Stanton & Killeen Classic Rutherglen Muscat 500ml

A unique fortified wine that exudes both the exuberance of youth and the complexity of age, from the revered Stanton & Killeen solera system and landing in the bottle with a carefully curated average 12 years of age. Underrated and underpriced, there’s little wonder that these older Rutherglen Muscats rake in all the awards (check them all out below – this is one of Stanton & Killeen’s most awarded fortifieds).

This is Muscat as the gods intended: the perfect balance of sticky, sweet, savoury and intense that comes from the Muscat grapes' spell of extended ripening on the vine. It starts with Muscat á Petits Grains Rouges (also known as ‘Rutherglen Brown Muscat’) grapes, crushed, pressed and vinified, then fortified with grape spirit by winemakers who’ve been perfecting their craft in Australia since 1875. But the magic really starts in the maturation process, as the golden-brown liquid is stored in large oak casks for three to four years, carefully inspected, and then the best are kept for the next stage in the solera. The final blend is a mix of the best barrels, which include juice far beyond the average 12 years of age – adding to the depth, complexity and almost salty-savoury nature (and high acidity) that counters the sweetness with aplomb.

Three years in a row this was awarded the trophy for Best Rutherglen Muscat at the International Wine Challenge in London. And of course, the exceptional liquid that has seeped into their oak casks over those dozen years then transmogrifies any whiskey that might be finished in those casks afterwards… such as our very own upcoming December Whisky of the Month, the Westward Vintage Muscat Cask.

It’s a rare thing to sip on the original liquid of a cask side by side with the whiskey that’s bathed in its essence.

Sweeten your day with this balanced and complex palate of rich raisin fruit, rose petal, dried fig and cumquat, the perfect accompaniment to the Club’s December Whisky of the Month.

Bottle size: 500ml

Awards:

• Gold Medal: 2015 International Wine Challenge
• Gold Medal: 2014 International Wine Challenge
• Classic Rutherglen Muscat Trophy: 2013 International Wine Challenge
• Rutherglen Trophy, Fortified Muscat Trophy: 2012 International Wine Challenge
• International Fortified Muscat Trophy: 2011 International Wine Challenge
• Trophy: Boutique Wine Awards - 2019
• Trophy: Victorian Wines Show - 2018
• Trophy: Australian Small Winemakers Show - 2017
• Gold Medal: Australian Small Winemakers Show - 2021