The mouthfeel is soft and balanced with well ripened dark berry fruits combined with spice and fine grainy Shiraz tannin. The oak is integrated into the wine and completes the front palate of fresh berries, chocolates and spice.

Durif is ideally suited to Rutherglen, as it is a late ripening variety, requiring a warm climate and an extended ripening period to develop its full flavour and structural potential. Durif has been grown in Rutherglen for over a century. The particular Rutherglen ’clone’ has developed an intensity and complexity of aroma, flavour and structure that is not seen in any other region of the world, justifying Durif’s recognition as Rutherglen’s icon variety.Rutherglen Estates Durif has an incredible depth of colour and flavour. Intense varietal berry and stewed cherry notes, mixed fruit spice, licorice, chocolate and cedar from elegant oak enhancement.

“Vivacious? Juicy? We expect durif to be bold, but it can also surprise. Here we see a case in point: a fragrant, supple, smooth durif with plenty left in reserve. There is power, but there is also elegance. Dark berries and plums, dried rosemary, violet, bitter chocolate, spice and a touch of amaro bitters introduce a wine that runs long, with tannins wrapped nicely around the whole.95pts, Great Value” (Jeni Port, The Halliday Wine Companion). Owned and managed by the 4th generation of the Brown family, All Saints’ National Trust–listed property, with its impressive castle tower centrepiece, is an eye catching destination for visitors. With ancient vines and some of the oldest fortified wines in the country, they specialise in Muscat, muscadelle, Shiraz, Marsanne,and fabulous Durif, as is in evidence here.

Buller and Muscat have been inseparable for almost a century, and the reason is quite evident in the bottle. Rich and luscious to the front palate and balanced with a subtle length of flavour that seems to hover for an eternity. A winner of multiple gold medals, Buller's Premium Fine Muscat is a must for any true fortified aficionado.

Iconic Rutherglen producer Stanton & Killeen produces some of Australia's if not the world's great fortified wines and it all starts here with their Rutherglen Muscat. Fresh and luscious flavours of Christmas Cake abound here.

This wine has a complex bouquet of ripe fruit with some rancio character and a full middle palate with a clean dry finish and lingering fruit flavours.

Christmas cake dark colour, with tinges of olive green at the rim. Thick and viscous in the glass. The aromas combine the impression of great age with tremendous vitality. Deep and brooding, reminiscent of curious characters such as cold tea, leather, tobacco and malt, coupled with pretty honeysuckle and barley sugar notes. Then the flavours, simultaneously almost impossibly sweet, tart and intense. It has rich malt, polished leather, bursts of raisined fruit, vibrant spice and earthy warmth. The initial sweetness gives way to mouth watering acidity and tactile graininess followed by a constantly developing finish that lasts for minutes. Almost overwhelming at first, even the tiniest sip is immensely satisfying and yet decadently moreish.