2012 Gutierrez de la Vega Casta Diva La Diva Vino Dulce de Moscatel

The 2012 Casta Diva La Diva wants to be the most concentrated and powerful of the sweet late-harvest Moscateles produced here, with acidity, sugar, high density and dry matter. It fermented in 300-liter oak barrels with indigenous yeasts and was fortified to 14% alcohol, leaving some 130 grams of unfermented sugar. It matured in barrel for two years before bottling. 2012 could probably be considered a normal Mediterranean vintage, with rains in autumn and spring, and a dry summer. This is aromatically stunning, with notes of marmalade and mint, honeyed aromas and some hints of dry herbs. It is somehow developed with balsamic undertones that reminded me of the dry Moscatel of the 2002 vintage that I also tasted in this sitting. The palate does not feel very sweet, with some bitter orange flavors. Only 450 half-liter bottles were produced.