I have previously blogged about the fortified Muscats from the South of France with most of the discussion concerned with the Rhone appellation, Muscat de Beaumes de Venise. Most of the other appellations of Muscat based vin doux naturale are actually in the region of Languedoc-Rousillon and Muscat de St Jean de Minervois is generally regarded as the best of them all.
This is a small appellation just north of Minervois itself and is basically a small limestone plateau of some 700 or so acres at an elevation of 900ft. It is nearly completely planted with Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains, which is allowed to become super-ripe before harvesting. The grapes are fortified mid fermentation by the addition of grape alcohol to preserve the sugars in the grapes.
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