Horácio Simões Coast to Coast

The 2010 Moscatel Roxo Costa a Costa (“Coast to Coast”), bottled with a long stopper in November 2021, was aged for 10 years in old French oak and has 203 grams of residual sugar. The winery explains: “With the 2010 Moscatel Roxo harvest, we had the idea of ​​placing 10 225-liter barrels (part of the production) in the hold of a pleasure boat. Thus, these barrels sailed down the Sado River for five years and now rest in the cellar.” The boat went from one coast to the other, hence the name. According to the winery, the difference compared to traditional cellar aging was notable, as there was more evaporation, a distinct aroma and more sediment. Fortified Moscatel is, naturally, very resistant and not susceptible to being compromised by this process.

This is actually a very different and quite remarkable wine for a young wine. It has notes of roasted orange peel in the aroma and a concentrated finish. It is delicious and intriguing at the same time. Of course, it is still a 10-year-old, so it is hardly the most concentrated Moscatel in history, but it is an excellent 10-year-old. It is not imported and costs around 40 euros in Portugal. The ideal period for consumption is only an estimate, but it is questionable whether this special treatment will affect the traditional longevity of this type of wine.