky-warthog
/giphy pensive-risky-warthog
@MarkDaSpark
hmmm
i swore iâve used both before
ah well, I was tahred
LabROUS Report
Sterling Vineyards 2012 Muscat Canelli
This is a very nice dessert wine, although there is no late harvest designation or mention of residual sugar.
The color is fresh and pale, showing no signs of browning at six years.
The aromas are also youthful â I would never guess this wine was from 2012. The Muscat fruit still dominates with lots of citrus aromas, particularly mandarin, with hints of tangerine, orange and grapefruit. Thereâs a hint of a toasty, yeasty character along with a suggestion of Botrytis (reminiscent of vinyl shower curtain) that give the wine some complexity, taking it well beyond the Juicyfruit and Creamsicle character of straightforward Muscat.
The entry is smooth and viscous, but fresh and lively in comparison to many dessert wines. Iâm not good at discerning residual sugar levels in this range, but I would guess this is at or below 5%. Regardless, the acid is bright, keeping it fresh and lively on the finish. Muscat can be bitter (one of the main reasons it is typically vinified with residual sugar), but I couldnât detect bitterness even when looking for it.
This is not a âstickyâ, and IMHO it will be more enjoyable with fruit desserts such as trifles than as a stand alone. It really was begging for at least some peaches with whipped cream.
@PeterW Thanks Peter! Always wonderful to have your expert palate weigh in.
Your characterization of the acidity as bright and fresh make me want to actually try this Muscat. I usually stay away due to lack of acidity.
@PeterW @arianaWCC
H/T to both of you.
Random fun fact: I once worked in Sterlingâs tasting room. There were like five or seven tasting stations, all staffed by temps like me. I will never forget being paired with a lady who told the tourists not to dump their glasses because adding a different wine to the wine that theyâd previously tasted âimproved the legsâ.
It was also hotter than Hades and those of us working outside were forced to sign off the we were drinking a liter of water every hour or something like that, the companyâs response to the fact that two people stationed at the patio has passed out from the heat.
It was an experience.
2012 Sterling Vineyards Muscat Canelli Dessert Wine
I am humbled to be sharing Lab Rat duties with the great Peter W for this offer. Apologies for not posting earlier but I had to pee in a cup for work today, so in an abundance of caution I did not taste the wine until tonight.
375ml bottle with tight cork that has appeared to slow the aging process. The color is a very light hue of gold with a nearly 1/8" meniscus in the glass. Medium+, slow-running legs when swirled. Pretty good clarity, I noticed some minor precipitates in the first glass but they were greatly reduced in the second glass, so maybe just some towel residue from last time the glass was washed. Actually, now that I think about it, probably cork residue since there is some stuck to the sides of the bottle where the cork was.
On the nose, peaches and apricots at first sniff. Additional swirling and sniffing brings out some orange citrus and light floral notes. Very enticing bouquetâŠ
On the palate, more peach and apricot with some honey and citrus zest. I did notice just some slight bitterness on the finish, which Peter alluded to but did not detect himself. I am pretty sensitive to bitterness so this would probably not be noticeable to most people. It pops up on the finish but segways into a nice little acidic bite which, along with the lingering sweetness, leaves a good impression. Peter guessed 5% RS. I am no expert but would go a little higher on my own guess, maybe somewhere between 5% - 10%.
Paired the last glass with some Beehive Barely Buzzed cheese and it was a great match! I think this is a little more complex than your average Muscat and is a bargain at the case price of $15 per bottle, shipped. Whether or not there was some Botrytis involved is a mystery but I agree that it seems likely.
Cheers!
Wow. Sterling! They make some solid wines. You guys really take your jobs serious. Bravo.
Iâm not much into non-reds except Rose Champagnes (usually Brut or Demi sec), but so tempted to try this dessert wine. Did like some dessert wines from Pendroncelli and Scott & Jana Harvey though, especially Angel Eis. Yum!
Someone please tell more if itâs worth $15 a bottle (1/2 actually @375 which I do understand the standard for dessert wines), push me over the cliff!
If nothing else, the pairing sounds exciting gives something to look for and make/bake!
PAIR IT WITH (conventional option):
A perfect match to fruit-studded desserts such as mango cheesecake or orange crĂšme brulee. Sterling especially recommends a Mango Tart.
Am I doing it right, or can I go wrong with this?!?!
Oh well, for a wine all wrongs seem righted and justified!
@Winedavid49, and chance for Pedroncelli and/or Scott & Jana Harvey being available?
oh so perfect order name!
Oh yeah!
Looking forward to making all three of theseâŠ
PAIR IT WITH (conventional option):
A perfect match to fruit-studded desserts such as mango cheesecake or orange crĂšme brulee. Sterling especially recommends a Mango Tart.
âŠso just wondering how many of you out there got the email this week that read:
âHi there CaseMate! The winery for the Sterling Vineyards Muscat Canelli Dessert Wine is not licensed to sell in your state, but mistakenly listed it as availableâ
âŠdid this happen often on woot?
@bramby2 It did happen occasionally, as I recall.
@bramby2 @InFrom
Donât get me started
@bramby2 Virginia?
@Winedavid49 Yup! Oh well. The email included a $5 coupon. I guess I have to drive to MD if I want to try this wine
Question: just opened my box at my wine locker (ships there and kept until I can receive it), and 2 out of the 3 bottles are darker in color. Did anyone else notice this?
Used to that in older dessert whites, but this is only a 2012 vintage.
@MarkDaSpark sparky, Iâll ask winery.
@MarkDaSpark Answer from Winery regarding MarkdaSparkâs question: There can and will be slight bottle variation. This effects all wines differently. Because of the style of desert wine, they tend to show the variation in a more obvious way. I can tell you I have had both a light and dark bottle of this wine and both were delicious.