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Rare Muscadelle

Rutherglen

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About

Muscadelle, which you might know as a minor white Bordeaux variety, was one of the originally misidentified varieties planted in Australia. It wasn’t until 1976 that it was properly identified, after years of being recognized as a great variety to produced sweet white fortified wines. The base of this wine was set down by W.H.Chambers in the late 1890’s. Only the very best Muscadelle produced can be considered for this wine. It needs to have the structure and weight to compliment the intensity of the older material. Produced only once or twice a decade, each release of this wine cements Chambers’ legacy as one of the great wine estates of the world.

The grapes were harvested late in the season to achieve maximum ripeness. Once the fruit was crushed and de-stemmed, the must was pressed and the juice was fortified with a neutral grape spirit to reach 18-19% alcohol. (If the sugar levels weren’t high enough, the grapes were sometimes soaked in the press overnight.) The resulting wine was then placed into large oak barrels for maturation, leaving single vintages and individual harvesting dates together as they tend to exhibit the same characteristics. After this first aging period, the wines were then graded to determine their final tier designation (Rutherglen, Classic, etc.) and the Rare designation batches entered the solera system, which is made up of two stages: one is a series of small barrels (quarter casks through to puncheons) and the other is an 2,200L cask from which the bottles are drawn. At bottling, the wine receives a cross flow filtration and small dosage of sulfur. No fining.

Stats

Grapes: 100% Muscadelle
Vineyard: Convent Block - Cellar Block - House Block - Horse Paddock Block
Vine Age: 50-years-old
Soil Type: Red duplex over clay
Viticulture: Sustainable
Fermentation: Inoculated – stainless-steel (100% de-stemmed)
Skin Contact: Occasionally up to 24 hours
Aging: 1st aging in used oak casks until blending, 2nd aging in 100-5000L used oak cask solera until bottling on demand
Alcohol: 17.2%
Residual Sugar: 328.4 g/L
pH: 3.65
Total Acidity: 7.2 g/L
Total SO2: 85 ppm
Total Production: ~38 cases each release
UPC: 767749009069

Tasting Notes

Dark, midnight brown color. Exotic coffee, malt, vanilla bean and mocha aromas and flavors on the nose and palate, which linger long after tasting. Immense concentration and depth.

Press & Reviews

Vinous

97

"Dark brown, almost black. Deep-pitched aromas of roasted coffee, cola, caramelized nuts, woodsmoke, toffee and burnt orange. Incredibly deep and impressively concentrated, offering sweet, palate-staining date cake, raisin, maple syrup, coffee and candied pecan flavors and a strong suggestion of dark chocolate. The orange and coffee notes dominate an endless, supple, broad finish that features an intensely sweet touch of molasses."

- Josh Raynolds

Wine Advocate

98

"The NV Rosewood Vineyards Rare Muscadelle has a deep brown color with a hint of green in the rim. The nose has a complex, oxidative, almost oloroso character giving notes of roasted walnuts, dark chocolate, burnt coffee and toffee. The palate is so crisp in acidity that the unbelievable level of sweetness and viscosity is infinitely drinkable. Layer upon layer of spice and nut flavors develop into the very long finish.

One of the great names in Rutherglen fortifieds, Chambers is a family operated winery that was established by William Chambers in 1858. Today it is operated by fifth generation winemaker William Chambers and his son Stephen. These fortified wines are all bottled to drink now. The extended solera aging process has rendered them relatively stable to changes and they are now bottled under screw cap so that they can be stored for a good number of years."

- Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Wine Enthusiast

97

"Incredibly concentrated and intense, this dark coffee-colored wine coats the glass and the palate with waves of luxuriously sweet, raisiny flavors. Layers of complexity follow in the form of rancio, dried fig and molasses, with a citrusy edge providing life and freshness to the nearly endless finish."

- Joe Czerwinski

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