Description
Jorge Ordonez & Co Moscatel No. 1 Seleccion Especial Malaga 2015
Jorge Ordóñez & Co is a renowned Spanish producer and importer, and its Málaga Moscatel range is highly
regarded among modern Spanish dessert wines. Moscatel No. 1 Selección Especial is a naturally sweet white made from 100% Moscatel de Alejandría (Muscat of Alexandria) grown on steep hillsides above Málaga, with late‑harvest grapes concentrated to give rich sweetness balanced by bright acidity, at just 10% ABV in a 375ml half bottle.
Vinification & Style
Origin: Spain, Andalucía, D.O. Málaga / Málaga-Sierras de Málaga.
Grape: 100% Moscatel de Alejandría (Muscat of Alexandria), one of the oldest Muscat varieties and one of the few essentially unmodified vitis vinifera cultivars still in use.
Vineyards & harvest: Old vines planted on steep, rocky, schistous slopes around Málaga, overlooking the Mediterranean, with excellent drainage. Grapes are late‑harvested, and it takes around 4.5 kg of grapes to produce a single 375ml bottle, indicating very low yields and high concentration.
Vinification: Fermented at low temperature in stainless steel. A small amount of SO₂ is added to stop fermentation early, preserving natural residual sugar rather than fortifying the wine, then aged 6 months on lees in stainless steel tanks before bottling.
Style: Non‑fortified sweet wine focused on honey, candied fruit and white‑flower aromatics, with unusually high acidity for a dessert wine to keep the palate fresh and lifted.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Pale to medium gold, with light straw and lemon glints; can deepen slightly with bottle age.
Nose: Highly aromatic, with jasmine and orange blossom, honey, lychee, peach and apricot, along with candied apricot, citrus peel, sultanas and hints of fresh mint and herbs; very expressive and perfumed.
Palate: Rich and viscous yet surprisingly lively. Flavours of honey, lychee, ripe peach, dried apricot, orange marmalade and raisins coat the palate, balanced by vivid acidity that cuts through the sweetness. Mid‑palate shows a touch of white pepper, vanilla and mineral notes adding structure. The texture is opulent but not heavy.
Finish: Long and persistent, with lingering floral notes, honey, stone fruit and a light saline‑mineral edge, leaving the mouth refreshed rather than cloying.
Scores & Accolades
- Robert Parker / Wine Advocate: 2015 vintage rated around 91 points, praised for its intense honeyed and candied fruit aromas and its remarkable acidity which keeps the sweetness in check.
- Critics often describe No. 1 Selección Especial as one of the standout sweet wines of D.O. Málaga, calling it “fresh and engaging, with bright honeyed stone fruit and white flowers, and distinct acidity rare in dessert wines.”
Serving & Pairing
Serving: Chill to 6–10°C; serve slightly cool rather than ice‑cold to allow the aromatics to open. No decanting needed.
Food pairing (Hong Kong–friendly):
- Desserts: Mango pomelo sago, mango pudding, cheesecake, crème brûlée, mango sticky rice, pineapple bun (with butter), taro and sago dessert.
- Savoury: Shrimp toast, lightly spiced salt‑and‑pepper squid, honey‑glazed char siu, soy‑sauce prawns.
- Cheese: Mild blue cheeses and soft cheeses like Brie or Camembert, or ricotta on toast with honey.
Special Info: Moscatel No. 1 Selección Especial is the “introductory” wine in Jorge Ordóñez’s Málaga Moscatel ladder (followed by even more concentrated No. 2 and others), designed to showcase the balance between natural sweetness and racy acidity in unfortified Muscat of Alexandria wines from Málaga, with extremely low yields (4.5 kg per half bottle) and a strong focus on vineyard expression.
Origin: Spain, Andalucía, D.O. Málaga / Málaga-Sierras de Málaga
Type: Sweet White Wine (non‑fortified)
Grape: 100% Moscatel de Alejandría (Muscat of Alexandria)
ABV: 10%
Volume: 375ml
