Rutherglen Muscat is a marvel. A marvel of age and intensity, yes, but in its youth it is utterly bewitching with the most enticing, lifted aromatics. Take a sniff and there's Turkish delight, golden raisins, chocolate-coated orange peel and almond nut brittle. It's all there to taste, too, with a honeyed sweet complexity that belies its introductory level. 750ml. Points: 93/100
Under the Rutherglen Muscat Classification, this is entry level, offering the youngest, freshest fortified expression of the grape. It delivers beautifully. Fragrant with inviting raisin, honey and fruitcake aromas, it shows a master fortified blender at work with a depth and richness beyond its price point. Fills the mouth with the deep, sweet taste of butterscotch, dried fruits and toffee. Delicious. 750ml. Points: 92/100
A deep amber hue in the glass. The nose shows light toffee, candied-peel and white pepper notes. Bright and quite fresh on the palate, dried apricot and mango with toffee and dried peel notes. Good length and it doesn't carry too much weight, so the finish is quite fresh with a hint of nuttiness lingering. Amazing value Points: 90/100
Medium to light tawny colour. The aroma is typical muscat fragrance with malt, vanilla and milk chocolate overtones. It's sweet and very viscous in the mouth, with excellent flavour and a little aniseed-like bitterness on the aftertaste, probably a residue of the fortifying spirit. Fairly young but very good and terrific value for money. Points: 91/100
Intensely grapey and spicy. Turkish delight, ginger, dried raisin and fig. Candied citrus-zest-acidity brings it to life. An early cab off the solera, with just enough barrel age to deliver a high level of complexity despite the wine's inherent youth. Points: 92/100
Where the Muscadelle is yellow-gold, this is pale russet red. The fortification spirit that is added after the wine has spent a mere 24 hours on skins before it is pressed introduces an edge to the Christmas cake, raisin, orange peel and spice that define new-born Rutherglen muscat. Truly great value. Points: 92/100
Few wines warm winter chills like Rutherglen Muscat. Ancient "liqueur" wines tended and blended in dusty cellars by generations of Rutherglen winemakers grab attention (and high prices), but young wines at the bottom of the range can be great value. This example from Chambers is tawny coloured with pure youthful muscat aromas of dried fruits. caramel, fig syrup, rosewater and lifted spirit. It's an uncomplicated essence of Rutherglen muscat, fruity, sweet and succulent with a thread of firmness drying the finish.
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