Recognition

Category: 2018

“Has magnificent length and carry through the finish” 93 Points – Erin Larkin | Wine Advocate  – Tapanappa Foggy Hill ‘Definitus’ Pinot Noir 2018

Author: Erin Larkin
Source: Wine Advocate
Date: Dec 2024

The 2018 Definitus Pinot Noir Foggy Hill is darker in the glass than the Foggy Hill Pinot tasted beside it, and this wine enters with a rich cascade of cherry and woodsy spice, forest underbrush/sous bois, aged leather and old …

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“Serious pinot noir, ageing gracefully.” 95 Points – Houn Hooke | The Real Review – Tapanappa Foggy Hill ‘Definitus’ Pinot Noir 2018

Author: Houn Hooke
Source: The Real Review
Date: Nov 2024

Medium-full red/brick-red colour; the bouquet is mellow, complex and loaded with charred roast-meat, dried mushroom and sousbois characters, earthy/dried-herb and leather nuances, traces of tobacco as well. The structure is firm and the tannins provide backbone and extend the length …

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“Complexity, texture and a touch of savouriness” 96 Points – Jeni Port | Wine Pilot – Tapanappa Foggy Hill ‘Definitus’ Pinot Noir 2018

Author: Jeni Port
Source: Wine Pilot
Date: Oct 2024

Sometimes, the early sell out of a wine is actually good news for drinkers. Take the Definitis ’21 Pinot Noir which quickly sold out leaving the door open for Tapanappa owner/ winemaker, Brian Croser, to dig deep into the cellar …

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“A savoury style with fine, sleek tannins, excellent balance, good intensity and serious length.” 96 Points – Ken Gargett | Wine Pilot – Tapanappa Foggy Hill ‘Definitus’ Pinot Noir 2018

Author: Ken Gargett
Source: Wine Pilot
Date: Oct 2024

The 2021 vintage of Definitus sold out so quickly that the team decided to release a little of their museum stocks of the 2018 alongside the 2023 Foggy Hill. Given only 430 dozen were made in the first place, you …

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“An immensely powerful no-holds-barred Pinot” 97 Points – Ray Jordan | Wine Pilot – Tapanappa Foggy Hill ‘Definitus’ Pinot Noir 2018

Author: Ray Jordan
Source: Wine Pilot
Date: Oct 2024

This is a re-release of this wine from the excellent 2018 vintage. This was the second release of this wine which comes from a special and defined part of the vineyard. It’s an immensely powerful no-holds-barred Pinot loaded with blue …

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“A standout vintage for this label” 94 Points – Angus Hughson | Wine Pilot – Tapanappa Foggy Hill ‘Definitus’ Pinot Noir 2018

Author: Angus Hughson
Source: Wine Pilot
Date: Oct 2024

This multi-layered 2018 Pinot Noir is in excellent condition at 6 years of age as it radiates with cherry pit, and dark earth are topped by gamey, spicy aged tones. Vibrant and energetic with ample gravel /iron stone with a …

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History in a bottle – Whale of a time

Author: Tony Love
Source: SA Life
Date: Jun 2024

South Australia’s wine story includes many well-worn tales of adventures into the unknown, maddening enterprise and celebrated family sagas. But then there are the more secret histories, which live on today in wines that reflect their colourful stories. Here, we …

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Impressive all round balance with some good aging potential – 93 points | Angus Hushson | Wine Pilot – Tapanappa Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2018

Author: Angus Hughson
Source: Wine Pilot
Date: Nov 2023

This more generous vintage of Tapanappa Shiraz from 2018 delivers layers of dark cherry, fennel seed and cocoa aromas with fine oak well integrated. There is an excellent mix of power and subtlety to follow, flavours of fruit pastille and …

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Wonderfully complex and inviting | 94 points | Wine Orbit – Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2018

Author: Sam Kim
Source: Wine Orbit
Date: Aug 2023

It’s wonderfully complex and inviting on the nose with dark plum, olive, mixed spice and toasted
almond characters, followed by a richly expressed palate offering excellent weight backed by
silken texture and finely infused chalky tannins. Beautifully styled with classic …

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The length is super  | 17/20 | Andrew Graham – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2018

Author: Andrew Graham
Source: Australian Wine Review
Date: May 2023

Ultimately, this Tapanappa Whalebone Merlot Cabernet Franc 2018 is too firm and ripe to be great. But maybe, just maybe, it’s too young by half and I’m going to look like an idiot when it’s a blinder next decade. Try …

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Finishes claret firm with leafy notes  | 94 point | Andrew Caillard MW – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2018

Author: Andrew Caillard MW
Source: The Vintage Journal
Date: May 2023

Medium deep crimson. Chinotto, plum vanilla, roasted chestnut aromas with herb garden notes. Evolved dark plum, mulberry flavours, fine loose knit grainy, hint leafy tannins well-balanced mocha roasted chestnut marzipan oak notes and well balanced fresh acidity. Finishes claret firm …

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Very good balance, density and torque  | 95 points | Andrew Caillard MW – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2018

Author: Andrew Caillard MW
Source: The Vintage Journal
Date: May 2023

Medium deep crimson. Lovely intense blackcurrant, blackberry, hint chinotto aromas with vanilla, marzipan, roasted chestnut notes. Grainy textured and velvety with lovely inky blackcurrant, mulberry fruits, cedary textures and underlying vanilla/ marzipan notes. Finishes slinky firm and minerally. Very good …

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A good five years would be welcome  | 18/20 | Andrew Graham – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2018

Author: Andrew Graham
Source: Australian Wine Review
Date: May 2023

Too much. That’s the challenge with both the latest Tapanappa Whalebone reds. This is a bit easier than the Merlot Cab, but still heavy-going, despite the obvious quality.From a warm, dry Wrattonbully vintage (Heat summation of 1799 degree days vs …

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Powerful and structure  | 92 points | Aaron Brasher – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2018

Author: The Real Review
Source: Aaron Brasher
Date: May 2023

Deep, dark and inky in the glass. Lifted aromas of mulberry, blackcurrant, bramble, tobacco, menthol and oak. Rich, dark fruit and oaky on the palate, there’s a lush core of brooding mulberry fruit, plum, cola and firm granular tannins. Powerful, …

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Stylish and Sophisticated | Winsor Dobbin- Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2018

Author: Winsor Dobbin
Source: Winsor's Choice
Date: Feb 2023

Here’s a mature wine – ready to enjoy right now – that is also a current release from Brian Croser’s excellent Tapanappa stable of wines. Fresh and juicy, but also stylish and sophisticated, it is a blend of Australia’s two …

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An excellent example of Australia’s own red blend  | 93 points | James Suckling – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2018

Author: JamesSuckling.com
Source: James Suckling
Date: Dec 2022

Aromas of red and black currants, black cherries, rosemary stem and thyme. Medium- to full-bodied with silky, chewy tannins. Nicely defined red and black fruit on the palate. Fresh and articulate with a juicy finish. Drink or hold.

93 points

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Likely the best merlot and best “value” $90 wine around | 9.7/10 | Max Crus – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2018

Author: Max Crus
Source: Wine Commentator
Date: Dec 2022

Bright and youthful in the glass. Complex aromas of cedar, tobacco, blackcurrant, dark cherry, bramble aA whale-sized price-tag, but given energy inflation, in time it will be less than a KW of electricity. At any time it is positively lovely …

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Built for the long haul | 95 points | The Real Review – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2018

Author: Aaron Brasher
Source: The Real Review
Date: Sep 2022

Bright and youthful in the glass. Complex aromas of cedar, tobacco, blackcurrant, dark cherry, bramble and spice. Lovely, pure and precise on the palate, mid to full-bodied, long, layered and complex. Plenty of red and dark fruits, textured tannins, cedar …

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A decadent yet complex Merlot blend | 93 points | Angus Hughson – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2018

Author: Angus Hughson
Source: Wine Pilot
Date: Sep 2022

Deep coloured, this is a decadent yet complex Merlot blend with lashings of rich blackberry, chocolate, cedar, black olive and earthy aromas wrapped up in a blanket of high quality French oak. It’s bold too, with impressive impact of sweet …

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A spectacular Aussie Claret style | 97 points | Angus Hughson – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2018

Author: Angus Hughson
Source: Wine Pilot
Date: Sep 2022

This a spectacular Aussie claret style; poised, focused and built for the long haul with its powerful blackberry, chocolate, blackcurrant, gravel aromas that are muscular and dense. Fantastic volume of fruit follows but all kept in check by layers of …

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A complex whole | 94 points | Jeni Port – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2018

Author: Jeni Port
Source: Wine Companion
Date: Aug 2022

65/35% merlot/cabernet franc. Matured 18 months in French oak barriques (50% new). A warm year and a generous expression of fruit which sets the scene for some enjoyable drinking. Redcurrant, black cherry, fennel seed, red licorice, raspberry and pepper work …

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Medium bodied and finely tuned | 95 points | Jeni Port – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2018

Author: Jeni Port
Source: Wine Companion
Date: Aug 2022

86/14% cabernet sauvignon/shiraz. Matured 18 months in French oak barriques (50% new). The 2018 vintage was the second warmest on record after 2016. A ripe year has undoubtedly imparted more warmth and roundness to this wine, but it remains resolutely …

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Silver | The Global Pinot Noir Masters 2022 – 2018 Foggy Hill Vineyard “DEFINITUS” Pinot Noir

Author:
Source: The Global Pinot Noir Masters 2022
Date: May 2022

Palish garnet with a hint of brick.

Correct.  Mid intensity.  Developing.  Red fruit, oak, herbal and spicy.

Dry, mid-low acidity, mid bodied, warm alcohol.  Decent grainy tannins.  Fruits follows through from the nose. Mid length.

Silver

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94/100 | Andrew Graham – 2018 Tapanappa Foggy Hill Vineyard DEFINITUS Pinot Noir

Author: Andrew Graham
Source: Oz Wine Review
Date: Jul 2021

Pinot Noir doesn’t need to taste like Burgundy to be good. This Tapanappa Definitus Pinot Noir 2018 is the example of this.

It’s a Pinot of rippling power. Of tannins and conviction. A Bordeaux drinkers Pinot Noir, if you’re still …

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