News

JAMES HALLIDAY'S TOP 100 WINES OF 2011

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:22:47 GMT

The wait is over for 2011, and James Halliday’s much awaited annual Top 100 Australian Wines has been released.

Our Marsanne gets a guernsey (yet again!) in the Under $20.00 Whites and the latest 2006 vintage ‘1860 Vines’ Shiraz is considered by James to be “one of the best ever made” in his Over $20.00 Reds.
Note: Tahbilk 2006 'Eric Stevens Purbrick' Cabernet Sauvignon, with a 96 Points score from James, and Tahbilk 2002 '1927 Vines' Marsanne also scoring 96 Points, were listed amongst the 'Most Unlucky Misses' not to make the Top 100, in the Over $20.00 Reds and Over $20.00 Whites Categories respectively.

Tahbilk Marsanne 2011
93 points
Comes as part of a long and distinguished series of wines, the screwcap guaranteeing the development of honeyed, toasty flavours and aromas over the coming decade. Pale green-straw; at the start of a long life, already expressive and juicy, with a mix of lime and honeysuckle on the impressively long palate; has the acidity for long ageing.
Drink to 2021 with Quiche Lorraine

Tahbilk ‘1860 Vines’ Shiraz 2006
97 points
Exceptionally bright, clear crimson with no hint of colour change; this one of the best 1860s Vines ever made. It has effortless power that invests the palate with extreme length, the red and black cherry fruit responsible for all the aroma and flavour, oak merely a vehicle, the tannins superfine. The number of vines killed by frost in 2007 is a tragedy of monumental proportions.
Drink to 2030 with Braised Oxtail

LANGTON'S CLASSIFICATION OF AUSTRALIAN WINE - EXCELLENT TO OUTSTANDING!

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 02:53:40 GMT

As our 150th Anniversary celebrations drew to a close in 2010, Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine V, Australia’s definitive review of quality wines, was released.
Tahbilk’s 1860 Vines Shiraz was listed in the Outstanding category in this Classification, a move up from Excellent, achieved in Langton's 2005 edition.

Langton’s Classification was first released in 1990 and was created to build confidence in what was then a fledgling Australian secondary (auction) wine market and is arguably the most well known wine classification outside Europe. A listing in one of the four rankings - Exceptional, Outstanding, Excellent and Distinguished – is based on auction prices, track record and volume of demand with the criteria used being totally objective and market-driven.

Produced from some of the world’s oldest Shiraz vines, our iconic ‘1860 Vines’ releases are hand-tended, crafted and matured in our historic cellars, with the wine aged in French oak for a number of years before its release – an indication of the respect and care that wine of this quality demands.

The Langton’s Classification review adds to the ever growing library of plaudits given to the exceptional wines produced from our historic vines; just a few months ago, the 1860 Vines Shiraz scored an impressive 95 out of a possible 100 in The Wine Advocate, one of the US’s leading wine publications.

"The category improvement of our 1860 Vines Shiraz is a great result, and reflective of the presence it holds on the secondary market. This wine is our premium marque; its elegance, intensity and complexity on the palate reflect the depth of flavour that can be achieved from vines planted 150 years ago. These vines are a living treasure, and a single vineyard release from vines of this age is a rare feat in the wine world, and one of which we are immensely proud." Alister Purbrick, CEO and chief winemaker

JAMES HALLIDAY RATES TAHBILK!

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 02:50:04 GMT

2012 AUSTRALIAN WINE COMPANION

Keenly anticipated by winemakers, faithful collectors and wine lovers alike, the Australian Wine Companion from highly respected wine critic and vigneron, James Halliday, is the No.1 bestselling guide to wineries and wine in Australia.

The 2012 Edition has just been released and I can humbly report that Tahbilk has maintained its top Red 5 Star Winery rating as having a long track record of excellence and be “truly (one of) the best of the best.”
“A winery steeped in tradition (with National Trust classification), which should be visited at least once by every wine-conscious Australian."
James Halliday

Two standout wines reviewed by Halliday in his latest 'Companion' were:

Tahbilk 2005 ‘1860 Vines’ Shiraz
“Strong colour; dark berry fruits, spice and licorice; different flavour register; tannins persistent but will soften before the fruit.”
Rating 94/100

Tahbilk 2005 ‘Eric Stevens Purbrick’ Shiraz
“Red-purple, clear and bright; dark fruits/blackberry/ licorice/tar aromas and flavours, oak playing a minimal role; excellent balance and length; years to go."
Rating 94/100

Both wines were current vintages at the time of putting the 2012 edition together - do contact us at the Winery (1300 824 245) for availability.

Look for a copy of the James Halliday 2012 Australian Wine Companion at all good book stores or visit www.winecompanion.com.au.

TAHBILK 2007 MARSANNE IN THE UK

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 03:12:13 GMT

Alister's recent overseas trip, waving the flag for Tahbilk and Australia's First Family of Wine (see affw.com.au for details on Tahbilk's involvement with other family owned Australian wineries), took him, amongst other places, to the Waitrose Cookery School in London where he presented the Tahbilk 2007 Marsanne to a keen UK audience.

(Limited stocks of the Tahbilk 2007 Marsanne are still available - see WINES & ORDERS - Tahbilk Wine Club Web Specials, should you wish to order)

TAHBILK HAS A LEGEND!

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 03:10:05 GMT

In March 2011, the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival inducted my son Alister into their Legends program – of course I already knew he was one!

Launched in 1993, The Legends of Melbourne Food and Wine pays tribute to the leaders, groundbreakers and visionaries of Victoria's food and wine industry.

“A Melbourne Food and Wine Legend is someone who is not satisfied with just meeting market expectations and running a successful wine, food or restaurant business. Rather, they are driven by a passion to strive for groundbreaking perfection whether it is creating an artisan cheese or world-beating restaurant, blazing a wine trail, or shaping the next generation of food professionals.” MELBOURNE FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL

Alister was humbled to be included alongside the likes of James Halliday, Gilbert Lau, Stephanie Alexander, Elisabeth Chong and Jacques Reymond amongst many others.

“The Melbourne Food & Wine Festival is now recognised as one of the world’s leading festivals of its kind and to be considered as a legend by the Festival’s panel is a great honour. …… this wonderful achievement is a testament to the hard work and commitment of many people, including five generations of Purbricks at Tahbilk.” Alister Purbrick

RESPONSIBLE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 01:47:08 GMT

Prompted by the April/May 2011 Newsletter 'Ask A Winemaker', a number of Members wrote to us requesting that we list the alcohols of each wine available through the Wine Club, in the Newsletter and online.

Of course the alcohol content is detailed on our labels, but that doesn’t help you when you’re considering our wines before they get to you!

You will now find that reviews in your Newsletters will mention the alcohol content of each wine and this will also be reflected on our website.

The number of standard drinks per bottle is also detailed on the label but to work it out before you have the label to refer to, you can follow the formula we, and the Industry, use to calculate it.

The container volume (litres) x alcohol % x 0.789 (the specific gravity of ethyl alcohol)
(The answer is rounded out to one decimal place when reflected on the label)

Take for instance the Tahbilk 2010 Sangiovese at 14.0% alcohol, the calculation would be:
0.750 (750ml bottle) x 14 x 0.789 = 8.28 standard drinks
(which is rounded up to 8.3 on the label)

We unequivocally support the responsible consumption of alcohol and the use of the standard drink to assist in monitoring consumption and exercising control over the amount you drink.
So, I thank you for your feedback and keep it coming.
We are listening and, as always, enjoy our wines in moderation!

TAHBILK TOP 100!

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 02:52:54 GMT

We have been chosen by leading USA wine publication, Wine & Spirits Magazine, as one of the Top 100 Wineries of the Year for 2011.

Awarded by the editors of the Magazine, the Wineries of the Year are chosen based on consistently high performance and scores throughout the magazine’s comprehensive 12-month tasting cycle.

This is the fifth time Tahbilk has been awarded this honour, with the Winery also being named in the Top 100 Wineries of the Year in 1996, 2001, 2003 and 2008.

Wine & Spirits Magazine gave Tahbilk an impressive rating of 95 Points for the Tahbilk 2005 1860 Vines Shiraz and 93 Points for the Tahbilk 2005 ‘Eric Stevens Purbrick’ Shiraz.

We also featured in the "Best Buys" section of the magazine; with the Tahbilk 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon awarded 89 Points and the Tahbilk 2009 Marsanne earning 88 Points – both are current vintages in the USA market and also available under Web Specials

To honour the Wineries of the Year, and to share appreciation of their wines with both the trade and public, the eighth Annual Wine & Spirits Top 100 Tasting was held at City View at the San Francisco Metre on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 - deemed "the best wine-tasting event in San Francisco all year" by wine writer W. Blake Gray.

“We are very honoured to be recognised again as an International Winery of the Year by the influential Wine and Spirits Magazine in the US. For Tahbilk to receive this accolade, which recognises consistent high performance, for a fifth time is very rewarding, and a great compliment to our winemaking and vineyard teams.” Alister Purbrick Chief Winemaker, CEO & Tahbilk fourth generation owner.