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NEWS
AN ABUNDANCE OF ACCOLADES! - 2008/11/13
When is too many accolades for our wines enough?
The answer is of course, never!! Try these recent results on for size.
Double trophy win for Tahbilk 2004 Marsanne at this year’s Alternative Varieties Show – our second double trophy win at this Show with 1997 Marsanne doing the double act in 2003.
The 2004 Marsanne was awarded the Trophy for "Best Commercial Volume" as well as "Best White Wine", and this was on the back of a Gold Medal performance at both the Sydney & Brisbane 2008 Wine Shows!
That’s 3 Trophies for this release now with it also getting a gong at the 2006 Melbourne Wine Show. (See WINES & ORDERS Tahbilk Dry Whites to order - also available in the 'Marsanne Vertical 6 Pack' & 'Take Two' Offers WINES & ORDERS Wine Club Special Offers).
Other great results saw Tahbilk 2008 Roussanne receive the Trophy for "Best Alternative Variety" at the 2008 Victorian Wines Show which followed on from a Gold Medal at the Rutherglen Show. (See WINES & ORDERS Tahbilk Dry Whites to order - also available in the 'Cellar Door Whites' Offer WINES & ORDERS Wine Club Special Offers)
Rutherglen also saw the not yet released 2000 '1927 Vines' Marsanne awarded the 'Best Australian Dry White Other Varieties' Trophy and Gold for Tahbilk 2008 Riesling. (2008 Riesling is available as a pre-release special in the 'Riesling Vertical 6 Pack', 'Take Two' & 2008 Whites' Offers - see WINES & ORDERS Wine Club Special Offers. There has been no official release date set for 2000 '1927 Vines' Marsanne but expect around mid 2009.)
Then the soon to be released Tahbilk 2008 Marsanne was given the nod by James Halliday in his annual "Top 100" List – the third year in a row now that our Marsanne has been included in this highly regarded listing. (Also available as a pre-release special in the 'Marsanne Vertical 6 Pack', 'Take Two' & '2008 Whites' Offers - WINES & ORDERS Wine Club Special Offers)
STILL LOOKING GOOD AFTER ALL THESE YEARS - 2008/09/29
With the release of our latest vintage reds - 2005 Shiraz & Cabernet Sauvignon and 2003 '1860 Vines' Shiraz, 2003 'Eric Stevens Purbrick' Shiraz & 2003 'Eric Stevens Purbrick' Cabernet Sauvignon (see WINES & ORDERS - Tahbilk Reds) I thought it appropriate to re-visit some earlier vintages with a selection of notes we receive at the Winery on a regular basis.
I look forward to the new releases being as equally impressive over time!
1971 Special Bin Shiraz
(These wines are now released under the 'Eric Stevens Purbrick' moniker and were 'Reserve' releases prior to that – my father Eric Purbrick commenced the lineage with the first 'Special Bin' in 1952)
"A friend of ours recently opened a bottle of your Bin 57 1971 Shiraz that we had inherited and forgotten about, and to our great pleasure found it was in very good condition, quite mellow and oh so drinkable. Thank you for the good quality of wine that you produce" Warren Lechte
1971 Shiraz
"I have just drunk a ’71 Shiraz that I have cellared since release and it was superb. Great condition .... breathed it for up to an hour before and enjoyed it through the meal. The clarity was stunning for a wine of this age, quite brilliant, although clouded up a bit towards the end. Colour deep brick red, nor browning, quite glowing. Bouquet was earthy, very ‘aged shiraz’. Mouth feel soft and still some tannin, lovely complex taste. Thanks." Bob Loader
1978 Cabernet Sauvignon
"We have this week drunk the last bottle of 1978 Tahbilk Cabernet Sauvignon. Sound cork, no ullage at all! Decanted as some veil crust. Dark red, no fading. Excellent nose, great fruit, nice tannin grip, good memory." Ian Mackie
1987 Cabernet Sauvignon
"Coffee overtones as well as mint .... it had a pretty good crust on one side, so it’s good that I let it settle for a few days prior to opening. Fruit is very laid back and suggests dried flowers but still some fresh black currant and mint, which is what I’d expect from a 21 year old wine.... a particuallry willing compliment to dinner." John Anderson
HIGH PRAISE FROM JAMES HALLIDAY! - 2008/08/08
Following publication of the definitive Australian wine guide, James Halliday’s 2009 Wine Companion, we can proudly announce that Tahbilk has been rated as a five star winery, being recognised as an "outstanding winery regularly producing wines of exemplary quality and typicity."
Heading up the accolades with 96 POINTS and 5 GLASSES are our Eric Stevens Purbrick Shiraz 2002 and the Eric Stevens Purbrick Cabernet Sauvignon 2002.
2002 was the first year these premium wines were released under the Eric Stevens Purbrick label and their quality has clearly shone through given these great results.
Two other wines, the Tahbilk 1927 Vines Marsanne 1999 and the 1860 Vines Shiraz 2002 were both awarded 95 POINTS and 5 GLASSES, also achieving the top glass rating available.
Also receiving impressive scores were the Marsanne 2007, Riesling 2007, Shiraz 2004, Viognier 2007 and Cabernet Sauvignon 2004.
Alister Purbrick said, "We have the greatest respect for James Halliday and his annual Wine Companion. For so many of Tahbilk’s wines to receive such impressive ratings, as well as a five star rating for the winery, is a great result and testament to the hard work and commitment of the Tahbilk team. It is also very satisfying to receive these accolades as we approach Tahbilk’s 150th anniversary and our challenge is to continue to raise the bar and improve the pedigree in the coming years."
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
1860 VINES SHIRAZ 2002
95 POINTS – 5 GLASSES
"A light but youthful colour with no sign of browning; has very good balance and length albeit in the usual restrained style; oak and tannins provide a well-judged support role; 254 dozen from the only vineyard of this age without replaced (hence younger) vines."
ERIC STEVENS PURBRICK SHIRAZ 2002
96 POINTS – 5 GLASSES
"Bright colour; clearly superior grapes have been well-handled in the winery, giving the wine a level of sweet red and black fruits well above the norm; ripe tannins and high quality oak. Arguably the best shiraz since 1962."
ERIC STEVENS PURBRICK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2002
96 POINTS – 5 GLASSES
"Pleasant earthy/cedary aromas; springs into life on the palate, supple and smooth, yet full of life, with perfect balance and length. This really is a breakthrough for Tahbilk."
SHIRAZ 2004
90 POINTS - 4½ GLASSES
"Bright, clear, colour; fresh and lively cherry and plum fruit, soft tannins and gentle oak; a new Tahbilk face without loss of flavour."
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2004
89 POINTS – 4 GLASSES
"Firm, youthful medium-bodied palate with clear varietal fruit largely uninfluenced by new oak.."
See WINES & ORDERS - Tahbilk Reds, to order any (or all!) of the above. Please note that we have very limited stocks available of the 2002 'Eric Stevens Purbrick' Cabernet Sauvignon.
1927 VINES MARSANNE 1999
95 POINTS – 5 GLASSES
"Bright, pale straw-green; layers of flavour turn around honeysuckle fruit and lemony acidity; great length and fully deserves its show success.."
This release has regretfully sold out
MARSANNE 2007
93 POINTS - 4½ GLASSES
"Clean and fragrant; more varietal fruit and flavour than most young marsannes from France or Australia; mineral, spice and honeysuckle cohabitate on a long, crisp finish. A classic in the making."
RIESLING 2007
90 POINTS - 4½ GLASSES
"Clean and vibrant, showing lemon zest and nice texture on the finish; good value."
VIOGNIER 2007
89 POINTS – 4 GLASSES
"Well made; varietal flavour is achieved without loss of finesse, freshness and length; a delicate apricot and citrus mix with crisp acidity."
To order any of the whites see WINES & ORDERS - Tahbilk Dry Whites
REVIEWED RECENTLY! - 2007/05/28
TAHBILK 2007 MARSANNE
Silver Medal Winner
"Clean, fresh and fragrant, mineral, spice and honeysuckle cohabit, leading into a long, crisp finish. No hint of smoke taint or phenolics.
Drink Now-2020 with smoked eel"
James Halliday’s Top 100
That’s consecutive Top 100 placings, following on from the same accolade for the currently available 2006 vintage last year!
2007 Marsanne features in a number of Wine Club Special Offers – check under WINES & ORDERS – and is also available by the bottle or case - see WINES & ORDERS Tahbilk Dry Whites. ($12.95 per bottle – less 10% for Wine Club Members & 20% for Wine Club PLUS Members.)
TAHBILK 2006 MARSANNE
Trophy, Gold & Silver Medal Winner
"The '06 is fragrant & delicate with floral fruit salady aromas; it tastes dry and grapey with lively acidity. It’s a perennial bargain."
Ralph Kyte-Powell - The Age Epicure
"Light straw-green, with aromas of honey, melon & spice, this wine has a long harmonious palate, with a gold-plated guarantee to develop honeysuckle and gentle toast as it ages over the next 10 plus years"
James Halliday’s Top 100
"A particularly good vintage for this old favourite, the 06 Tahbilk is wonderfully citrusy and tingly on the tongue, but there seems to be an extra dimension to the honeysuckle perfume.
Great value."
Max Allen – Gourmet Traveller
"When young the nose and palate exhibit completely un-oaked, simple and fresh aromas of lemon, honey and peach.
With about five years of bottle age though, these develop into the very distinctive honeysuckle fragrance traditionally associated with mature Marsanne.
Even at ten years of age, the wine remains remarkably fresh and crisp.
Tahbilk’s Marsanne is a regional, and probably national, benchmark white wine."
1001 Wines You Must Try Before You Die
2006 Marsanne is still available by the bottle or case - call us at the Winery – 1300 TAHBILK
($12.95 per bottle – less 10% for Club Members)
The same publication listed 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 & 2004 as "Other Great Marsanne Vintages."
With the exception of 1996, each of these vintages is also still available by the bottle or case.
Call 1300 TAHBILK for their respective prices.
TAHBILK 2005 MARSANNE
Trophy, Gold & Silver Medal Winner
It wasn’t only on the Australian Wine Show circuit that this release impressed last year (3 Gold, 2 Silver & 5 Bronze Medals awarded) but it also dazzled a number of wine scribes in the United Kingdom as well!
"Marsanne, one of the three leading Rhone white grapes, has been grown at Tahbilk continuously since 1927 and thrives in the unique, lake-cooled micro-climate and red, iron-rich soil.
See for yourself with the unusual and unexpected sweet summery spice of this tasty, green apple and greengage-layered white."
Jane MacQuitty TOP 100 SUMMER WINES – THE TIMES (London)
"Recommended"
Oz Clarke’s Wine Buying Guide 2008
"The 2005 Marsanne has now benefited from a couple of years in the bottle and the wine is pale gold and has an attractively wide range of aromas and flavours – ripe apricots and peaches, ripe apples, something slightly floral, maybe honeysuckle, and just a little bit of honey.
The honey tends to get more pronounced as the wine ages, and this Marsanne does age particularly well.
All this before you even taste the wine! The flavours in the mouth are equally attractive but there’s more citrus and quite notable acidity, giving refreshment despite the full body and 13.5% alcohol. It’s particularly tangy at the end, with a hint of clementine as well as lemon on the finish.
A very good example of a variety far from its roots but truly at home."
Julia Harding MW – Jancis Robinson’s Website
2005 Marsanne can still be purchased at the Winery – call 1300 TAHBILK.
($13.95 per bottle, less 10% for Wine Club Members)
TAHBILK 2003 MARSANNE
Trophy, Gold & Silver Medal Winner
"Think Marsanne in an Aussie context, and consistently the finest producer is Tahbilk.
The '03 has all the wonderful aged complexities that come with this variety, namely honeysuckle and toasty notes, but matched alongside delicious mouth-watering minerality and zingy refreshing lemony notes. Just sings in the mouth."
Jane Faulkner – The Age
"The biggest highlights of the 2007 Alternative Varieties Wine Show were the winners of the trophies for best white and red: the enormously satisfying, complex, toasty 2003 Tahbilk Marsanne and the fabulous deep and savoury 2002 Pizzini Nebbiolo.
These are, simply, great Australian wines."
Max Allen – The Australian
2003 Marsanne is available individually from the Winery – call 1300 TAHBILK.
($14.95 per bottle. Less 10% for Club Members)
TAHBILK 2002 SHIRAZ
"Tahbilk have been around for a while now and always have made wines with structure and longevity.
This is another classic Tahbilk showing its class and sophistication. Deep red/purple in colour, lifted blackberries and plums with cedar oak adding complexity.
It’s full-bodied with a smooth texture then it finishes with classic firm tannins. An excellent frame and impressive backbone. It’s just starting to drink beautifully. The drying tannins love rich food with loads of protein."
Wine Orbit – New Zealand
We still have stocks of 2002 Shiraz available - call us at the Winery – 1300 TAHBILK.
($18.00 per bottle, less 10% for Wine Club Members)
TAHBILK 2003 SHIRAZ
Silver Medal Winner
"I’ve been drinking some older examples of this central Victorian Shiraz of late …… had one with an ’86 vintage; another with a ’92.
What struck me was the pedigree line in all the wines.
Tahbilk Shiraz’s blackberry and pepper flavours shine through; there’s a nice line of rusticity, too. Grown-up wine"
Ben Canaider – delicious
We still have the 2003 vintage available – call us at the Winery 03-57942555 ($17.95 per bottle, less 10% for Tahbilk Wine Club Members).
You can pick up the 1992 vintage in the "Tahbilk Shiraz Past & Present" offer (See WINES & ORDERS - Wine Club Special Offers, above)
And the ’86?
Contact our Cellar Door Manager – Geoff Hamence (03-5794 2555) – and twist his arm!
TAHBILK 2003 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
"This is tradition in a glass. It opens with aromas of blackberries, plum jam, mint, a whiff of aniseed and some earthy notes.
The minty touch continues in the mouth but it’s not overwhelming, and a great wall of firm tannins hold it in a vice-like grip.
It’s a solidly built wine that should repay long-term cellaring.
Ageing? Yes, two to ten years
Food ideas: Racks of lamb; steak & kidney pie
4 Stars – A very good wine of real style & personality."
The Age Epicure 'Wine Style'
$17.95 per bottle - Wine Club Members less 10%
(Contact the Winery 1300 TAHBILK for availability)
TAHBILK 2002 '1860 VINES' SHIRAZ
"Living history, this iconic, understated Nagambie Lakes red comes from a block of vines planted in 1860.
It smells of raspberries, old leather, earth and gentle spice, with a touch of cherry syrup. The palate has persistent and fragrant gentle red fruit flavours, finishing with fine, soft tannins and a perfumed aftertaste."
Ralph Kyte-Powell - The Age epicure
($114.95 per bottle. Less 10% for Wine Club Members - see WINES & ORDERS Tahbilk Reds)
TAHBILK 2002 'ERIC STEVENS PURBRICK' SHIRAZ
"The wine opens with an inviting nose of spice, chocolate, blackberries, mint and aniseed. The palate is a complex mix of concentrated Shiraz and integrated French oak, ably supported by lean, sinewy, drying tannins.
If you’re looking for a special bottle for dinner, or a wine gift, or one to cellar gracefully for another 10 to 15 years, this is the wine."
Martin Field - E-VINE
"In its style, this is a great wine. It’s savoury and earthy and just a little eucalypty, the body of it not at all busty – this is lithe, firm, sexless (in a non-gender specific way) but sexy.
There’s good cedary oak on it, but once it’s been opened for 20 minutes or so, it (the oak) folds itself in and says goodnight.
Its tannins are mature, fruity and significant.
I’m going to have to break the budget and buy me some of this. Great wine. Drink: 2012-2024."
The Wine Front Top 101 Red Wines 2007
Best Luxury Reds
($59.95 per bottle. Less 10% for Wine Club Members Less 10% - see WINES & ORDERS Tahbilk Reds)
TAHBILK 2002 'ERIC STEVENS PURBRICK' CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Trophy, Gold & Silver Medal Winner
"Outstanding. It’s a glorious Cabernet of fineness and complexity. The first hints of bottle age character are appearing, but this is still a very fresh wine with a prodigiously long palate. Superb. Cellar for decades."
WINEWISE Magazine
"For The Cellar
Semi-mature but youthful, smooth and mellowing, this is a delectable drink. Red fruit aromas, ripe and a beautifully modulated wine that’s fruit-driven yet complex with abundant fine-grain tannins. Marvelous stuff. Now to 15+ years."
HUON HOOKE – THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
($59.95 per bottle. Less 10% for Club Members Less 10% for Wine Club Members - see WINES & ORDERS Tahbilk Reds)
TAHBILK 2001 'RESERVE' CABERNET SAUVIGNON
"After six years, leathery, earthy and reduced meat-stock old-wine complexities are starting to show, with a hint of mint. In the mouth it’s medium-bodied, very elegant and smooth, with fleshy texture, moderate alcohol (14%), fruit driven flavours and very supple tannins.
A superb red. Drink now to 15 years."
Huon Hooke The Age Good Weekend
2001 'Reserve' Cabernet Sauvignon is still available by the bottle or case.
Call us at the Winery – 1300 TAHBILK
($59.95 per bottle – less 10% for Wine Club Members)
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