THERE’S a bit of ‘hush hush’ to this wine. It orginates from a single vineyard, within a few kilometers’ radius from the cellar outside Rawsonville, but nobody’s saying just where the block is to be found. It’s a little like gold, this red Muscat – with demand growing as word got around that the latest laureate is even better than the previous edition.

The Du Toitskloof Cellar is one of several proponents of fine dessert wines on the Breedekloof wine route, and with the 2015 vintage they’ve reaped wonderful endorsements from judges at the Michelangelo Awards, the Muskadel SA Awards, the International Wine & Spirit Competition (UK) and the Veritas Awards – three gold medals plus a double gold.

Super sweet but not cloying. Warming but no spirit burn. Lingering, somewhat thought-provoking… and it comes in a rather nice bottle. Du Toitskloof used to package the wine in 750ml but switched to 500ml just a few years ago – dark glass hiding the contents, still sealed with a cork!

Du Toitskloof Red Muscadel 2015
WO Western Cape. Muscat de Frontignan from a single vineyard: 14-year-old vines. Grapes raisiny by the time of the harvest. Fortified: fermentation stopped by the addition of wine spirit.
Alc 16.5 | RS 275 | TA 4.9 | ph 3.3
From Winemakers’ Tasting Notes: light ruby; raisin perfumes with notes of tea-leaf, honey and roses; luscious litchi and mango flavours with smooth, lingering finish.
Longevity: ready for enjoyment from date of purchase and should last for up to 50 years.
Pairing Suggestions: goes well with most cheeses and fruits as well as ice-cream and baked puddings.
R120pb (500ml) at the cellar door. R60pb for the 2016 vintage.