McWILLIAMS Show Reserve Liqueur Muscat-Limited Release (NV)

[Attila]

Tasting Note No.34

Made in the Hanwood winery from Riverina grapes. The Frontignan was picked in late April and early May. The fermentation was stopped after about 7 days, very high quality spirit was added to fortify and then it was aged in old oak for many years. The oldest component of this blend comes from the 1964 vintage. Alcohol is at 18% vol. Only 80 cases were made, all numbered 500 ml bottles. Average age of the blend is 25 years.

Bottle no.639.
Colour deep brown with olive gold on the edge of glass. Beautiful and richly aromatic nose of brandied Christmas cookies and dried stone fruits. The palate is sublime, rich and smooth showing the age with nutty characters. Super creamy and delicious. A perfectly balanced wine, complete with brandied peach, walnut and old oak aromas. Something to sip and meditate over. It is an absolutely fantastic and exceptional dessert (or have it with a good cigar) wine. This Riverina wine throws the gauntlet to any Rutherglen Muscats in it's class. It is a bargain at AU $67 if you can find it.
An outstanding and rare treat for sure.

2001 McWILLIAMS Limited Release Riverina Botrytis Semillon 375 ml

My luck continues. Colour bright golden, quite deep. Amazingly intense nose of liquid apricot concentrate. It is highly fragrant and sweet with a hint of vanilla. The palate is unbelievably thick and rich with SUPER SWEET fruit. A mini dessert bomb. The most amazing thing is that this wine isn't cloying. It's balanced by crisp acidity. Very well balanced with excellent length and concentration. A beautiful drink. Must be served very cold, as I did on Valentine's Day for my wife. We were both very impressed by it, it is also a bargain at AU $18. Winemaker Scott William excelled with both wines.

Tasted:January/February 2004

[TORB]

Tasting Note No.34

Made in the Hanwood winery from Riverina grapes. The Frontignan was picked in late April and early May. The fermentation was stopped after about 7 days, very high quality spirit was added to fortify and then it was aged in old oak for many years. The oldest component of this blend comes from the 1964 vintage. Alcohol is at 18% vol. Only 80 cases were made, all numbered 500 ml bottles. Average age of the blend is 25 years.

Attila,

Sounds like a lovely wine, I have not tried it. Question for you mate. If the wine is an N/V blend with an average age of 25 years, how and where does the "

The Frontignan was picked in late April and early May. The fermentation was stopped after about 7 days, ..."

come into it?

[Attila]

As you may know Ric, this wine is a solera blend. The grape picking information relates to the fact that the fruit used for this wine is usually picked at the above mentioned times and the new batch for the solera from each vintage is made the same way. I guess, some of the material in this wine is only five years old to provide freshness-the picking information provided by McWilliams relates to the most recent vintages. In 40 years time, the 2004 vintage will become the base wine as is now the 1964.
Cheers,
Attila