NV Muscat (375ml)

ENJOY ... Muscat is ideal as an aperitif - especially served with chocolates. For a decadent dessert treat, place a bottle in the freezer, let it become syrupy and drizzle over ice-cream as a delicious topping, sprinkle with chopped praline.

CELLAR ... up to 5 years.

PRONUNCIATION ... Muscat [muhs-kat]

Rutherglen Muscat
Muscat is a sumptuous, rich, fortified wine that has been produced in Australia, particularly in the Rutherglen region, since the 1850s. Rutherglen Muscat styles are made from the variety Muscat a Petit Grains (Brown), which means ‘Muscat with small berries’. The term ‘fortified’ is derived from the Latin ‘fortis’ meaning strong. Fortified wines are so called because the addition of spirit strengthens the wine and raises the alcohol level, the spirit can also contribute distinctive characters to the finished wine.

Winemakers in Rutherglen have been making this luscious fortified dessert style of wine for almost 150 years. The style and the region have become reknowned as a world class and iconic wine style. Muscats of Rutherglen are non-vintage wines, as they are blends of wines from different vintages. Most often blended via the traditional ‘solera’ system, some Muscats of Rutherglen may actually contain wine of almost 100 years of age.

'Muscats of Rutherglen’ have their own recognised classification system, where producers taste and ‘classify’ each others wines based on age, intensity of varietal character, concentration and particular characters. There are four tiers in the classification system starting with Rutherglen, then Classic, Grand and Rare Muscats.

Tasting notes
The Rutherglen Estates NV Muscat has not yet been officially classified, but we suggest that it falls somewhere between Rutherglen, as it displays fresh raisin aromas, rich fruit and clean spirit, and Classic as it is starting to show some of the ‘rancio’ or almond and marzipan characters that develop during its maturation in old oak barrels. The estimated age of our wine is 7 to 8 years.

It’s characteristics include raisins, toffee, caramel, butterscotch, dried fruit and nuts. The wine’s flavours together with its luscious sweet palate, make the Rutherglen Estates NV Muscat an indulgent delight.

Winemaking
Rutherglen is the ideal region for making this style of wine because of its long, dry ripening season, allowing the grapes to soundly develop incredibly high sugar levels and degrees of raisining. The grapes are harvested, crushed, then allowed to soak on skins so that all the sugar and rich flavours are extracted from the skins and into the juice. A small degree of fermentation may or may not be encouraged while the juice is ‘on skins’, depending on the level of sugar, but after the fruit is pressed, the juice is ‘fortified’ with neutral grape spirit, and the finished wine is then aged in old oak barrels. The wine in the bottle is then blended from barrels of different age.

Wine detail & analysis
Variety Muscat a Petit Grains (Brown)
Region Rutherglen, North East Victoria
Alcohol 17%
Oak treatment nil
Total acid 4.2g/L
pH 3.95
Residual sugar 255g/L

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Winestate Magazine, July 2012, 4 Stars
A sweet, youthful, lighter style. Fresh, grapey fruit nose and fresh fruity palate that has some attractive rich notes. Well-balanced wine. $19.95

James Halliday Australian Wine Companion, 2012 Edition
MUSCAT NV
Although the colour doesn't suggest it, seems to have some slightly older material; the palate is luscious, but very sweet. Rating 89'

Jay Miller, Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, 30 June 2011
RUTHERGLEN ESTATES NV MUSCAT
'Medium amber-brown in colour, the NV Muscat displays intense notes of walnuts, treacle, sultanas and ginger cake over preserved mandarin peel and manuka honey. Very full bodied, sweet, rich and viscous, it has just enough balanced acid and a long spicy finish. Drink it now. 92 points'

Dermot Nolan, Dermot's Wine Blog (UK), 22 February 2010
'... a good example of one of the finest wine styles in the world, the Rutherglen Estates “Re” Rutherglen Muscat also from old stock. This shows the classic tangerine and raisin character of fortified muscats from this part of Australia, with a very sweet palate from really high sugar. Bad for me (unfortunately) but great for anyone who loves fine wines.'

Toni Paterson, Life etc, 1 December 2008
AUSTRALIA'S TOP DROPS
'Number 16: NV Rutherglen Estates Muscat ... At your next dinner party, I suggest shelving dessert and serving this decadent Muscat instead. The raisiny richness, luscious sweetness and toffee flavours make it a perfect partner to cheese.'

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, www.wineaccess.com/expert, 30 September 2007
NV RUTHERGLEN ESTATES MUSCAT
'Medium amber. Smoky orange and cherry aromas are deepened by toffee and grilled nuts. Suave, velvety citrus and pit fruit flavors display a pleasing bitterness and excellent depth. Gains a peppery quality on the long, spicy finish, where the orange quality echoes. Try this with blue cheese and toasted pecans. 92 points'

Wine Spectator, www.winespectator.com, 31 January 2006
NV RUTHERGLEN ESTATES MUSCAT
'Just yummy, sweet and rich without being syrupy, offering toffee-scented black cherry, mocha, strawberry jam, rose petal and a touch of exotic spice character as the flavours linger.'

SILVER Rutherglen Wine Show 2012
BRONZE Victorian Wine Show 2012

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