Muscadelle Wine Grapes, Flavor, Character and History

Muscadelle is often used a blending grape in Sauternes for the production of the famous sweet, white wines of Bordeaux. Once attacked by Botrytis, the fruit is used as a minor part of the blend, along with Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. Some chateaux also use a small portion to create their assemblage for the white wines of Graves Pessac Leognan.  Not many producers use it in their blends. Those that do, use very little.  The addition of Muscadelle can contribute floral characteristics to a wine. With the exception of the Barsac estate of Chateau Broustet, who maintian plantings of 12% Muscadelle, the few estates that use the grape,  usually limit to between 1% and 3% of their vineyard.

In Australia, the grape is planted under the name of Tokay, where it develops a distinct raisiny personality.