THE '1860 VINES' STORY ...
As original as the Estate itself, these un-grafted, pre-phylloxera Shiraz plantings are amongst the oldest in the world.
he vines have survived Phylloxera – the vine louse that decimated Europe’s vineyards and arrived at Tahbilk in the late 1800s – as well as Mother Nature’s droughts, floods and killer frosts.
Our ‘1860 Vines’ planting was nominated by renowned USA Wine & Spirits magazine as one of the 25 Great Vineyards of the World. The vineyards selected were those where the terroir – the total environment of a place, including soil, climate, aspect, vine and even history “is most clearly perceptible in the wine.”
Wine auctioneers Langton’s recently released Classification of Australian Wine VII lists Tahbilk’s ‘1860 Vines’ Shiraz releases as ‘Outstanding’, defined as “the best of Australian winemaking practices, vineyard provenance and regional voice”. “The exquisite and increasingly rare 1860 Vines Shiraz … typically possesses violet, herb garden, blackberry and chocolate aromas, loose-knit gravelly tannin structures, and underlying roasted walnut and chestnut notes.”
Since the 1979 vintage inaugural release under Alister’s tutelage, these wines have become one of the world’s most sought after wine collectables and, more importantly, sublime drinks.
Enjoy Now to 2032+
"A worthy addition to prior vintages of this unique wine. It is only medium-bodied, but has a quiet insistence that brooks no argument, opening proceedings with the fragrant spicy/earthy/red fruits triptych of the bouquet (oak doesn't seek to dominate at any stage). The medium-bodied palate is supple, perfectly balanced and has great length. In many ways, this could be argued to be the ultimate distillation of Australian red wines made over the past 155 years."
James Halliday | www.winecompanion.com.au (Tasted August 2017)
“This is a red of the grandest traditions from Victoria’s oldest family owned winery’s ancient vines some more than 150 years old and recognised as some of the oldest in the world. Buy it for someone with a cellar, or if you open it now, decant for half a day. The all-new oak maturation impact is obvious, the tannins sticky and grippy, yet its medium weight styling (12.5 per cent alc) is amazingly bright and more.”
Tony Love | Melbourne Herald Sun
DOWNLOAD TASTING NOTE
