Recognition

Medium deep garnet to ruby rim still there. Still fresh with a core of berry fruit: black, boysen and blue. White pepper, powdered cocoa, cedar and vanilla still offering some winemaking influence. There’s a hint of development with nori sheet/beef …

Tapanappa Wrattonbully Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2015, $115. Didn’t women once wear whalebone in their corsets? Seems totally inappropriate for such a grand creature, which increases no end the credibility of this wine grown on the soil of long …

This wine has been held back for a prestigious re-release. It of course was reviewed some time ago on WineFront, with applause and praise given.

It’s in a beautiful spot. Almost a ‘pinosity’ to the wine, suppleness, medium weight, satiny …

It’s a heady mix of Merlot and Cabernet Franc (69/31%) from the cool 2015 vintage. Remnants of oak, cedar, redcurrant – all the more impressive for a wine at ten years to maintain a level of primary expression.

It was …

Although the nose shows a hint of maturity, the plum/blackberry fruit is impressively fresh. This exceptional wine is certainly an Australian Pomerol, and the powdery tannins interact seamlessly with the intense flavour.

5 stars

…

What a sheer privilege it was to taste this Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard blend 2015 alongside the new 2021 release. Brian Croser is releasing a small quantity of the 2015s and its pure class is obvious. Better still, what a thrilling …

Brian Croser has made the decision to re-release this wine from what was a coolish vintage, not dissimilar to the 2021. It’s a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. And even after 10 years, it’s bright with energy and life …

As always, the opportunity to source a wine already matured by the producers is an opportunity which should not be ignored. This is a blend of 69% Merlot and 31% Cabernet Franc, each variety made separately before the final step …

The decision to re-release the 2015 red blend is deliberate. The year, a cool vintage, is intended as a comparison with the new release 2021 Whalebone Vineyard red blend, also from a cool year. The comparisons are there (minus, of …

Deep, dark colour with a subtle purple trace, and the bouquet is earthy, woodsy, savoury and dry. The wine is rich and soft and ample, as well as savoury and strong on drying, powdery tannins. Oak is sitting on the

A ripe, rounded, fleshy red with accents of sweet-vanilla and coconut. Juicy, supple and warming. Decant well before serving to
harmonise the elements.

89 points

Deep, rich red with a tinge of brick-red in the colour, the bouquet strong on eucalyptus with menthol and linament notes. It’s full-
bodied and rich, fleshy and almost opulent in the mouth, the palate delivering intense Campari-like bitter- herb

Perenially exemplary Australian take on a classic right-bank (Bordeaux) blend.

Quite sullen, sitting there under a heavy oak shroud. There are lighter elements of spice and toast in that oak frame, slowly lifting to reveal glimpses of blackberry, tobacco, more

A delicious, well-made wine with ripe, vibrant fruit. What sets this wine apart from others is the extreme depth of flavour. I enjoy the energy of the mulberry and plummy fruit, as well as the gentle chocolatey richness. Only 320

Some quite assertive oak influence here with cassis and a dark berry and cherry core, as well as chocolate and violets. The palate delivers a supple, smooth and quite concentrated impression with a very ripe, dense and slightly jammy finish. …

The 2015 Fleurieu Peninsula Pinot Noir has once again picked up a gold at the Drinks Business, 2018 Global Pinot Noir Masters. In his summary of the competition Patrick Schmitt MW noted:

Once the wines surpassed the £20 mark, as

Declassified Foggy Hill with nothing else, so it’s essentially the 2015 Foggy Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir in different livery. The wine has a bolder feel to it. A warm start and a cool, long finish. The tannins are pronounced, holding …

A riper wine that has more inherent fruit richness on the nose. Lower acidity on the palate with very plush melon and nectarines. No citrus and the oak is more discreet. More fruit flesh and power. Smooth and glossy. Drink …

A rounder richer and more convincing wine with impressive depth and complexity that delivers an edge of white peaches and greenish nectarines. A wealth of subtle complexity with flinty and stony notes and gently hazelnut oak. There is a very …

The first Tapanappa wine made from a vineyard that it doesn’t own, from 50yo vines. Purity is its long suit on the bouquet and palate alike, with lemon/lime/Granny Smith apple the suite of aromas and flavours. It is developing slowly,

The 2015 Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay has picked up Gold in the recent Six Nations Wine Challenge.

Read about the Challenge here: http://sixnationswine.com.au

Top 10 Wines under $80- Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay 2015
Drink 2017-2025 | 96 points
The first vineyard planted in the modern era of the Adelaide Hills remains one of the greatest, producing chardonnay of profound generosity, exactingly honed with focused

Award: Platinum – Best Australian Chardonnay
Score: 95
Tasting notes:
Floral, smoke and citrus fruit bouquet. Great palate – pure, steely, stately and linear. There’s great poise and concentration here, with flavours of white peaches, lemon pith and spice. The

A generous, full-bodied, powerful chardonnay with aromas of cashew, pear, creamy lees, and a fairly strong oak component. There is richness and amplitude in the mouth; a trace of grip adds authority to the finish. More complexity will build over