Chambers Rosewood Rare Muscadelle

Region and Vineyards

The Rutherglen region, located in Victoria, Australia, is celebrated as one of the world’s premier producers of fortified wines. This area boasts a continental climate, characterized by hot days and cool nights, which allows late harvesting and optimal ripeness of the grapes. This ensures the high sugar levels necessary for the production of world-class fortified wines.

The Muscadelle grape, a minor white Bordeaux variety, thrives in Rutherglen’s unique environment. Harvested late in the season, typically from mid-April to early May, the fruit is carefully selected to achieve sugar levels exceeding 16° Bé, delivering the richness and complexity essential for crafting the Rare Muscadelle.

Winemaking

The journey of Rare Muscadelle begins with late-harvested Muscadelle grapes, which are crushed, de-stemmed, and pressed. A minimal fermentation (less than 1° Bé) is conducted, preserving the primary fruit characters. The fermenting juice is fortified with neutral grape spirit, achieving an alcohol content of 17.2%, and then aged in casks ranging from 900 to 5000 liters.

The wine undergoes a meticulous aging process in a modified solera system, established in the late 19th century by WH Chambers, the third generation of the Chambers family. This solera system includes small barrels and a central 2200-liter cask, where the wine matures to achieve exceptional complexity. Each barrel is assessed individually to ensure optimal maturity and quality, with only wines of the highest standard entering the solera. Rare Muscadelle is produced only once or twice every decade, highlighting its exclusivity.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Deep, dark amber with a dense, rich hue.
• Aromas: An opulent bouquet of coffee, malt, vanilla bean, mocha, and caramelized almonds.
• Palate: Intensely concentrated with flavors of butterscotch, chocolate-covered citrus peel, raisin, and toasted almond. The sweetness is lush yet balanced, with a long and lingering finish that reveals layers of rancio complexity and freshness.

Did you know?

The Rare Muscadelle solera dates back to the 1890s, making it a living piece of winemaking history. The wine has earned accolades such as 99 points from Wine Enthusiast and a 98 rating from Halliday Wine Companion, underscoring its place among the world’s greatest fortified wines.

Wine Pairing Ideas

• Caramelized nut tart: Highlights the wine’s nutty and toffee flavors while balancing its sweetness.
• Blue cheese with honey: The saltiness of the cheese contrasts beautifully with the wine’s rich, sweet profile.
• Chocolate fondant with orange zest: Complements the wine’s citrus peel and mocha notes.
• Sticky date pudding: Enhances the caramel and butterscotch layers of the wine.

History of Chambers Rosewood

Founded by the Chambers family in 1858, Chambers Rosewood stands as a testament to Australian winemaking heritage. The winery has remained a family-run enterprise for over 160 years, with winemaking skills and traditions carefully passed down through six generations. The current custodian, Stephen Chambers, took over in 2001 from his father, Bill Chambers, one of Australia’s most respected wine figures. Bill's dedication to preserving and enhancing the winery’s fortified wine production earned him a lasting legacy as a leader in the field.

Chambers Rosewood's success is rooted in its unique approach to crafting fortified wines. The family’s cellar houses stocks of Muscat and Muscadelle that have matured for over a century, making them some of the oldest and most prestigious fortified wines in the world. These wines, blended with material aged in a modified solera system established in the 1890s, embody a blend of history, tradition, and innovation. Their Rare Muscats and Muscadelles have achieved legendary status, often earning perfect scores from international critics.

The winery’s enduring reputation is bolstered by its commitment to quality and consistency, ensuring that every bottle reflects the excellence that has defined the Chambers family for generations. The blending expertise honed over the decades allows them to craft wines with unparalleled depth, complexity, and balance, securing their position as one of Australia’s most iconic producers.

Region and Vineyards

The Rutherglen region, situated in Victoria, Australia, is synonymous with fortified wine excellence. Nestled on the floodplain of the Murray River, the region boasts deep alluvial soils rich in nutrients and with excellent moisture retention. The red loam soils, lying atop a clay base, are particularly well-suited to growing Muscat à Petits Grains Rouge and Muscadelle, the flagship varieties for Rutherglen fortified wines.

The region’s continental climate plays a pivotal role in the production of these wines. Hot summer days provide the heat necessary to develop intense sugar levels in the grapes, while the cool nights help preserve acidity, ensuring a balance between sweetness and freshness. As the season progresses into the warm autumn, the grapes naturally shrivel on the vine, further concentrating their flavors and sugars, a key characteristic of Rutherglen fortified wines.

The vineyards at Chambers Rosewood include some vines that are over a century old, planted on a single-wire trellis system. This system allows the fruit to achieve optimal ripeness while supporting the sprawling canopies necessary for protecting the grapes from excessive heat. Harvest typically occurs from early March to early May, with late-harvested fruit attaining the desired 16° Bé and higher, essential for crafting the rich, sweet wines that define Rutherglen’s signature style. The result is fruit of exceptional quality, providing the foundation for the winery’s world-renowned Muscats and Muscadelles.

Wine Range of Chambers Rosewood

• The Rutherglens: Blended from material aged 6 to 10 years, these wines are fresh and vibrant, showcasing the rich fruit and clean spirit that form the foundation of the Rutherglen style.

• The Grands: Blended from material dating back to World War I, the Grand Muscat and Grand Muscadelle exhibit extraordinary complexity, pronounced rancio notes, and a luxurious mouthfeel.

• The Rares: Crafted from material over 100 years old, these wines are the pinnacle of Chambers’ production. Featuring an olive rim and a treacle-like palate, they deliver exceptional aromatic complexity, balance, and persistence.

Did you know?

The solera system used to age Chambers’ wines was established in the 1890s, and it is believed that some of the original wine still remains in the barrels. The careful maintenance of these ancient stocks ensures that every release captures a piece of winemaking history.