G’day, Operative mates! We are looking at something SO extraordinarily unique today that it deserves a pause in your day to read up on it. This is a benchmark “sticky” as the Aussies affectionately call them, an authentic sweet wine made like no other elsewhere on the planet. What else can one expect from the land of kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, koalas, even platypi (platypuses?), for heaven’s sake! Not only is it a challenge to procure this rare wine these days, but to offer it for under $19 per half? This is a special treat for those with a sweet tooth. Heavenly “sticky” intense Muscat oozing from a split. Each sip of this is complexity in itself.

Deep amber with highlights of golden sparks and streaks that seemingly dance in the glass. Candied, fruits, ranging from fresh tropical to dried berries, flowers, nuts, spices, basically it seems as if the world is in there! Fireworks in your mouth, sublime unctuousness with ethereal lift, syrupy while weightless. This perplexing beverage is seemingly stuck in a constant state of loop, but on a random shuffle of aromatics, it just does not seem to quit at all, so we can practically declare it finish-less. Sip it before or after dinner, pour it on ice cream, enjoy it alongside fruit, roasted nuts, cheese platters, sky is the limit.

How was this made? Well, nothing conventional here, because it’s a true labor of love. It all starts with the right grape, a rarely seen red clone of the noble Muscat a Petits Grains. Extended hangtime way past beyond a reasonable harvest window assures extremely ripe grapes required for this style. Once harvested, pressed and slowly fermented, the wine is then fortified with fine brandy. What may sound like a destination is only the beginning of this elixir’s long journey. It is then put into large old barrels for at least 10 years through a ‘solera’ style fractional blending with wines dating back to the establishment of the cellars in the 1920s! This is history in a bottle, to be respected and savored.

Here’s what the wine press has to say:

97 Points, Robert Parker - Since this is a solera-style offering, it has multiple tasting notes in the Wine Advocate, so here’s a compilation; “R. L. Buller & Son was started in 1921 by the grandfather of Andrew Buller, the current winemaker. The winery remains one of the quality leaders in the production of sweet wines from the warm terroir of Rutherglen. Moreover, the wines cannot be duplicated anywhere else in the world… This blend represents the newest bottled offerings from this Rutherglen producer, an area that produces spectacular fortifieds, especially the Muscats and Tokays (actually Muscadelle). Its freshness, good acidity, soaring aromatics, and unctuous flavors must be tasted to be believed… The NV Fine Muscat offers the most complexity of this hedonistic trio. Dark amber-colored, it delivers flavors of toffee, caramel, brown sugar, and dates. All three are well balanced and have long, pure finishes. They are extraordinary values… This wine is nearly flawless. Fabulously perfumed as well as unctuously textured, it offers incredible notes of prunes, raisins, honey, molasses, roasted nuts, etc., etc. Australia continues to be a treasure trove for fortified, after-dinner wines. This is one of the top wine discoveries of this year’s tastings. Many consumers are going to be overjoyed with this offering… For the price, it’s a steal! These Australian treasures are fabulous to drink at the end of a meal. Once bottled, they do not change, and often age up to a decade where well stored. Moreover, once opened, they will hold for several weeks, sometimes longer.”