Telmo Rodriguez Molino Real MR Malaga Muscat 2023 (Half bottle)

Telmo Rodriguez Molino Real MR Malaga Muscat 

Region: Malaga, Spain

Vintage: 2023

Bottle size: 37.5cl

Grape: Muscat of Alexandria

ABV: 13%

This is a delicious, sweet wine with intense aromas of candied fruit, honey, and floral notes. It is fruit-driven, with vibrant acidity and a long finish.

Located in the `Zona Axarquía` in the east of Málaga, the vineyards are grown on steep slopes situated 550 metres above sea level in the village of Cómpeta. This region is the driest of the five subzones of Málaga and is also well-known for raisin production from the DO Pasas de Málaga. The shallow, stony, and fine-textured soil, developed from Paleozoic schists, creates an excellent environment for growing traditional bush vines.

The grapes were hand harvested from low-yielding bush vines and then sent to the `paseo` (drying area). After being transported to the winery, the must was pressed, and fermentation was carried out using only indigenous yeasts. Fermentation stopped spontaneously, and the wine was then aged in stainless steel tanks for 10 months before bottling.

In 1995, Telmo Rodríguez and his business partner Pablo Eguzkia established Molino Real in Málaga with a view to reviving the region’s ‘Mountain Wine’. This naturally sweet style once stood shoulder to shoulder with the great sweet wines of Tokaji, Sauternes and Germany. It was historically made from Moscatel grapes (also known as Muscat of Alexandria), grown in the canyons around Málaga and sun-dried before fermentation. The resulting ‘Mountain Wines’ were decadent and rich, producing fine, age-worthy expressions. As trends changed, these wines fell out of fashion and the wine-growing traditions of Málaga faded into near obscurity. That is, until the 90s when Telmo and Pablo began seeking out the lost regions of Spain. Remembering how Hugh Johnson once said that old ‘Mountain Wine’ was the best wine he’d ever had, the duo were inspired.