100 point fortifieds: Dow 2007 & Campbells Rare Rutherglen Muscat Merchant Prince

The Wine Spectator has recently awarded 100 points to 2 fortified wines that couldn’t be more different:  Dow 2007 vintage port (a personal favourite from this elegant vintage – see here) and the non-vintage, solera-aged Campbells Rare Rutherglen Muscat Merchant Prince  – apparently the first Australian wine to get the perfect score from The Wine Spectator.

I’m really pleased to see the Campbells get such a great rating and looking forward to tasting it at the upcoming Big Fortified Tasting (trade only).  Though Aussie fortifieds tend to get overlooked, they secured some great press coverage following last year’s Landmark tasting in Australia (Jamie Goode memorably described being “profoundly moved” by the 1928 Morris Muscat which he found “one of the most incredibly complex and profound wines I’ve ever been lucky enough to taste”).  Last year’s Western Australia travels/judging confirmed the strength of the category for Swan Valley (especially Talijancich and John Kosovich – see here), so I can’t wait for the fortified class at this year’s Landmark tasting, which is being co-presented by Colin Campbell no less.