We were excited and proud to present two dramatically different, but equally thrilling Australian producers at this years' Australia Day Tasting, the largest annual trade tasting of Australian wine outside Australia.
The Pioneers
We were lucky enought to have Matt Herde fly in from Australia to represent Tahbilk, one of the very first founding families in Australia. They are undoubted masters of Marsanne, and promoters of single variety long lived wines. Established in 1860, Tahbilk has a rich 150 year heritage with the most beautiful and historic family owned winery in Australia, located in the Nagambie Lakes. More recently, the winery has been honoured the title of Australia winery of the year in 2016, after 150 vintages of classic wines.
Highlights from the tasting include:
2010 Museum Release Marsanne, Tahbilk, Victoria, Australia
"Gleaming green-gold; just a lovely wine, with the best bits of youth and incipient maturity to its mix of honeysuckle and perfectly balanced citrussy acidity."
Armit Wines
2006 ESP Cabernet Tahbilk, Victoria, Australia
"Very deep garnet-black colored, the 2006 Eric Stevens Purbrick Cabernet Sauvignon offers pronounced aromas of creme de cassis, dark chocolate, kirsch and soy over notes of coffee grounds, anise, black olives and cigar boxes. Medium full bodied, the palate is nicely balanced with a very good concentration of savory fruit, medium-high acid and a high level of chewy tannins. The finish is long with layers of earth and spice flavors. Drinking well now, it should continue to cellar to 2020+."
93 Points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2006 ESP Shiraz Tahbilk, Victoria, Australia
"Deep garnet colored with a hint of purple in the rim, the 2006 Eric Stevens Purbrick Shiraz presents fragrant evolving fruit aromas of dried mulberries, figs and blackberry compote over baking spices, menthol and aniseed. There's plenty of mouth-filling berry fruit on the palate supported by firm, chewy tannins and crisp acid, finishing long and spicy. Drink this one now to 2019+."
92 Points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The Young Guns
Dowie Doole, is a premium, boutique wine producer in the stunning region of McLaren Vale, South Australia. The brand was established in 1995 by founders and renowned McLaren Vale grape growers Drew Dowie and Norm Doole and is now run by a passionate group of wine lovers including Dowie Doole's Chief Winemaker & Managing Director - Chris Thomas. The team are committed to producing unique, regional wines that uphold a sense of place.
Dowie Doole has again been recognised as a 5 star winery by James Halliday in the 2018 edition of his annual Wine Companion with 15 wines scoring over 90 points.
The 2014 Reserve Shiraz scored an exceptional 97 points and was awarded a ‘Special Value’ for money rating and listed in Halliday’s ‘BEST of the BEST’ Shiraz wines. Their highest scoring wine to date has been quite an achievement for Winemaker Chris Thomas.“Precision and brilliance, an edgy character that simply illuminates the fruit, and leaves the mouth thirsting for more. Grace and power.”
James Halliday
The 2015 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon has also received a phenomenal rating of 96 points and was also awarded Halliday’s ‘Special Value’ rating as it represents excellent value for money. The word “perfect” was stated not once, but twice in Mr Halliday’s favourable review…“This is a near-perfect, elegant DOWIE DOOLE cabernet, the answer to the paradox - the estate Tintookie Vineyard in Blewitt Springs. The balance of the fruit, oak and tannin is perfect, as is the contrast of cassis and black olive”.
James Halliday
Explore our full range of Australian wines from Tahbilk and Dowie Doole here.
Angus MacNab
Brand Ambassador & Key Accounts