Galway Pipe 20-year-Old Rare Muscat

The old Galway Pipe Tawny Port was a standard, go-to fortified for many wine lovers in past years and it is terrific to see it back, albeit in a slightly different guise, as an aged Muscat, as part of an expanded range. From Barossa material, with a Rutherglen contribution, it is a tribute to the former Governor of South Australia, Sir Henry Lionel Galway, who was in office during WWI. One of those wonderful fortifieds that one cannot look at without feeling sticky fingers. A dark teak colour with a burnt orange rim, this is all toffee and treacle with rich glacéd figs, raisins, plum pudding and ginger, nuts, dark chocolate and orange rind notes. seriously intense throughout with an extremely long palate, it is inevitably sweet, but clean and offers a fine, non-cloying conclusion. The contribution from aged material here cannot be underestimated. This is decadence in a bottle. Drink it anytime you feel like spoiling yourself.