This is where Muscat starts to get serious, moving up a notch in average age, in colour (tawny), in flavour intensity, length and sweet deliciousness. Equivalent to the Classic tier, old-vine muscat from Chambers goes that extra yard in depth and complexity, in sticky date pudding, dried fig, nutty toffee, dried fruit panforte with a lilting rose petal prettiness. And so clean and bright. Great value. 375ml. Points: 95/100
Old Vine is equivalent to the Classic Muscat classification. A beauty of a fortified, displaying all of the seductive allure of the grape in honeyed fruitcake, dried figs and chocolate raisins, fuelled by lingering rose oil aromatics. And so fresh. An intriguing wine to start a fortified obsession. 375ml. Points: 95/100
A shift to older wines: older base average and longer time in wood than the generic regional expression. A mahogany hue. Date, dried fig and the whiff of the Moroccan souk coming into play: dried apricot, ginger, cardamon and turmeric. This tier is stellar value, offering an opportunity to explore among the finest fortifieds in the country before yelping. (Ned Goodwin) Points: 95/100
A wine that immediately commands attention and respect with its racy touch of rancio to the liqueur raisins of a deluxe Christmas pudding centre stage, backed by spices of every known kind. Points: 96/100
A new blend from the age-old barrels of Chambers, and a good one. A tension between luscious sweetness and well-structured acidity is captivating, and the contrast of freshness and complexity is well played. It retains the lively lift of rosewater, apricot, marmalade and orange liqueur, and simultaneously great depth of mixed spice, cedar wood and dark chocolate. Points: 93/100
