Pfeiffer Grand Muscat 500ml, Rutherglen

NV – 100% Brown Rutherglen Muscat. Average age material is 23 years.

Strong flavour but impeccably well balanced. It's a wine of calm intensity; choc, spice, rose water, leather and malt. Intensely sweet but it keeps moving; it keeps refreshing itself, and so too your palate. A belter of a wine.

96 points James Halliday winecompanion.com.au

Pfeiffer Grand Muscat 500ml from Rutherglen is a rich, luxurious fortified wine that captures the heart and heritage of this historic North East Victorian wine region. Crafted by Jen Pfeiffer and her father Chris Pfeiffer, this Grand classification Muscat is a blend of aged parcels selected for depth, complexity and signature Rutherglen sweetness balanced with freshness.

Made from fully ripened Muscat à Petits Grains Rouge grapes, the fruit is picked late to concentrate sugars and flavour. After fortification with grape spirit, the wine is aged in a solera system for many years in old oak barrels, allowing it to develop the luscious texture and nutty complexity that defines the Grand style. This classification sits just below the Rare tier and represents serious quality and extended maturation.

In the glass, it pours deep mahogany with amber edges. The nose is intensely aromatic with layers of raisin, fig, toffee, mocha, candied orange peel and roasted nuts. The palate is unctuous and velvety, showing rich flavours of dried fruit, dark caramel and sweet spice, yet finishes with freshness and balance, avoiding any heaviness.

Perfect on its own as a dessert in a glass or paired with sticky date pudding, dark chocolate tart, blue cheese or a classic pecan pie. A small glass goes a long way, and the bottle will stay fresh for weeks once opened.