The 2021 Ménage à Trois Moscato Sweet White Blend is a majority Moscato blend that also consists of French Colombard and Chenin Blanc grapes. With an ABV, or alcohol by volume, of 9.5%, this wine is very sweet with a low astringency. This makes for a sweeter version of other varieties like Rieslings.

Starting with tropical notes of pineapple, pear and green apple, this wine finishes with a honey-like sweetness. It is very fruity while also having a low alcohol content, making the sweetness feel natural and satisfying and equating to that of a sweet mead.

This wine is an easy sipper, making it great for both wine enthusiasts and those who are not as into wine. Having such a diverse composition, this wine also contends with other highly-praised wines, having a well-defined flavor and mouthfeel that is guaranteed to satisfy.

I paired this wine with a homemade crème brûlée. Like with Rieslings, most recommend something spicy with Moscatos. Here, the sweetness of the wine and the spiciness of the food can cancel each other out, mitigating the harsher tones of each flavor.

However, with this pairing, I thought that I would take a different route, making a creamy, sweet and savory vanilla crème brûlée to mitigate the minimal astringency. With this pairing, I sought to lean into the sweetness and bring out the fruity notes in the wine.

Doing this allowed me to discover just how good of a pairing this actually was. Because the crème brûlée is so creamy and thick, it allowed the wine to feel much thinner in your mouth between bites, causing the mouthfeel to have less of a bite than usual.

This also allowed for an almost cleansing of the palate while also intensifying both the honey and vanilla flavors, leaving not much else to be desired.

To consume this wine at its best, I would recommend opening it at room temperature and putting it in the fridge for 15 minutes, getting it to about 45–50 degrees Fahrenheit before serving.

Winery: Ménage à Trois

Varietal: Moscato

Vintage: 2021

Locations: St. Helena, California

Price: $8–14

Pairing: Vanilla crème brûlée

I would like to emphasize that this column is not a review; my purpose for writing this series is to provide as much information about a wine as I can so that you can find your niche.

If you would like to inquire about anything I have talked about in these columns or recommend wines for me to pair in the future email me at [email protected].

Drink up!