Tasting Notes - Muscat Barrel Project

Background
Very self-indulgent post this. Picked up a 9 litre barrel from the Barossa in December 2007 (used American oak) for the purpose of building a little muscat stash over the longer term. I know more than a handful of folks who have great results so it will be interesting so see how it turns out.

Base Material (April 2008)
100% 4 year old (2004 vintage) muscat from Liebich Wein in the Barossa. ($6.50 per litre)

Tasting Note (October 2009) Base Material
Starting to show some maturity in the colour; dark orange tending to light brown. Aromas show good concentrated sweetness, very text book muscat, and a fruity apricot edge. Flavours and palate show good balance and the structure is definately starting to thicken. Lots of sugary fruit have overtaken the almond and nuts previously evident. Considerably weightier to taste than a year ago. Quite fresh, fruit wise, but the palate might need a lift.

Tasting Note (April 2008) Base Material
Colour is a dark rusty orange, much dark than expected given the age, and almost in the realm of a young tawny. Nose is relatively subdued with muscat and apricot notes, along with some heat and spice. Does lack some freshness. Flavours are interesting and very much a tale of two halves; initially some quite intense but simple fruit sweetness (almost cordial-like) but the second half shows clear nutty / almond/ rancio notes; again not expected at 4 years of age. Hard to know how the recent impact of the oak has changed this wine. Finish is unremarkable as the nutty character tails off to leave some residual bitter fruits.