Massandra, 1944 Rose Port
Gurzuf Ros Muscat, Sothebys Massandra Collection
Fortified Sweet Wine
Bottle size: 75cl
ABV: 20%
Price:
£495.00
Description
This extraordinary 1944 Gurzuf Rosé Muscat from the Massandra Collection is a rare fortified dessert wine from Crimea, released as part of the world-famous Sotheby’s Massandra auctions. Produced during the final year of the Second World War, this bottle carries not only immense historic value but also the hallmark richness and longevity for which Massandra’s sweet wines are celebrated.
Tasting Notes
Amber-rose in colour with a bright, mahogany edge, the wine offers a captivating bouquet of dried apricots, candied orange peel, honey, and rose petals, underpinned by notes of caramel, spice, and tea leaf. The palate is lusciously sweet yet balanced, with Muscat’s trademark floral intensity layered over dried fruit, figs, and toffee. A persistent, warming finish lingers with notes of spice and herbs, demonstrating the astonishing longevity of Massandra’s cellar treasures.
Serving and Food Pairing
Best served lightly chilled (12–14°C) in small dessert wine glasses. Ideal as a collector’s piece to taste in special company, though it can also be paired with crème brûlée, baklava, dried fruit pastries, or simply enjoyed on its own as a contemplative digestif.
Winemaking
The Gurzuf Muscat vineyards, situated on the Crimean coast near Yalta, are famed for their unique terroir of limestone soils and maritime breezes. The 1944 Rosé Muscat was made from hand-harvested Muscat grapes, fortified to preserve natural sweetness, and matured in oak casks in Massandra’s cool underground cellars. Bottles were later released in the Sotheby’s auctions that dispersed part of the legendary Massandra Collection, which had been safeguarded through Imperial, Soviet, and modern eras.
The Massandra Collection is one of the greatest historical wine libraries in the world, containing vintages dating back to the early 19th century. Sotheby’s London auctions brought these treasures to international attention, with bottles such as this representing both vinous heritage and collectible rarity.
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How to store your Wine
This wine is already a remarkable 80+ years old and should be cellared with care: lying flat, in a cool, dark, stable environment (10–14°C). Many collectors now value these bottles as much for their provenance and historical significance as for their drinkability.
Condition
Good condition
