Notes:

Richly viscous in the glass, with a burnt orange-gold hue, this wine exhibits youthfully fresh, floral muscat aromas, and exotically spicy confectionary flavours on the unctuously textured palate. These rich flavours are well balanced by brisk acidity, and an attractive bitter orange twist on the clean, persistent finish.

Grape Variety: 100% Muscat de Frontignan.

The grapes were left to raisin on the vines, and were hand-selected towards the middle of March of this warm vintage. Fermentation of the sticky, concentrated must took place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, followed by 18 months of maturation in French oak. The wine was released almost 5 years after harvest.

Acclaim:

Wine Spectator March 2009
Offers lovely purity, with fresh-cut white peach and green fig aromas and flavors blazing along, while nectarine, lemon zest, honeysuckle and mineral notes extend the very long, precise finish. This has depth, length and cut. Muscat de Frontignan. Drink now through 2016. Score 94 points – JM

Jancis Robinson: 16.5 points; Drink 2009-14
Lime and lemon cordial; floral, golden syrup. Acidity is bright and refreshing, and cuts the viscosity with razor-sharp precision. Treacle and caramelised fruits on the palate. There is a metallic tingle on the finish. Good, but not as finely balanced as other vintages by comparison. 14.2% (RH)

Santam Classic Wine Trophy for Best Sweet Wine - March 2009

Stephen Tanzer (March / April 2009) Bright gold. Exotic, high-toned aromas of mango, apricot and pungent flowers, all lifted by spearmint and wild herbs. Densely packed but light on its feet, with highly complex flavors of white plum, peach and herbes de Provence Does not come off as fat owing to its energy and sappiness. A fascinating wine with a very long and subtle aftertaste. Made from shriveled but not botrytized grapes. Very expressive today but this should go on in bottle for many years. 92 points.