"Complex stuff, from botrytis affected grapes which are oak aged to produce a dark, slightly oxidative style. Great with plum pudding, or a few chocolates after dinner. I've also served it poured over caramel ice cream... delicious!"
Shelflife Magazine (Ireland), December 2006

91 points
“A small coterie of wines stepped into the luxury circle. Among them is the De Bortoli Old Boys 21 Years Old Tawny from Australia, with ultra smooth roasted nuts and pekoe flavours. Ports are one of Australia's best kept secrets.”
Gord Stimmell, thestar.com (Canada), 15 March 2008

"Wonderful, nicely intense nose. Fruity balance with a very long finish."
Wine & Spirit (UK), December 2006

"This is a traditional Australian style of pudding wine from the Italian-Australian family. Sticky, nut brown, viscously rich and lusciously fortified (18 per cent), its fig and date-rich fruitiness is derived by reducing down in oak barrels like a tawny port over a period of time until the liquid concentrates into a sticky marmaladey confection."
The Independent, The 50 Best Wines, 15 December 2007

Winner: Gold Medal (Decanter World Wine Awards 2006)
"Fig, raisin, candied citrus, sweet spice and coffee. Lovely structure, toffee and spice."
Observer Food Monthly (UK), September 2006

"Maybe one year we will have more fortified wines in the UK to choose from, but until then, you can't find a better wine to exchange for a tenner than this one. Liquidised, boozy Christmas cake in a glass."
Matthew Jukes, Top 100 Australian Wines, 2006, UK

"THIS WEEKS WOW: At a tenner this must be one of the best value wines in the UK. It's a must for everyone who likes chocolate cake, outdoor spectator sports (for sipping from a hip flask) steamed puddings or ice cream. If you have a sweet tooth you'll adore it. The wine tastes like liquidised chilled toffees, nuts and raisins. And when you get a taste of it on your tongue, you'll be under its spell."
Matthew Jukes, Mail On Saturday, 11 March 2006

"These wonderful old sweet Muscat wines from Australia are an absolute treat, and the essence of Christmas. Dark brown in colour with a core of ruby, the nose is sumptuous and intense, with chocolate, raisins, figs and espresso coffee leaping from the glass, and a palate that explodes with concentrated toffee and caramel richness, a sweet core of fruit and wonderful complexity into an endless finish. What a treat with the Christmas pud, or on its own."
Tom Cannavan, www.wine-pages.com , UK, 5 December 2005

"This Australian wine has wonderful acidity with an almost Christmas cake flavour. Rich, complex, powerful and delicious."
Luxurious Dessert Wines for Christmas Sweet Courses - As Recommended by Decanter Magazine
Homes & Gardens Magazine (UK), December 2005

"Whether anyone has sufficiently strong teeth for the second bottle needed to earn the discount is debatable, but this is a great buy. Tawny, orange, tasting of molten treacle toffees and liquorice, this has clearly been aged in wood somewhere hot. A useful midwinter reminder that the sun does still shine somewhere?"
Jancis Robinson's Festive Wine Guide, Financial Times, UK, 19 November 2005