Category Archives: Sweet Wine Club

July Sweet Club: Iowa

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Sweet Wine ClubChambers Rutherglen MuscadelleChambers Rosewood Vineyards
Muscadelle
Rutherglen, Victoria, Australia

Produced from the Muscadelle grape, and previously called Tokay, this blend is comprised of varietals aged between six and ten years old. Amber to gold in color, it shows fresh honeycomb, orange peel and cold leaf-tea on the nose. The palate offers sweet toffee, citrus fruits and honey with a hint of spirit and aged oak spice on the back palate. Muscadelle carries itself with a feline grace as opposed to the powerhouse Muscat persona.

Appellation: Rutherglen, Victoria, Australia
Varietal: Muscadelle
Analysis: 18.3% alc/vol | TA: 4.35 g/L | pH: 3.6
Critical Acclaim: 92 pts Halliday Wine Companion, 91 pts Vinous, 91 pts Wine Spectator, 90 pts/Editors‘ Choice Wine Enthusiast

Chambers Rutherglen MuscatChambers Rosewood Vineyards
Muscat
Rutherglen, Victoria, Australia

Produced from Muscat a Petit Grains, or Brown Muscat as it is more commonly known, this blend is comprised of varietals aged between six and ten years old. Amber gold in color with copper hues, the nose offers fresh raisins, sultanas, lifted spirit and cinnamon oak spices. The palate is rich and silky, its sweet dried fruits balanced by aged oak tannins and bright acidity, providing a clean, rather than cloying, finish.

Appellation: Rutherglen, Victoria, Australia
Varietal: Muscat a Petit Grains
Analysis: 17.7% alc/vol | TA: 4.15 g/L | pH: 3.6
Critical Acclaim: 94 pts Halliday Wine Companion, 92 pts Wine Enthusiast, 91 pts Vinous, 90 pts Wine Spectator

 
Chambers Rosewood Winery

ABOUT THE WINERY:
Since establishment in 1858 in Victoria’s famed Rutherglen region in Australia, winemaking duties at Chambers Rosewood have been handed down from father to son through six generations. Recognized the world over for their complexity, intensity and balance, these Muscats and Muscadelles are a national relic; wines expertly crafted from unctuous material that has matured in the family cellars for more than a century.

Stephen Chambers

Stephen Chambers

WINEMAKING:
In the warm fall climate the grapes ripen and shrivel on the vines producing natural sugar levels in the range of 30-36 degrees Brix. The raisined grapes are then picked, crushed, and this intensely sweet grape juice is fortified with neutral grape spirit. A wood aging program then follows loosely resembling a solar system, lasting, in some cases, for over 100 years.

“This 120-acre estate, now helmed by Stephen Chambers, is one of the most consistent producers of top-class fortified sweet wines in the world.”
Josh Raynolds, Vinous (2016)

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May Sweet Club: Iowa

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Tropical Passion Fruit MoscatoSweet Wine ClubTropical Moscato
Passion Fruit
Italy

The grapes were cultivated via the classic Guyot method and state-of-the-art technology is employed during the winemaking process. After pressing, the must undergoes a short fermentation, is rapidly chilled to a temperature just above freezing to stop the yeast activity and racked off the sediment. Just prior to bottling, the secondary fermentation takes place and the tropical fruit is added and blended.  This winemaking process results in a fresh, bright and aromatic Moscato.

The Tropical Moscato is straw yellow in color. It is bright and refreshing with fine structure. The aromas of tropical fruit follow through to the palate for a harmonious finish. In every bottle of Tropical Passion Fruit Moscato, there are two whole passion fruits inside.  This wine is delightful as an aperitif or at the end of the meal, with fruit, aged cheeses and desserts. 

Appellation: Italy
Varietal: 95% Moscato, 5% Natural Tropical Pulp
Analysis: 5.5% alcohol / volume
Residual Sugar: 120g/l
Total Acidity: 5.5 g/l
Critical Acclaim: 93pts San Francisco International Wine Competition

 

Tropical Grapefruit MoscatoTropical Moscato
Grapefruit
Italy

The Moscato grapes for this wine come from vineyards located in Stefano Belbo villages, at 200 to 300 ft. above sea level.  Vinification is via autoclave, according to the Charmat Method, until it reaches 5.0% alchohol.  Next, the wine undergoes cold fermentation and aging in stainless steel vats for one month, after which time it is blended with pink grapefruit juice and natural aroma, and bottled.

This Moscato comes from a grape variety that has probably the highest level of complex aromas of any Piedmont grape.  The wine has the distinctive Moscato aroma and flavor, with added complexity from the concentrated grapefruit juice.  This wine is a perfect accompaniment to fruits, aged cheeses or hazelnut cake, or is great as an aperitif.

Appellation: Italy
Varietal: 95% Moscato, 4% fresh pink grapefruit juice, 1% natural grapefruit aroma
Analysis: 5.5% alcohol / volume
Total Acidity: 5.5 g/l