Fine Old Muscat (375ml)

Tasting Notes

Matured in old oak hogsheads, the base blend is over 20 years old now but has an average age of 5 years old. This is calculated on the basis that we take out 20% out of the barrels every year for bottling and replace it with current vintage material. The barrels themselves suffer the summers under a hot tin shed where they concentrate flavour through evaporation. This is where we also get the rancio flavour or character that comes from aging in barrel. Enjoy.

IN THE MAKING

Mainly Muscat Rouge à Petite Grains with some Black and Brown Muscat grapes are picked at around 18 Baume, crushed and destemmed. The ferment is started and then stopped only after a few Baume have been converted to alcohol. This is achieved by fortifying the fermentation with SVR spirit ((Spiritus Vini Rectificatus (Latin: Rectified Grape Spirit)) to reach the desired sugar content and alcohol percentage. The wine is pressed and racked clean to top hogshead barrels containing the mother blend.

TASTE

– IN THE GLASS

Colour: Brilliant clear reddish brown amber hues.

Aroma: Perfumed with a raisin-fruit bouquet.

Palate:  Initial sweetness and raisin flavours linger to reveal hints of toffee, and Christmas cake. The underlying structure of tannin and well integrated spirit make the finish and the raisin flavours return and linger in the mouth. A wine of decadence, drizzled over a chocolate mud cake and cream. Or enjoyed by its self around a camp fire, with close friends and good conversation.

– IN THE CELLAR

This wine needs no further cellaring and is ready for immediate consumption.