INTRODUCING MUSCATOFRUTHERGLEN 05
THERUTHERGLEN WINEREGION 11
THEMAKINGOF MUSCATOFRUTHERGLEN 15
MUSCATOFRUTHERGLEN CLASSIFICATION 21 MUSCATOF RUTHERGLENMOMENTS 25
MuscatofRutherglenisanAustralian treasure,impossibletoreplicateasit containstheessenceandartistryof multiplegenerations.Itislovingly handcraftedfromagedstocks,nurtured bygenerationsofRutherglenwinemakers intheiruniqueclimate.Theresulting winesareintense,richandsensuous.
MuscatofRutherglenisaworldrecognisedandcritically-acclaimed winestyleuniquetoRutherglen,with aproudhistoryspanningover100years offamilywinemaking.Theblending skillsrequiredtoproducethisraregem havebeenpasseddownfromgeneration togeneration,withwinemakersplying theircraftsothattheycansharetheir skillsandartistrywithMuscatlovers fromallovertheworld.
MuscatofRutherglenisaMuscatstyle likenoother;thankstotheunique combinationofclimate,grapevariety, soilsandarchitecture,butmostofall, thereservedstocksandunsurpassed blendingskills.
MadefromMuscatàPetitsGrainsRouge, MuscatofRutherglenwinesarerich, complexandintense,pairingexcellently withavarietyofsavourydishes,fullflavouredcheesesanddesserts,butthey alsostandheroicallyontheirown,over iceasanaperitiformixedincocktails. Thestrengthofthewinestyleliesinits versatilityandthemysterythatcomes withuncoveringitsessence. Thereisnootherdrinkonearththat compares.Itcapturesallthatisgood aboutAustraliawithfewwinesableto elicitaresponseuponfirsttastingquite likeMuscatofRutherglen–intense,rich, sensuousandmemorable.
MuscatofRutherglenstandsoutina crowd,proudlyofferingthosekeento tasteitadepthofflavour,textureand complexitylikenoother.Itoffersahighly sophisticatedanddiversedrinking experiencethatinmanywaysbeliesthe ruralsurroundsoftheregioninwhichit isproduced.
MuscatofRutherglenwinesaregrouped intoaladderofclassificationsthatmark aprogressioninrichness,complexity, ageandintensityofflavour.Thefour classificationsare:RutherglenMuscat, ClassicRutherglenMuscat,Grand RutherglenMuscatandRareRutherglen Muscat.Onlywinesthatmeetthe requirementsofthisclassificationsystem areawardedthemuchsought-after MuscatofRutherglenstampof authenticity.Theclassificationsexistto ensurepeoplechoosethebestMuscat tosuittheoccasion.
ThereisevenadedicatedMuscatof Rutherglenglasspersonallychosenby GeorgRiedel–10thgenerationoffamilyownedglobalglasscompanyRiedel.
MuscatofRutherglenwinesareintense, rich,sensuousandmemorable; anationaltreasurethatdeservesto beretoldinnewwaystoallwinelovers. RutherglenistheMuscatcapitalofthe world,hometotheuniqueMuscatof Rutherglenwinestyles.
Visitorscantakeajourneyalongthe region’s‘MuscatMile’tomeetthemaster blenders–tastethedifferent classificationsofMuscatandindulgein someoftheregion’srichestandrarest stocksstraightfromthebarrel.
ThehistoricRutherglenWineRegionhas leftanindeliblemarkonAustralianwine heritageandcontinuestoshapethe modernwineindustry.Theregion’s growersandwinemakersformaclose-knit communitythat’spassionateabout preservingage-oldtraditionswhile experimentingwithnewtechniquesand varietiesthatensurethisdynamicregion continuestoevolve.
THERUTHERGLEN WINEREGION
Climate
NestledinVictoria’sHighCountry,among gentlehilllinesrunningoutoftheGreat DividingRangeandtheMurrayRiver, Rutherglenat130-180m,hasaclassic Continentalclimate,withwarmdaysin theripeningperiodoccasionallyreaching hightemperaturesinsummer,andnight temperaturesmoderatedbythecoolair flowingfromthefoothillsofthenearby VictorianAlps,producingalargediurnal temperaturedifference.Theaverage meanJantemperatureis22.7°C.Itisa dryheat,resultinginfewissueswith diseaseormildewinnormalyears.
Atalatitudeof36°11’Rutherglen’s rainfallis580ml(23inch)withmost fallingattherighttimesinwinterand spring,allowingthevineyardstoretain goodsubsoilmoisturewellintothe growingperiod.
Mostimportantly,Rutherglen’sautumn islong,warmanddry.Thisallowsupto twoweeksextendedripeningovermost othergrowingregionsinthecountry. Thegrowingseason’sweatherconditions allowthegrapestofullyripennaturally, concentratingthesugarsandflavoursof theberriesandmaintainingthearomatic fruitflavourstoproducerichluscious winesandthetastesensationonly MuscatofRutherglenwinescanevoke.
Soil
SoilsvaryacrossRutherglen,though therearethreemainsoiltypes.Inthe northernbandoftheregionclosestto theMurrayRiver,vinesthriveinfine sandyloam,whichexistswheretheriver bankonceran.Thiswell-drainingsoil typicallyproducesfloralwineswithlower acidityandlesstannin.
InthemiddlebandofRutherglen, onthelowerslopesofthegentlehills, you’llfindredloamoverclay.Locally called‘RutherglenLoam’,thissoil accountsforthemajorityoftheregion.
Itisrichinmineralsandhasgood moisture-holdingability,whichis beneficialinRutherglen’swarmanddry climate.Muchofthefruitfortheregion’s famousfortifiedwinesisgrownonthis bandofloam,whichsnakesaroundthe centreofthetownandextendsfour kilometrestotheeastandwestandfive kilometrestothesouth.
Rutherglen’sthirdmajorsoiltype containsbandsofshaleandquartz. Thisisachallengingprofileforvines, producingintenselyflavouredfruit.
Geography
TheMurrayRiverandaseriesofcreeks, billabongsandlagoonssnakethrough theregion,contributingtosoilmoisture, andinfluencingweatherpatterns. Therearealsoanumberof undergroundaquifersthatcontribute tosubsoilmoisture.
VineAge
Vineagevarieswithinthedistrict, howevermostofthegrapesaregrown onvinesof20,30,50,upto90yearsof age.Thesematurevinesgrowgrapes withintensityandrichnessofflavour.
THEMAKING OFMUSCATOF RUTHERGLEN
Therearemorethan200varietiesof MuscatintheworldbutRutherglen’s wineproducersonlyusethehigh-quality MuscatàPetitsGrainsRouge(locally referredtoas‘RutherglenBrownMuscat’), renownedforitsintenseflavoursdueto thesmallerberriesprovidingmorecolour andflavour.Theclonesusedarespecific toRutherglenandhavebeengrownhere formorethan140years.
HARVEST
TheamazingcomplexityofMuscatof Rutherglenbeginsinthevineyardwhere thefruitqualityandsugarcontentofthe harvestedgrapesarevitaltothefuture blends.Asfruitforthesewinesislefton thevineforanextendedperiod,many factorscaninterveneandaffectquality.
TheRutherglenvigneronsdrawona diverserangeofvineyardsacrossthe district–takingyoung,fruitymaterial fromtenyearoldMuscatvines,or wonderfullymellowfruitfromlow yieldingvinesof40,60oreven90 yearsold,tobolstertheirblendswith Muscatofexactlytherequiredrichness foreach.TheRutherglenvigneronshave learntexactlyhowtoextractthevery bestfromtheirgrapes,pickingoneblock ofvinesearly,ormanagingtheyields ofanotherthroughtheuseofselective pruning,orleavinganotherblockof vinestomaturelongintoautumnto gainmaximumsugarandflavour. Muscatproductionisnotforthefaint hearted.Thevigneronsmustleavethe grapestoripenonthevineforaslong aspossible–riskingspoilagebyearly autumnrainsorbotrytis.However, theirrichharvestisworththewait.
Ingoodyears,thesugarinthegrapes mayreachmorethan20degreesBaumé, andinmostvintageswillbeharvested at17or18degreesBaumé–averyrich harvest.Theimportanceofclimate cannotbeunderestimated.Forexample, wetweatherintroducesmouldwith attendantrotandundesirableflavours. Incontrast,weatherwhichistoohot tooquicklycaninduceexcess evaporationleadingtodryshrivel, beforetheflavoursugaracidbalance canbedeveloped.Hotweathercan alsoburnofffloralcharacters.
Itisimportanttonote,thatRutherglen’s veryreliableclimateallowsthesugar developmentonthevine(thatis,not throughmat-dryingmethodsemployed inothersweetfortifiedstyles).Itisthe ripeningofthefruitonthevinethat providesthedepthandintensityof Muscatflavourandthefruitlusciousness forwhichRutherglenisfamous.
WINEMAKING
Fermentation
Inthewinemakingprocess,thedegree ofripeness,purityofflavour,thepoint offermentationatwhichfortifyingspirit isaddedandthequalityandpurityof thatfortifyinggrapespiritallcombine toproducethefinishedproduct.
Themuscatjuiceisfermentedonskins forashortperiodcreating1-2%alcohol beforefermentationisstoppedbythe additionoffortifyingspiritafterpressing.
Extractingthesyrupyjuicefromthe fullyripenedgrapesisapainstaking andextremelystickytask–taking patiencetopressalltherichliquid fromtheraisinedberries.
Selectionforclassification
Eachvintage,grapesarepickedin batchesaccordingtoqualityandthe resultantwinesarekeptseparateuntil theirfinalqualitycanbeassessedand adecisionmaderegardingwhich classificationtheywilljoin.
Maturationandblending
Contrarytopopularbelief,ageisonly onefactorindeterminingthecomplexity ofMuscat.Asthestagesofthe classificationincrease,thenumber ofvintagesintheblendandthespan ofagebetweentheoldestandyoungest componentwineswillbegreater. Nevertheless,thesearemerelytwo contributingfactors.
Followingfermentation,thenewwines areplacedinmatureoakcasksof varioussizes,toallowtheflavoursofthe Muscattointegrateandmature,but withouttheovertinfluenceofnewoak. Infact,thebarrelsarechosenonthe basisthattheywillnotimpartanyoak flavourstothewine–thebarrelsmerely providethemediumforslowandgentle maturation.Inotherwords,itisthe flavouroffruit,notoak,whichdrives RutherglenMuscat.Theratioofbigor smalloakcasksdependsoneach winemaker’sblendingprogram, asthesmallerthecask,thequicker theconcentrationanddevelopment ofthewines.Sizescanrangefrom 60-50,000litres.
Theplacementofbarrelscaninfluence thespeedofawine'sdevelopment,with winesfrombarrelsatthetopofastack nearerthewinery'sroofwhereitis warmer,maturingfasterthanwinefrom barrelsatthebottomnearerthecooler floorarea.
Theuniqueartformofmaturingthe MuscatofRutherglenstyle(witheach generationaddingitsownfingerprint) seessomewineriesemployamodified solerasystem–analternativeblending andageingprocesstoensure consistencyacrosstheclassifications.
ThesolerasystemseesindividualMuscat stocksgraduateinanageingprocess–fromonestagetothenext–withthe youngwineintroducedattheearliest stageandthematurewinetakenfrom thefinalstageforbottling.
Evaporation
Evaporationplaysanimportantrole inthematurationoftheMuscats. Onaveragethematuringcaskslose 3-5%oftheirvolumeperyeartothe “angels”.Over20yearstheangelsget halfofeverybarrel.Thisevaporation makestheproductionofthesewines acostlyenterprise,butwithoutthis concentrationthroughevaporation, thesewouldnotbethe‘world'srichest wines’.Overthewarmermonthstheair inthecellarsisrichwiththearomaof Muscatbeginningitsjourneyskyward. Lookup,andyouwillseethedark depositsonthewineryroofs-evidence ofmanyyearsofthegradualmigration ofthewineoutofthecasks.
Theskillofthewinemakerinmaking andblendingthesewonderfulwines hasdevelopedintoanartformthatonly generationsofexperienceandaninnate knowledgeofthequalitiesoftheir Muscatscandeliver.
MUSCATOF RUTHERGLEN CLASSIFICATION
MuscatofRutherglen ClassificationSystem
RutherglenMuscatisclassifiedusing atieredsystemthatindicatesthelevel ofcomplexityofthewine.Thefour descriptionsmarkaprogressionin richness,complexity,ageandintensity offlavour.Ageisonlyonefactorin determiningawine’sclassification, butitdoesprovideanimportantclue. EachproducerofMuscatofRutherglen hastheirown“HouseStyle”withinthe classificationsystem.
TheMoRStampofAuthenticity
TheclassifiedMuscatofRutherglen winesbearamarkofauthenticity–atrademarkthatisonlyappliedtowines madefromthegreatMuscatvineyards oftheregion,assuringthehighest qualityandadherencetoclassification.
RUTHERGLENMUSCAT
Averageage:3-5years
Thefoundationstyledisplayingfresh fruitaromas,richfruitonthepalate, andgreatlengthofflavour.
Aromas
Muscatfruit,raisin,orange marmalade,floral
Flavours
Raisin,walnut,fruitcake
CLASSICRUTHERGLENMUSCAT
Averageage:6-10years
Greaterlevelsofrichnessand complexity;exhibitingthebeginnings ofmaturewoodagedcharacters producedfromextendedmaturation inoak.
Aromas Turkishdelight,espresso
Flavours
Raisin,toffee,liquorice
GRANDRUTHERGLENMUSCAT
Averageage:11-19years
TakestheflavourofRutherglenMuscat toahigherlevelofdevelopment; displayinganewlevelofintensity, depth,andconcentrationofflavour, maturewoodagedcharacters, andacomplexitythatimpartslayers oftextureandflavour.
Aromas
Coffee,toffee,darkchocolate
Flavours
Christmasspice,roastednuts,salted caramel,molasses
RARERUTHERGLENMUSCAT
Averageage:inexcessof20years
Thepinnacleofthestyle,therichest andmostcompletewine–displaying deepcolour,intensefruitandmature oakcharacters,richviscoustexture, andextraordinarydepthofmellowed complexflavours.
Aromas
Christmasspice,coffee,chocolate,nuts
Flavours
Fruitcake,coffeebean, agedbalsamic,darkchocolate
MUSCATOF RUTHERGLEN MOMENTS
MuscatofRutherglenisarich, sophisticated,sensoryandmystical drinkingexperiencethattrulyreflects thelayersofexpertiseandtimethathas goneintotheproductionofeverydrop.
Withatastesensationthatlingerson andisnearimpossibletoreplicate, MuscatofRutherglenisoftensaidtosit betweenawineandaspirit,whichgives thestyleitsgreateststrength:versatility.
Theclassificationsystemassistsdrinkers tochoosethebestMuscatforeach occasionwhereitissuretoenhance theflavour.
Thenewgenerationarepushingthe boundarieswithMuscatofRutherglen.
Thinkthelighter RutherglenMuscat, freshandyouthfulwithasubtlerichness thatlingerswitheachsip,enjoyedasan aperitif,oniceormixitupinarefreshing cocktailwithadifference.Serveitwith canapés,driedfruitandnuts,fruitbased desserts,pannacottaandsorbet.
Enjoy ClassicRutherglenMuscat, withablendedageofsixtotenyears, withsavouryfoods–soups,spicycurries andslow-cookedmeats.Cheeseisa naturalmatchespeciallyacreamyBrie, crumblycheddarandpungentbluecheese.
Thestronger GrandRutherglenMuscat, blendedfromMuscatwinesagedin barrelsforanythingbetween11-19 years,isaperfectmatchtotheflavours ofterrineandpate,chocolateand chocolate-baseddesserts,rich butterscotchandcarameldesserts. Enjoyitwithaanystrongcheeseor, whentryingtoimpress,serveitas anAffogato.
Thepinnacle RareRutherglenMuscat, blendedfromMuscatwinesinexcessof 20yearsofageandinmanycases passeddownthroughmultiple generations,deservestobesippedand savouredaloneforpurepleasureto appreciateitsintensity.Itishistoryina glass!Perhapslingerlongerwithastrong coffeeorthefinestdarkchocolate.
AMuscatmomentcanbeanything–relaxingonthecouchsippingaglass ofRutherglenMuscat,bookinhand; sharingacheekyafterdinnerglass ofClassicRutherglenMuscatwitha partner;unwindinginthebathtub, aglassofGrandRutherglenMuscat perchedonthevanity;orsimply savouringsomeRareRutherglenMuscat forpurepleasure.
TheMuscatofRutherglenglass
TheenjoymentofMuscatofRutherglen isgreatlyenhancedbyservingitina largeglass.
TheMuscatofRutherglenproducers workedwithGeorgeRiedel-the 10thgenerationofthisfamous varietalglasswarefamily–tofind theperfectglass.
TheRiedelMuscatofRutherglenglass isgenerousallowingappreciationofthe complexitiesofthisuniquewine.
MuscatofRutherglenisanational treasurethatdeservestobeshared withnewwinedrinkers.
Carefullycraftedfromover100yearsof rarestocks,familysecretsandskills.
@winerutherglen|#themuscatmile explorerutherglen.com.au/rutherglenmuscat
