NV Burge Family Muscat Old Vines Barossa

(98 points)The Muscat (100% Muscat Blanc) reveals a deep amber color as well as a sweet, unctuous texture, and mocha, toffee, caramel, honey, and hazelnut characteristics. Rich, full-bodied, and ripe, it is a stunning sweet white. It will keep in the bottle 5-10 days after being opened; unopened it will keep indefinitely. Until 3-4 decades ago, many Australian wineries were better known for their fortified than dry table wines. For whatever reason, many of these fortifieds fell out of favor in Australia, and have never received the respect they deserve given how spectacular many can be. Rick Burge’s ancestors always made fortified wines, and kept the soleras active during their lifetimes. After many years, Rick Burge decided to begin bottling some of these old fortified wines. There are five different offerings, all of them stunningly rich and intense. I suspect most of them are extremely old, although no records were kept, so it is impossible to know the average age of the solera for each of these cuvees. No one will be disappointed in these spectacular non-vintage fortifieds. Wine Advocate #155 (Oct. 2004 issue)