Tahbilk Marsanne 2019

Tahbilk Marsanne 2019

  16:30    Stu.

---

By their own admission, Tahbilk - in Victoria's Nagambie Lakes - has the world's largest single holding of Marsanne, including plantings dating back to 1927. 

Opens with a nigh musky, husky accent over softer florals and stonefruit. Delicate palate, subtle textural roundness that calming envelopes the palate. 

A gentle phenolic rub that casts a fine shadow across the palate, conveying citrus tinged with tropical fruit hints. Not quite packing the depth and intensity that it can - at this early juncture - it has the pedigree to age well. 90 

Tasted on: Tuesday 3rd March
Source: Retail
Price: $12.99
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.tahbilk.com.au/

Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

Read More

Tahbilk Marsanne 2013

Tahbilk Marsanne 2013

  12:41    Stu.

---

Opened this pair with 'Summer Pasta' (creme fraiche, garlic and lemon zest sauce; zucchini, yellow squash and some frozen peas) as I thought so many of the flavours and aromas would be complimentary. Winner.

Suggestions of honey and honeydew melon, florals and citrus zest. Fresh, fragrant and fulfilling. Price listed here is the full-tote price, get yourself signed up to the mailing list and avail of excellent discounts.

Entry shows a continuation of the aromatics, that freshness acting with excellent textural mouth feel and a lovely clip of acid acting as guide. It is that acid that provides a indication as to cellar-worthiness, plus also allows the wine to cut through the creamy sauce I paired it up with.

The texture just adds another level of enjoyment to the wine. Bravo. 91/92 - your choice.

Tasted on: Tuesday 26th November, a Fruit Day 
Source: Sample
Price: $ 18.80
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.tahbilk.com.au

Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

Read More

Tahbilk Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Tahbilk Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

  12:36    Stu.

---

Mint, eucalypt with a little chocolate. Mulberry taking a back seat, but making itself known. Glossy and polished, tannin firm and grainy. 

Acid too high for my liking - eroding my enamel - that said it will aid longevity if the rest of the wine can hold its end up. 

Good length, go 5-10 in the cellar. A good wine, I just found the acid a little too challenging at this early juncture. 89

Tasted on: Saturday 2nd November, Root moving to Flower Day
Source: Sample
Price: $24.80
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.tahbilk.com.au/

Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

Read More

Tahbilk Viognier 2013

Tahbilk Viognier 2013

  13:25    Stu.

---

Plantings back to 1990, first vintage in 1996 marks this 2013 example as the 18th consecutive vintage of Viognier for Tahbilk.

Initially closed, then honeysuckle, citrus blossom, a little lemon sherbet and peach. The cool Nagambie Lakes region helps avoid the 'shrill apricot' that can be inflicted on the variety. 

Possesses a delicacy, not the fat and viscous Viognier, this is clearly a well crafted example. There's a little ginger present on the palate, it's nicely spiced, a small portion of the is matured on lees, adding a little texture, spice and aiding length. 91

Tasted on: Saturday 12th October, a Fruit Day 
Source: Sample
Price: $20.50
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.tahbilk.com.au/

Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

Read More

Tahbilk Shiraz 2010

Tahbilk Shiraz 2010

  12:27    Stu.

---

Yes! All soft black fruits, hints of oak, a touch of eucalypt, but approachable - so approachable. Damson, hints of blackcurrant and all up inviting brambly fruit.

Medium bodied, juicy, soft and fleshy - a little comfort factor, like sinking into a favourite cushion, the counter-point is a touch of acid and lip warming spice.

Fruit-tinged finish. A good, not great wine. Happy days and happy drinking. 90

Tasted on: Sunday 6th October, a Flower Day 
Source: Sample
Price: $24.80
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.tahbilk.com.au/

Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

Read More

Tahbilk Eric Stevens Purbrick Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Tahbilk Eric Stevens Purbrick Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

  12:31    Stu.

---

Built for the long haul and the cellar - approachable now, but I do believe that Cabernet needs a good sleep before showing at its best.

Opens with flashes of oak, eucalypt and a dense core of black fruit: cassis, damson and their ilk. Cedary, hints of mocha and coffee oak - a good solid Cabernet core.

The palate shows spice, freshened up with good acid; tannin is drying, good and chewy - you just want to see how they'll look once softened. Finishes with a meaty twist, salumi-esque in some regards Well structured. 92

Tasted on: Wednesday 2nd October, a Fruit Day 
Source: Sample
Price: $69.50
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.tahbilk.com.au

Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

Read More

Tahbilk 1927 Vines Marsanne 2004

Tahbilk 1927 Vines Marsanne 2004

  10:17    Stu.

---

At nine years of age, this still has the spring of youth in its step. Made for the long haul, picked accordingly, and so I subsequently learned modelled on Hunter Semillon.

That aromatic freshness is there from the first ball: citrus, particularly lemon with hints of blossom, preserved lemons and wax. Delve a little deeper to reveal a little nutty, pithy, fibrous edge - fresh ginger, galangal perhaps.

Bracing acidity, fore and aft, flowing through the wine - Timothy Francis Leary would have fun with this. In my notes I wrote that it was almost Riesling-esque, a fair comment on reflection. It's not so much the honeyed, nutty Marsanne that you might be used to. But do understand this: it's an incredible wine, built for the long haul and quite remarkable to be offered to market at just shy of a decade old.

Finishing fine and long, you'd have to be a bit of an acid head to appreciate it now, but at nine years old it is a mere pup. 95 

Tasted on: Thursday 26th September, a Flower Day 
Source: Sample
Price: $46.95
Alcohol: 11%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.tahbilk.com.au/

Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

Read More

Tahbilk Eric Stevens Purbrick Shiraz 2008

Tahbilk Eric Stevens Purbrick Shiraz 2008

  10:06    Stu.

---

Tahbilk wines carrying the Eric Stevens Purbrick are made to reflect the best of vintage, only being made when a particular parcel of fruit stands out.

Fairly big-ish feel on opening, though I'd suggest it's more medium bodied. Charry and a touch meaty on opening, though once the perfume kicks in, more elegant notes present: a touch of vanilla oak, mint and black fruit.

Yes, medium bodied. Feels pretty fresh still at five years old - plenty of black fruit offered up; tannin fine and persistent. Not really one for now, don't get me wrong, it drinks well but I feel it will be better in the long run. 92+

Tasted on: Sunday 22nd September, a Fruit Day
Source: Sample
Price: $69.95
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.tahbilk.com.au/

Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

Read More

Tahbilk Old Vines Cabernet Shiraz 2010

Tahbilk Old Vines Cabernet Shiraz 2010

  21:25    Stu.

---

Old Vine it says, with an average vine age of 34 years, I guess that makes me above average.

To the wine: creamy fresh oak sits front and square of rich dense fruit. Has an almost freshly lacquered presentation to it. Minty and dark fruited.

Cassis abounds, fairly concentrated. Tannin is fine, mingling with a complex mix of toasty notes and nicely presented acid that punctuates the palate. Freshens things up, provides a nice liveliness to the wine. But I kept getting drawn back to the fruit, very good fruit quality here, with sensible oak in support. 92

Tasted on: Wednesday 11th September, a Leaf Day 
Source: Sample
Price: $46.95
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.tahbilk.com.au/

Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

Read More